The Inauguration of Our President

The inauguration of Barack Obama is tomorrow. You've probably noticed.

In my lifetime, I can't recall a Presidential Inauguration that has been looked forward to with such hopefulness as this one. Perhaps, JFK in 1960, but I was too young to get any real sense of what was happening in the country then.

A new administration is always a time for hopefulness. But the desire for this administration to succeed, seems (to me) greater than most. Given the challenges we face, it's no wonder.

I've only attended one Presidential Inauguration in person. It was in 1993. Bill Clinton and Al Gore were being sworn in to their first term and I was there to cover the "Tennessee" angle of the story.

And there were lots of stories to gather. It seemed every Democrat in Tennessee was in Washington that day. And like today, there was great hope of a new beginning for our country.

What I remember most though, was the morning of the swearing-in. It was cold and the sky was crystal blue. My position (along with the rest of the press corps) was just below the main riser where Mr. Clinton would be sworn in.

It was - I thought at the time - the best seat in the house (or space, since we weren't given seats) to witness history. As I stood and listened to the swearing in and later the President's speech, I was overcome by this great sense of awe at the power of our constitution.

An amazing event was happening before my eyes, the transition of power. And it was done with pomp and pageantry and tradition unlike any in the world.

It was a beautiful thing.