For all the evocation of "hope" and "change" at Obama's inauguration, Philip Hamburger's essay in Katharine Graham's Washington indicated that such sentiments are not unique, observing the following about the start of the Clinton presidency:
On the other hand, Franklin Delano Roosevelt moved from a stirring inauguration to a renowned presidency. Obama recalled much of Roosevelt's somber reflection in his remarks, probably seeking to emulate FDR's success against adversity. There is no easy way to predict how the Obama administration will perform--whether he will triumph in the vein of FDR or flounder in the vein of Clinton. But I see strong possibility for hope in the event's size, a unique aspect of the Obama inauguration.
More people attended Obama's inauguration than any in history, and the opprotunity for all to witness the event through the expansion of technology--JumboTron televisions, constant blogging, Twittering, and network coverage--allowed more people than ever to feel connected to the inaugural events. The inauguration was also a persistent subject of conversation in the media and among my peers; while I remember little of the time when President Bush was inaugurated eight years ago, I do not recall the event being such a household topic.
There is tremendous potential in this mass appeal of Obama's celebrity to inspire a new interest in politics. When millions of people descend on the National Mall just to watch a (frankly) fairly rote political event, it gives me great hope that those same millions will be inspired to later contact their representatives and get involved in their own communities.
In many ways, I believe this trend of reaching out to individuals and capturing mass support will represent Obama's greatest impact on American politics. He excelled in the most expensive presidential race in history mostly through small online donations, and he implemented steps in the transition to hear citizen comments (unlike any prior president). This is a potent tonic for the Bush years, when our commander-in-chief frequently dismissed public opinion; if Obama sets a new precedent of engaging Americans, he will have done much more for the country than simply navigating an economic crisis.
(I have also posted some more personal observations on the Inauguration at the Hamilton news site).
"Thousands of black faces, yellow faces, white faces. No pushing, no shoving. Cynics don't buy this, but there are times when hope is palpable (801)."From Pete Seeger singing "This Land is Your Land" at the inaugural concert, to the soaring strains of John Williams's "Air and Simple Gifts," to the breathless and generally courteous spectators (with the exception of numerous boos for the outgoing Bush), to the reassurance of President Obama that Americans could "pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America," this atmosphere of promise was just as prevalent in the Obama inauguration as the Clinton one. But that indicates little about the future; we know the Clinton presidency was later mired in disorganization, electoral defeat, and scandal.
On the other hand, Franklin Delano Roosevelt moved from a stirring inauguration to a renowned presidency. Obama recalled much of Roosevelt's somber reflection in his remarks, probably seeking to emulate FDR's success against adversity. There is no easy way to predict how the Obama administration will perform--whether he will triumph in the vein of FDR or flounder in the vein of Clinton. But I see strong possibility for hope in the event's size, a unique aspect of the Obama inauguration.
More people attended Obama's inauguration than any in history, and the opprotunity for all to witness the event through the expansion of technology--JumboTron televisions, constant blogging, Twittering, and network coverage--allowed more people than ever to feel connected to the inaugural events. The inauguration was also a persistent subject of conversation in the media and among my peers; while I remember little of the time when President Bush was inaugurated eight years ago, I do not recall the event being such a household topic.
There is tremendous potential in this mass appeal of Obama's celebrity to inspire a new interest in politics. When millions of people descend on the National Mall just to watch a (frankly) fairly rote political event, it gives me great hope that those same millions will be inspired to later contact their representatives and get involved in their own communities.
In many ways, I believe this trend of reaching out to individuals and capturing mass support will represent Obama's greatest impact on American politics. He excelled in the most expensive presidential race in history mostly through small online donations, and he implemented steps in the transition to hear citizen comments (unlike any prior president). This is a potent tonic for the Bush years, when our commander-in-chief frequently dismissed public opinion; if Obama sets a new precedent of engaging Americans, he will have done much more for the country than simply navigating an economic crisis.
(I have also posted some more personal observations on the Inauguration at the Hamilton news site).
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