Top national stories of 2009
1. Barack Obama inaugurated
Thousands upon thousands braved the cold to witness the historic inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th president of the United States.
His hand on the Bible used by Abraham Lincoln during his inauguration 148 years ago, the 47-year-old former senator from Illinois took the oath of office and became the nation's first African-American chief executive.
Obama, addressing what appeared to be more than 1 million jubilant onlookers jamming the National Mall in Washington, said the nation was wrestling with a "sapping of confidence" that has left many wondering whether America is in decline.
"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real," Obama said. "They are serious, and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met."
Later in the afternoon, the Obamas delighted throngs along the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route when they got out of their armored limousine and walked hand-in-hand, smiling and waving at the crowd, despit the below-freezing cold.
2. The economy
Though debate rages over the effects of a $787 billion government stimulus package, there was broad agreement the economy was on the road to recovery. A 2.8 percent growth in the gross domestic product in the third quarter and gains in house prices in September were among indicators signaling an end to the recession. But unemployment topped 10 percent for the first time in 26 years, and the stimulus package pushed the federal deficit to a record $1.42 trillion.
3. Health care reform
A divisive, $1.1 trillion measure that would provide a public health care source to cover about 28 million persistently uninsured Americans passed the House of Representatives. In the Senate, a watered-down, $848 million bill offers a public option that would allow states to opt out by passing legislation. The legislation faces united GOP opposition.
4. Fort Hood shooting
An Army psychiatrist emerged as the suspect in the Fort Hood, Texas, rampage that left 13 soldiers dead. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is accused of opening fire on Nov. 5 in a Fort Hood facility. He could face the death penalty. The attack is believed to be the worst shooting ever at a U.S. military installation.
5. Guantanamo Bay
Within days of his inauguration, President Obama had signed an executive order to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in a year, setting off a scramble to deal with the facility's detainees. The administration met stiff resistance in Congress to the idea of incarcerating the facility's 240 detainees on American soil.
6. Bernard Madoff
A March 12 guilty plea by Bernard Madoff meant the one-time Nasdaq chairman faced a 150-year jail sentence. His $65 billion swindle that cost investors at least $13 billion has been called the first Ponzi scheme to take advantage of victims from around the globe.
7. Tea Parties
Tea parties have had a strong influence on politics. From the gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey to the run-up to the 2010 midterms, the movement has revealed a renewed potency of populist conservatism. During the summer, town hall meetings became a forum for frustrated voters, angry at President Obama and congressional Democrats over the issue of government expansion, and at Republicans suspected of not fighting aggressively enough.
8. Hudson River landing
On Jan. 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549, bound for Charlotte, N.C., ran into a flock of geese just after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New York. After losing power in both engines of the Airbus A320, pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger elected to attempt an emergency landing on the Hudson River. In the end, all 155 people aboard the plane were rescued.
9. Buffalo plane crash
On Feb. 12, all 49 people aboard Colgan Air Flight 3407 were killed when the plane crashed into a house while en route to Buffalo, N.Y. An occupant of the house also was killed. The tragedy turned to controversy when it was revealed that the plane's pilot, Capt. Marvin Renslow, had failed two FAA flight certification tests, then lied to his employer about the grades.
10. Jaycee Lynn Dugard found
Jaycee Lynn Dugard, kidnapped in 1991 at a school bus stop in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., emerged as a 29-year-old mother of two after being held for 18 years in the backyard of Phillip and Nancy Garridos' Antioch, Calif., home. The Garridos have pleaded not guilty to charges including kidnapping and rape.
Additional Information:
2009 news events
Jan. 9: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is impeached.
Feb. 17: President Obama signs $787 billion economic rescue plan.
Feb. 27: The Rocky Mountain News ceases publication.
March 18: Chief of bailed-out insurance giant AIG is grilled by lawmakers who are furious over $165 million in bonuses.
April 3: Shooting at immigrant center in Binghamton, N.Y., kills 14, including gunman.
April 15: Army soldier convicted of murder in 2007 deaths of four bound and blindfolded Iraqis and sentenced to life in prison.
April 27: Low-flying plane, later determined to be an Air Force One jet, panics New Yorkers.
April 30: Chrysler files for bankruptcy.
May 12: Five Miami men convicted in plot to blow up FBI buildings and Chicago's Sears Tower.
May 15: General Motors tells about 1,100 dealers their franchises will be terminated.
May 26: Obama nominates Sonia Sotomayor to be first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.
May 29: Jay Leno leaves NBC's 'Tonight Show' after 17 years.
June 10: Donald Trump dismisses Miss California USA Carrie Prejean.
June 11: World Health Organization declares first global flu pandemic in 41 years.
June 22: Washington commuter train rear-ends another during rush hour, killing nine.
June 24: South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford admits secretly flying to Argentina to visit mistress.
July 4: Statue of Liberty crown reopens for first time since 9/11.
July 26: Mother drives the wrong way on New York highway and crashes, killing eight people. Toxicology tests show she was drunk and had used marijuana.
Aug. 5: Former President Bill Clinton brings home two U.S. journalists imprisoned for entering North Korea illegally.
Sept. 13: Kanye West upstages Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards to say Beyonce should have won instead.
Oct. 15: Report of 6-year-old boy flying inside a helium balloon captivates nation before boy is found safe at home; his parents later plead guilty to filing false report.
Oct. 21: Northwest Airlines jet overshoots Minneapolis airport by 150 miles; pilots say they were talking about schedules.
Oct. 29: Cleveland police discover first remains of 11 slain women on the property of registered sex offender Anthony Sowell.
Nov. 7: House narrowly passes landmark health care changes.
Nov. 9: Dow reaches highest level in more than a year.
Nov. 16: U.S. government health task force suggests women wait until age 50 to get mammograms, a major reversal that challenges the American Cancer Society's advice to start at 40.
Nov. 17: Sarah Palin's autobiography 'Going Rogue' is released; 1 million copies sell in less than two weeks.
Nov. 19: Oprah Winfrey's production company announces her talk show will end in 2011 after 25 seasons.
Nov. 24: Gate-crashers Tareq and Michaele Salahi attend Obama's first White House state dinner uninvited, leading to Secret Service investigation.
Nov. 27: Tiger Woods crashes SUV outside his Florida mansion, sparking widespread attention to reports of infidelity.
Dec. 1: Obama orders 30,000 more U.S. troops into the war in Afghanistan but promises to begin withdrawal in 18 months.
