March 2009 Issue

Enter Obama

As America thrilled to the inauguration of its 44th president and a new First Lady, the West Wing was filling with a kaleidoscopic army of policy aces, whiz kids, and veteran advisers, all focused on the long-haul, no-drama work to which Barack has called them. These are the civilian front lines of “We the People,” photographed by Annie Leibovitz for our pages. Related:A New Start, by Maureen Orth, and “Keeping Up with History,” by Julian Sancton. Plus: Orth interviews the new team, and talks with White House social secretary Desirée Rogers about making Washington fun again.
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