A Look Back at Nine of 2009's Best Political Flubs, Gaffes and Laughs

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28, 2009 -- Call them flubs, gaffes or simply nine of 2009's unscripted political moments -- fortunately caught on tape -- that made us want to send links to our friends to watch over and over.

This was the year of party crashers, celebrity dancers, and beer summits. We went hiking on the Appalachian trail. We even saw the president's Senate seat for sale.

Take a trip down memory lane, and enjoy some of the most interesting and unexpected moments from this year in politics. Watch our highlight reel HERE and then re-live the moments in more detail below.

1. Chief Justice John Roberts Flubs President Obama's Oath of Office

Heading into the historic inauguration of the nation's first African American president, chatter intensified on the subject of President Barack Hussein Obama's oath of office, after a two-year battle for the presidency in which his middle name had been, at times, uttered as a slur on the campaign trail.

Moments into the president's swearing in, Chief Justice John Roberts flubbed the 35-word oath, and the unscripted moment became the focus of a political sideshow that lasted over the following days.

This is what Roberts was supposed to ask Obama to repeat:

"That I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States."

Instead, Roberts said, "That I will execute the office to President to the United States, faithfully."

Obama retook the oath of office, readministered by Roberts, at the end of his first full day in the White House.

2. Jill Biden Gives Away (Secretary of) State Secrets on 'Oprah'

During a January taping of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Dr. Jill Biden said that her husband, then the vice president-elect, was given a choice of being either vice president or secretary of state.

This revelation came after Vice President-elect Joe Biden told Winfrey that after then-Sen. Obama offered him the job of vice president, he asked for some time to think about it and talk it over with his family.

Jill Biden interjected: "Joe had the choice of being secretary of state or vice president." She then seemed to realize she'd said something she wasn't supposed to have said.

3. Obama: 'This Is Like the Special Olympics'

The late-night comedy circuit may have been a successful platform for Candidate Obama, but that wasn't always the case for President Obama. In March, the president went for laughs on "The Tonight Show" and ended up offending the disabled.

Near the end of his 40-minute appearance, Obama mentioned his improved bowling score after practice in the White House bowling alley.

The president said he bowled a 129.

"That's very good, Mr. President," Leno said sarcastically.

It's "like the Special Olympics or something," the president said.

Of the remark, the White House said the president didn't intend to offend, characterizing it as an "off-hand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics."

Obama himself called Special Olympics chair Tom Shriver to apologize the night of the Leno taping.

"He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate this population, certainly didn't want to embarrass or give anybody any more reason for pain or just suffering, I would say," Shriver said on "Good Morning America."