Biden’s First White House Entrance as President Features Shortened Military Parade

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President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden White House
President Joe Biden stands with first lady Jill Biden as they prepare to walk into the White House after being sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Joe and Jill Biden entered the White House for the first time Wednesday as commander in chief and first lady by opening the doors for themselves.

The new first couple walked hand-in-hand up the North Lawn driveway past flags of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five overseas territories, then climbed six red-carpeted steps to the White House North Portico.

They paused to wave and then turned the door handles to enter the historic building housing their new offices and living quarters. The White House pool recorded the moment as 3:52 p.m. Eastern time.

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Earlier, there was a shortened inaugural parade, minus the crowds that usually line Pennsylvania Avenue to greet a new president, under the tightened security after the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.

Preceded by a phalanx of motorcycles from the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan police, military bands from the services; the Commander-in-Chief's Guard; and the Fife and Drum Corps from the 3rd U.S. Infantry, known as "The Old Guard," marched past the White House.

The Bidens and their extended family followed behind the drumline of the University of Delaware, Biden's alma mater, and walked to the White House from 15th St. NW.

Biden broke away several times to trot to the sidelines to greet well-wishers. A TV reporter asked how he was feeling. "Doing OK. It feels good," he said.

Vice President Kamala Harris followed the "Showtime" drumline of Howard University, her alma mater. Someone shouted to ask about her first priority. She laughed and said, "Get to work."

She did not immediately go to the White House but rather walked up the short West Executive Avenue, which separates the White House from the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

She briefly entered the Eisenhower building, where most of the vice president's staff works, then returned to the Capitol to preside at a Senate session where she swore in Georgia's two new Democratic senators, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, as well as Alex Padilla, her replacement as a senator from California.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Related: Here's Who's Running the Pentagon and Military Branches During Biden's First Days

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