JOE BIDEN

As the clock hit noon, history was made as the presidential seat was occupied by the nation's first African American president, Barak Hussien Obama. In his inaugural speech, he reminded the nation to choose hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord to overcome the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Just hours away from being sworn in as not only the nations' 44th president, but also as the first African-American man to take this important role, Obama chose to start the day by attending a church service with his wife.

The Biden's appeared on 'Oprah' Monday afternoon, where the day-time queen will be filming her show in Washington D.C. all week, when Jill Biden let some information slip that apparently she was not supposed to.

While an often mentioned story surrounding Barack Obama's presidential campaign and inauguration in Washington DC on Tuesday has been that he would become the first African American president, that is not the focus of the incoming head of state.

On behalf of President-elect Barack Obama, President Bush on Monday said he has agreed to ask Congress for the second half of a $700 billion financial bailout fund. The timing of the request means that Obama may have the funds at his disposal by the time he is inaugurated as President in one week.

President-elect Barack Obama's mother in law will be living with the first family in the White House after he takes office.

On Wednesday a rare event happened with a president-elect meeting for lunch with 4 of his predecessors.

President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Nancy Killefer, a director at McKinsey & Company and a former assistant secretary of the treasury in the Bill Clinton administration, to serve as the country's chief performance officer.

President-elect Barack Obama's transition team is putting the finishing touches on an economic recovery plan that could run from $675 billion to $775 billion.

WASHINGTON - Both President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden will huddle with Democratic and Republican congressional leaders on Monday to try to advance a huge economic stimulus bill that Obama hopes can be enacted quickly, despite Republican reservations.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday the United States would review billions of dollars in financial aid to ally Pakistan after President Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule.

Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, faced criticism from a Democratic presidential contender on Tuesday over America's war strategy.

The presidential election is 14 months away and with as many as 17 candidates now running, U.S. television and radio broadcasters are elated at the prospect of billions more in advertising dollars.