Former '24' President Dennis Haysbert On Inauguration: 'It's Like A New Birth For Everybody'

Access Hollywood - January 20, 2009 11:53 PM PST
Story photo: Former '24' President Dennis Haysbert On Inauguration: 'It's Like A New Birth For Everybody'Access Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- It was tears of joy for actor Dennis Haysbert , who watched the first African-American President being sworn in earlier today.

Access was on hand as Haysbert, who played the first president of color on a major television series - "24" - watched Obama's Inauguration from the set of his current show, "The Unit."

VIEW THE PHOTOS: 2009 Presidential Inauguration

"It's like a new birth for everybody," Haysbert said.

"It was so real," he added. "To see the President sworn in and the Chief Justice, and then watch them bobble that part, you know... That's real life."

VIEW THE PHOTOS: We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial

Haysbert said Obama's first address as President was particularly inspiring.

"I knew the speech was going to be great," he said. "It's just the whole energy of the day."

Back in July, Haysbert told reporters his role as President David Palmer on "24" helped pave the way for Obama's road to the White House.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Presidential Posh: A Look Back At Inaugural Style History

"If anything, my portrayal of David Palmer, I think, may have helped open the eyes of the American people," the actor said at the time.

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MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: 2009 Presidential Inauguration - Barack Obama - TV One - News - TV

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comments 1-10 of 26  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • Pamela G
    "many racialgroups voted for President Obama. brunch of idiots." exactly! finally, she gets it!
    report abuseposted January 25, 2009 5:52 PM PST
  • truthful
    white racist christains...what a damn joke.
    report abuseposted January 25, 2009 5:28 AM PST
  • truthful
    Just wondering why racist whites are concerned about black people voting. they say nothing when other whites vote.
    report abuseposted January 25, 2009 4:27 AM PST
  • truthful
    whites for whites because they are white. don't take much to figure that out either.But blacks voted for President Obama because he was the better candidate. what racists whites can't accept is that because many racialgroups voted for President Obama. brunch of idiots.
    report abuseposted January 25, 2009 4:24 AM PST
  • Pamela G
    i've seen 100s of posts by blks who bragged they'd vote 4 obama b/c he's blk. '1sexymom' proved the reasoning, she's just nicer than most. fact: more blks voted in this election than any other. doesn't take a brain surgeon 2 figure out y.
    report abuseposted January 24, 2009 6:50 PM PST
  • truthful
    I'm just wondering why people assume people "only" voted for President Obama because of the color of his skin. I 'm wondering if mccain supporters voted for him just because he was white. I don't get the logic. what would have happened if both candidates were white? Racist white folks never cease to amaze me. But then again they can't help their
    report abuseposted January 21, 2009 9:43 PM PST
  • truthful
    nobody thinks the world is going to change overnight.
    report abuseposted January 21, 2009 6:41 AM PST
  • km
    It seems like all people concentrate on is that a half african american became President. People act like all is good in the world and that our country will change overnight. Has anyone stopped to think about the responsibilities Obama will have? It is not all about color. So many people voted for him based on his color and nothing else. Don't praise him before you see what he does.
    report abuseposted January 21, 2009 4:15 AM PST
  • YolandeJ
    This is a great day for ALL Americans. But not all Americans have had their history stolen, culture perverted, livelihood destroyed for hundreds of years only to be sterotyped for not having overcome the adversity. So this is especially a great day for Black Americans. And maybe now you dumb ass crackers won't hold your purse so tight the next time a black person is standing behind you
    report abuseposted January 21, 2009 3:38 AM PST
  • 1SxyMom
    as a people understand how momentous this is. Not just for our young nation that is finally looking beyond skin color to ability. But also for the sacrifice of thousands who helped to pave the way for this day to be possible. Black, White, Jew, Hispanic, Asian, Muslim, Christian and everyone else who believed that America was more, could be more and would be more.
    report abuseposted January 21, 2009 2:23 AM PST
comments 1-10 of 26  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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