The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki was absent from ceremonial inaugural ceremonies as President Barack Obama was being sworn-in to a second term.
Shinseki was away from the Capitol for security reasons. He would have been the successor to head the government in any catastrophic event.
The absence of a Cabinet secretary maintained a long-standing tradition that one member of the president's top team not attend the inaugural ceremonies.
More coverage on President Obama's inauguration: