WASHINGTON — President Bush prepped for his big day today by seeking inspiration from a man he once called another "George W": George Washington.

Bush looked at Washington's handwritten first inaugural address during a quick trip to the National Archives yesterday, one of several stops he made the day before he takes the oath of office a second time.

As the president and first lady Laura Bush raced from event to event, carpenters and security officials put the finishing touches on the 55th presidential-inauguration sites.

Bush, 58, retakes the oath of office at 9 a.m. PST on the west side of the U.S. Capitol. The ceremony will include the second swearing-in of Vice President Dick Cheney.

At a preinaugural concert last night at the Ellipse, or President's Park South, that began with the thunder of fireworks, Bush offered a preview of his inaugural address. With a fresh snow blanketing city streets and the temperature in the low 20s, the Bushes, Cheney and his wife, Lynne, sat outdoors on a heated stage at the concert, "A Celebration of Freedom."

"This is the cause that unites our country and gives hope to the world and will lead us to a future of peace," Bush told the crowd. "We have a calling from beyond the stars to stand for freedom, and America will always be faithful to that cause."

With approval ratings hovering around 50 percent and some Democrats still sore over a close election loss, Bush plans to make a call for national unity in his address.

"I know that this office carries a duty to the entire nation," Bush said during remarks at the Ellipse. "After all, we are one America. And every day that I am your president, I will serve all Americans."

The address will be followed by a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, winding up at the presidential viewing stand built in front of the White House.

After the fireworks yesterday, the Bushes and Cheneys were the guests of honor at three "candlelight dinners" for the biggest donors to the inauguration, which was expected to cost more than $40 million. Dinner tickets were distributed to those who chipped in $100,000 or more. In addition, the Bushes joined partygoers at the first of the week's inaugural galas, the Texas State Society's Black Tie and Boots Ball.

Security is tight for the first post-Sept. 11, 2001, inauguration, including closed streets, attack dogs, thousands of uniformed officers, and anti-aircraft missile launchers scattered across the city.

Downtown Washington has been transformed into a virtual fortress, with concrete barricades and security fences at almost every intersection. About 2,000 police officers from 85 law-enforcement agencies across the country are on hand to help about 4,000 members of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Park Police and the U.S. Capitol Police.

As of yesterday afternoon, many congressional staff members, guests and media personnel had yet to receive the credentials that would grant them access to the swearing-in. The problem, several sources said, was a bottleneck in background checks being conducted by the Capitol Police.

Bush and his speechwriters have worked extensively on his inaugural address, which had gone through 21 drafts as of yesterday afternoon.

The address — written largely by speechwriter Michael Gerson — is expected to last about 17 minutes, aides said. It will touch on general themes, such as forging an "ownership society" at home and promoting freedom abroad, avoiding disputed specifics of Social Security changes and the Iraq war.

In his speech, Bush will talk of America's "need of idealism and courage" and how the nation must protect its own freedoms.

"In a world moving toward liberty, we are determined to show the meaning and promise of liberty," he'll say in the speech.

During the 25-minute trip to the archives, the president and Mrs. Bush viewed the displayed originals of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

Throughout the day, they attended a "chairman's luncheon" along with the three candlelight dinners.

A luncheon back at the White House featured family members, including former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush, who both took a little ribbing later at the concert at the Ellipse.

"Our nation has never had a finer vice president [than Cheney] — sorry, dad," Bush said. "Our nation has never had a finer first lady than Laura — sorry, mother."

In related developments:

Two Supreme Court justices declined yesterday to bar the saying of a prayer at Bush's inauguration. Chief Justice William Rehnquist had first denied atheist Michael Newdow's claim that a prayer would violate the Constitution by forcing Newdow to accept unwanted religious beliefs. Newdow later filed an appeal with Justice John Paul Stevens, who turned it down. Rehnquist also rejected Newdow's request that the chief justice withdraw from the case because he was to swear in Bush to a second term.

Material from The Associated Press, The Dallas Morning News, the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post is included in this report.