Brunch with Presidential Historian Lonnie Bunch

Lonnie Bunch shows us his favorite historical photos he's collected over the years--from the 1870s on.

Presidential historian and former Chicagoan Dr. Lonnie Bunch will be providing commentary for ABC News throughout Inauguration Day.

This morning we were lucky enough to meet with him at his house in Northwest Washington, D.C.

We joined him for brunch at his kitchen table and then chatted in his living room amidst his personal historical collection.

Bunch's connection to the inauguration goes beyond his work as a public historian. His Chicago inner circle includes Mayor Richard Daley, Mary Dempsey, Valerie Jarrett, Oprah Winfrey, Desiree Rogers and Barack Obama himself.

Previously the President of the Chicago History Museum, Bunch told us that he believes Obama will spend today mulling over his most important speech to date.

Bunch expects Obama to use several key phrases that may resonate with Americans for years to come, similar to FDR's "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

He also believes Obama will likely quote Abraham Lincoln, a prominent African-American literary figure and continue to develop the same message of his campaign.

Bunch is the founding director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture--he will spend the rest of his Martin Luther King Jr. holiday going over his notes to analyze Obama's big day.

(Reported by Craig Kanalley, John Kristoff and Lindsey McElroy)