I could have sworn (ha) that the recount took so long that he wasn’t sworn in until later in January, or maybe even February.
Your memory is playing tricks. Bush was inaugurated on schedule.
Everything but the shouting was over after 12 December 2000 when the U.S. Supreme Court decided Bush v. Gore which effectively ended the Florida recount. Florida certified Bush as the winner of that state. About a week later, on schedule, the electoral college elected Bush and Cheney. Constitutionally speaking, the electoral college vote is the only one that counts.
Okay, thanks.