Loose Cannon had a front row seat, literally, for the swearing-in of the 44^th president of the United States. Twice today—first by unflappable C-SPAN anchorwoman Susan Swain, and next by a dear friend from California, I’ve been asked my impressions from that vantage point. The first impression I’ve already mentioned: That amazingly large and happy crowd.

Washingtonians had been warned by local officials for weeks that this would be an inauguration like no other in recent memory, and they weren’t kidding. But nothing had quite prepared me for a throng of Americana that stretched down the hill, past the small pool at the base of the Capitol, out into the Mall all the way to the Washington monument, and then, on either side of the Reflecting Pool all the way to the Lincoln Memorial. Those of us up front—and I was seated by the Marine Corps band—found ourselves turning away from the podium time and again to gaze upon that sea of flag- waving souls. Their happiness seemed contagious, and wafted up toward the dignitaries.

My second strong impression was of Obama himself. The words of the speech were at times eloquent, and at other times powerful, but they were neither unexpected nor  unprecedented. What grabbed me, up close, was an unmistakable sense that Obama was all business today. When he rose to speak, some in the crowd near him began chanting “O-bama! O-bama!” but he didn’t milk it the way he did on the campaign trail. This is not a campaign anymore.  Barack Obama is the president now, and he clearly means to make the most of it.

 

The expression on his face, along with the words of his speech, told me that Barack Obama is not content to have won the 2008 campaign, although he’s clearly happy to have done so; he is not content to be the first African American president, although he is proud to wear that mantle. He wants to be a successful president. He wants to fix things. He has a whole lot he wants to accomplish, and he’s going to start right away. The imprinting impression he left with me was one of determination.

A couple of other personal observations:

First: Pastor Rick Warren certainly seemed to justify Obama’s faith in him. Gay rights activists were dismayed by Obama’s choice of the famous Southern California evangelist, but Warren’s invocation was inspirational and inclusive. A woman seated to my left groaned when Warren was introduced. When he finished, she had her head bowed in prayer and was smiling approvingly. “We are so grateful to live in this land,” Warren said. I had been thinking the same thing earlier, as had the man seated to my right, a journalist I know and respect. As the torch of power was passed, peaceably, as it always is in the United States, he whispered to me:  “I love this government.”

Second: Ted Kennedy is a trouper, isn’t he? The 76-year-old Massachusetts Senator is battling brain cancer, and he nearly made it through the day’s festivities before having a seizure at a congressional lunch with Obama. Kennedy was rushed to the hospital where he was said to be resting comfortably.

Third: The music was just about perfect, ranging from Aretha Franklin’s soulful rendition of My Country ‘Tis of Thee, to the composition played by an all-star cast of classical musicians led by French born, Chinese American cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who first performed for a president (John F. Kennedy) when he was seven years old. As I type these words with thawing hands—I’ve just come in from the cold—bagpipers were serenading the president. It’s all good.

Fourth: The other preacher on the program, the Rev. Joseph Lowery hit a home run as well. Lowery gave an impassioned benediction that began with the opening lines Lift Every Voice and Sing, a poignant hymn once known as the Negro National Anthem:

God of our silent tears