They had waited for a speech which would change America
Andrew Gilligan in Washington20 Jan 2009
TODAY, in the modest pageantry of a republic and the collective rapture of a planet, in front of perhaps the largest crowd in American history, something that even two years ago seemed impossible now felt as inevitable, as ordained, as in any other coronation.
In just 35 words, the length of the presidential oath, a superpower changed for ever. One man brought, if briefly, a measure of unity to a divided world watching, live, in their billions, and a measure of joy to a country suddenly turning rather bleak.
In front of Barack Obama, a vast, multi-coloured carpet of people stretched back for a mile, as far as the Lincoln Memorial. Obama's had been a grassroots, insurgent road to the presidency, and the American grassroots wanted to witness its apotheosis. Across this immense nation, from the snows of Sarah Palin's Alaska to the baking deserts on the border with Mexico, the rest of America bore witness, too.
The ceremonial was low-key. The invited dignitaries walked through the Capitol building to take their places; one of the children was even chewing gum. But the modesty of it somehow underlined, not detracted from, the power of the moment.
Behind Mr Obama, on the other side of the Capitol building, waited the buses which were to transport some of his key aides to the White House straight after the handover of power, so urgent is the need to tackle the economic crisis.
Unseen, in the White House itself, a small army of domestic staff whisked the Bushes' last personal belongings off the shelves and the Obamas' onto them.
This new dawn for America had started, in fact, long before dawn. As early as two this morning, in the vicious Washington cold, gathered the advance guard of the crowd.
It was windy, and dark, and four degrees below zero. It was still two hours before they even opened the security gates onto the Mall, and 10 hours before Barack Obama became President. But these early arrivals, around 60 per cent of them black, had been waiting a lot longer than that for this day.
“I cannot tell you how important today is for me,” said Richard Jarrett, from Allentown, Pennsylvania, who had gone without sleep to claim his place in the queue. “I already feel different as a black American. President-elect Obama said it changes how black children look at themselves. It changes how white children look at black children. I say Amen to that.”
Near the dome of the Capitol, Johnson Copley, from Long Beach, California, had read aloud from a magazine the statement made by George H.White, the final representative of an earlier, false dawn of black emancipation in America. In the late 19th century, after the Civil War and the end of slavery, White was among a handful of blacks elected to Congress.
But as white supremacy regained its hold, they were expelled. On 29 January 1901, White, the last of them, on his last day in office, stood in the well of the House of Representatives and movingly foretold the day that has now, 108 years later, come to pass. “This, Mr Chairman,” he said, “is perhaps the Negroes' temporary farewell to the American Congress, but let me say: Phoenix-like he will rise up some day and come again. These parting words are on behalf of an outraged, heart-broken, bruised and bleeding but God-fearing people … The only apology I have for the earnestness with which I have spoken is that I am pleading for the life, the liberty, the future happiness, and manhood suffrage for one-eighth of the entire population of the United States.”
As he read these words, Mr Copley had to keep stopping. He was crying, and I found it hard not to join in.
For the moment, this city of cynical, icy-veined operators has been briefly overwhelmed by genuine emotion.
But Washington being Washington, calculations are already being made of how this unprecedented gush of public goodwill — a 78 per cent approval rating — could give Mr Obama the greatest political clout of any post-war president.
He's certainly going to need it.
Reader views (13)
Just Tony Blair mark II, the Yanks are 10 years behind us. They now have a salesman wthat has promised everything to everyone and will deliver nothing, but walk away from the disaster a very wealthy man. If you don't believe me, think back to may 1997. Watch all the loonies lining up at the Whitehouse now looking for payback for supporting Obama - he has a lot of debt outstanding and America is about to start writing cheques.
- Joe, London, 21/01/2009 10:06
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Don't forget : Obama is after all - a politician - prepared and moulded by the previous govt.
- Cath, London, 21/01/2009 09:51
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Steve, London :- you wasted time just to comment you won't be listening to his speech???? why bother you think evening standard readers wanted to know that?
Well there are a lot of people who will be unafeccted by Obama's speech, i wasnt one of them, it looks like a genuinly peaceful man has been made president, unlike some conspiracy theorists here (neil, london) the president does in fact have a little bit of power lol just because bush made the position look like a joke dont kid yourself into thinking the world is in decline and thats it, yes he is only one man but a man witha voice that can be heard and for the first time i remember somebody who isnt completely out of touch with the world has a chance to make a difference. lets hope people make an effort and try to make a difference like he is.
- Gavin, London, 21/01/2009 09:22
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Over rated speech.
- Mike, Denver, USA, 21/01/2009 06:29
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Give the guy a break.
- Trevn, Abu Dhabi, 21/01/2009 05:12
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obamas speach was great, highly charged and intelligent. l could help but notice and indeed feel sorry as he took a swipe at George bush,s incompetent government. oor george, he must be cursing himself now.
- Paul A London, london, 20/01/2009 23:29
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I was expecting a very inspiring speech; but was greatly disappointed. Not only was it short in style and content, President Obama's delivery was not up to his usual standards.
- David, Minneapolis, USA, 20/01/2009 22:25
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The amount of hyperbole gushing out of the newspapers about Obama makes me think that people actually believe he can do any good. When will people wake up to the fact that the president has no power? It is not the presidency where power lies. The idol-worship we are seeing is religious in its intensity
- Neil, london uk,, 20/01/2009 15:18
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"... sentances..."
- James, London
Who knows, perhaps Mr Obama even know how to spell.
- Rob, Canary Wharf, 20/01/2009 14:14
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I think Obama will be a good president, not only to the USA, but also to the whole world. This is based on the iddea that as being part of a minority group in his country, he must have suffered more than other presidents during his childhood. Consequently, he will do his best to keep the peace.
- Walter, Rosario del tala, Argentina, 20/01/2009 14:10
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Yup,prepare yourselves for the longest,most tiresome repetitive speech you will ever hear.This man can seriously talk!
My telly's staying off tonight.
- Steve, London, 20/01/2009 13:27
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Good luck to the guy. Personally, I doesn’t make a difference to me if a candidate is female or male, mixed race, black, white or any other colour. Lets just hope he does a good job.
- Gareth, London, 20/01/2009 12:50
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What a refreshing change it will be when we hear an American President who is capable of stringing two sentances together.
- James, London, 20/01/2009 11:16
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Tonight:
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