PRESIDENT William Jefferson Clinton's Inaugural Day began at 8.00 a.m. with an inter faith prayer service and ended early this morning with a visit to the last of the 14 official balls.
In between he was sworn in for the second time as the 42nd US President, had lunch in the Capitol and watched a three hour parade representing the 50 states.
Thousands gathered in front of the Capitol in near freezing temperatures to watch the President take the oath several minutes after noon on his own King James Bible, and administered by the Chief Justice, Mr William Rehnquist.
The invocation prayer was delivered by the Rev Billy Graham. The President's inaugural address was a soaring, visionary one inspired by the "I have a dream" speech by the murdered civil rights leader, Martin Luther King. The day was also the annual Martin Luther King holiday.
The Marine band, the Children of the Gospel choir and world famous soprano Jessye Norman performed on the platform overlooking the Mall.
Farther down the Mall anti abortion protesters had planted thousands of small crosses.
After the ceremony, the President and his family drove slowly back to the White House along Pennsylvania Avenue. They got out of the car to walk the last few, hundred yards, and 16 year old Chelsea took off her long coat to stride along in a fashionably short skirt.
The President made the most of what will be his last inaugural. He told an interviewer he did not have the "typical fears" of a second term President. "I'm not out of gas. I'm not out of steam. I'm not out of ideas."