Inaugural Memories

 A brilliant day in the cold sun of Washington, DC, with the light of History shadowing the outgoing, and illuminating the new.

A few memories of this day to share ...

The Parade of Presidents

Former chief executives and their wives, and their Veeps and their wives too, came out for the celebration.  There was Jimmy Carter, looking his age but vigorous and smiling his old campaign smile, with his wife Rosalyn beside him, also looking older than she did back in '77 but equally vigorous and well-preserved (must be that Georgia humidity).  Her smile was familiar - that same tight smile, which might be worry, she wore so often back in the day.

Next up came '41', George H. W. Bush, with his wife Barbara.  Senior Bush looked out of touch with his surroundings, and seemed a bit worse for wear, waddling like an arthritic penguin, grinning constantly, and patting and grabbing passersby for all he was worth. The phrase, 'cheerful old duffer' comes to mind, but I am not ready to grant him that innocuous tag just yet.  Barbara, amazingly, looked about the same as she did when the pair occupied the White House.  True, she looked old for her age back then, but she sure has held steady since.  

William Jefferson 'Bill' Clinton, an ego for the ages, came next, holding (barely) the hand of wife Hillary Rodham Clinton, the new Secretary of State.  Bill wore a disdainful scowl until he could tell the cameras were on  him, then the old roguish (but charming) smile appeared on cue.  Hillary wore a blue dress, I think.

Last out of the chute walked '43', President George H. Bush, looking not a day older than when he took the oath for his first term.  I say 'walked', but my lasting impression was of a man in haste,  a man with serious brush to clear, ... or maybe a conscience.  Certainly something needed clearing, and he was in a hurry to do it.   His speed was checked by only two things: first, it's hard to walk quickly when your eyes are darting nervously (worriedly?) from side to side, and second, he had to match pace with his wheelchair-bound Veep, Dick Cheney, whose roll-along by the President's side made me think of Dr. Strangelove.  

First Lady Laura Bush did not walk stoically by the President's side, having earlier walked stoically by the side of Dick Cheney's wife Lynne.  Similarly, First Lady elect Michelle Obama walked out with Second Lady elect Jill Biden.

President elect Barack H. Obama looked somber, perhaps nervous, perhaps steeling himself for the sight of the huge crowd in the Mall, perhaps mentally rehearsing his speech.  The smile came with timing not quite as good as Bill Clinton's, but more natural, a sign of a generous nature and good humor.  (Both of which he'd need not much later when The Chief Justice got discombobulated during the swearing in).  It occurred to me, for just a moment, that this man was too thin, too frail, for the task - that his spirit was willing but the flesh might be too weak.  But once out into the light, facing the massive throng, and in full view of the world, he strengthened visibly, with determination clear in the set of his jaw and the look in his eyes.

Gaps in the chronology of this parade of presidents were obvious:  Ronald Reagan, who defeated Jimmy Carter in 1980, and Gerald R. Ford, who defeated nobody, were sadly missing.

An Invocation 

Reverend Rick Warren, a controversial pick by Barack Obama , gave a routine sort of invocation, not much to get excited about, and certainly not controversial.  That is, until he recited the Lord's Prayer, a no-no for a civil (and inclusive) service like an inauguration.

A Benediction
Still controversy is not power and it does not move hearts.  For power enough to move millions of hearts you need only have waited for the benediction by Reverend Joseph Lowery.  A veteran of the fight for civil rights, no one could have been better chosen to speak this day.  Beginning softly, as if he was loath to let go of the moment by speaking, Lowery's voice grew in strength, power, and poignancy until everyone within hearing surely must have felt both the burden of the past and the bittersweet joyfulness of the day.  There couldn't have been a dry eye in the crowd.

Moving Day

As if there wasn't enough to cover, CBS news focused its cameras on an operation taking place simultaneously with the inauguration.  A moving van was shown parked next to the White House, with workers scurrying to and fro.  The commentator told us they were moving the Bushs' furniture out, and the Obamas' in.  Out with the old stuff, in with the new.  

Trivial, true, but upon reflection it's a fitting metaphor for the change that was taking place on the Capital steps. Perhaps as fitting as any others the press could conjure on January 20, 2009.