Gayle King, Jon Bon Jovi, Oprah, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Forest Whitaker

The day after President Barack Obama's historic inauguration, The Oprah Show is broadcasting from Art Smith's Washington, D.C., restaurant, Art and Soul.

Take a virtual tour of Art and Soul. Watch

Oprah, Gayle King, Jon Bon Jovi, Forest Whitaker and Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin are reflecting on the excitement of this unprecedented week.

"Abraham Lincoln's inauguration, FDR's inauguration, LBJ's—there was nothing like this," Doris says. "People are going to be writing about this a hundred years from now."

Oprah says Forest captured the essence of the moment best in an e-mail he sent her at 2 a.m., just a few hours ago! "The light of a new age is here," he wrote.
Jon Bon Jovi in Washington, D.C.

About 2 million people gathered in Washington, D.C., to be a part of history, and Jon joined the crowd watching the inauguration from the National Mall. "To me, this is what it was all about, and what I enjoyed after the ceremony was the walk home and reliving the moments with the people from all over the world," he says. "For every picture people took with me, I took 10 with other people. I really felt a part of that connection."

See more of Jon's photos from the nation's capital

Check out more pictures from Inauguration Day

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The Obamas at the inauguration and the Inaugural Ball

Photos: AP Photo

Always fashionable, Michelle Obama got a lot of attention for her inaugural outfits—both her yellow daytime ensemble and her ivory evening ball gown. "I think Michelle Obama deserves a medal for walking in high heels in a parade," Oprah says. "Toward the end of the evening, the president was saying, ... 'The first lady is doing the same thing I've been doing, only she's doing it in high heels!'"

The president's daughters, Malia and Sasha, also stood out in their brightly colored, matching J.Crew coats.

Want more on the Obamas? Meet our first family!

 

President Obama is a source of inspiration for both individuals and the country as a whole, Oprah says. "I personally feel he makes me want to be a better person. I feel that I am a better person and that this country is going to be a better country because of him."

It's important to remember that the quest to be better shouldn't stop with the inauguration, Jon says. "We have to fulfill now our end of the bargain. [President Obama] has asked us to have hope and asked us to have the promise. We have to fulfill starting today. ... It doesn't have to be grand."

See how some familiar faces are pledging to create change

Inaugural addresses are an important part of American history, but Doris says President Obama's speech was a standout. "It will be remembered a long time from now," she says. "There are words there that will be remembered. 'America's ready to lead again.' You know, that's the America of World War II. ... We're going to be a beacon of hope once again."

Whether silly or superb, presidential quotes are always remembered. Think you know who said what? Take the quiz!
Doris Kearns Goodwin talks about President Obama's first 100 days in office.

A newly elected president is often judged by his first 100 days in office. "It's interesting, when JFK was given a speech to read that said, 'I don't want to be judged by the first hundred days,' he slashed it out and said, 'a thousand days.'" Doris says. "But I think what Obama has going for him, in a time of crisis, more things are possible. ... And I think what he's got is the capacity to tell people, 'Listen [and have] patience.'"
Jon Bon Jovi and Forest Whitaker share their favorite inauguration moments.

Inauguration Day has so much significance to so many people, it's no wonder that everyone has their own favorite moment. "I really wanted to walk home, to be able to say, 'Did I really just see what I saw and live what I lived?''" Jon says. "That was really special."

Forest says that his own favorite moments came during President Obama's speech. "It's the moments between the lines. I think when I was listening to him speak, the words were so powerful I wanted to embrace the time that I had to even experience what he just said," he says. "So it's the breaths between that I wanted so badly to sit still with, because I was overwhelmed by his inclusion of everyone."

See what Inauguration Day means to people like you
Ali Wentworth talks about Starbuck's new pledge program.

All around the country, President Obama has inspired people to participate in creating a new day for our country. In that spirit, Starbucks has created their "I'm In" pledge.

"If you come to Starbucks until Sunday [January 25, 2009] and you pledge five hours of community service, you will get a free cup of coffee," Ali Wentworth says. "Their goal is to raise the 1 million hours that the staff at Starbucks has already pledged. We need to go out and match it."

Are you in? Make your pledge today!

See how some familiar faces are pledging to create change
Forest Whitaker, Jon Bon Jovi and Gayle King share their memorable moments from the inauguration.

Having had a few hours to reflect on the inauguration, Forest says we are entering a new time as Americans. "People are caring about each other and people are going to reach out to each other in solidarity of knowing that each one of us deserves a decent life," he says.

Jon's favorite quote from President Obama's speech was the reference to the leaders of other countries: "You'll be judged by what you build. Not by what you destroy."

"My favorite moment was sitting on the mall and turning back, after he was sworn in, and seeing the millions of flags waving on the mall," Gayle says.
Will.i.am, Bono, Faith Hill, Mary J. Blige, David Foster and Seal perform America's Song.

Legendary music producer David Foster and Will.i.am, the man behind "It's a New Day" and "Yes We Can," have joined forces to create a song to capture this moment in history. A day after the inauguration, they've created an updated music video for "America's Song."

Watch videos of "America's Song"

Get everything you need to continue the inauguration celebration!