The Michigan Daily - Friday, January 22, 1993 - Page 5

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AMERICA SPEAKS

"It was a hell of a ride."
According to President George
Bush, his 12 years in the White
House were an adventure.
Although Bush got off the roller
coaster Wednesday, those who at-
tended the Inauguration of Presi-
dent William Jefferson Clinton said
the excitement is only beginning.
The $28 million festival, set
against the majestic backdrop of
Washington, was a magic, red-car-
pet ride through the pomp and cir-
cumstance of the peaceful transi-
tion of power.
Politicians, movie stars and or-
dinary citizens embraced the Inau-
gural moment and expressed pro-
found trust in the new administra-
tion.
Attendees with connections in
their Senator's office or a Clinton
"Rapid Response Team"pin gained
priority access to all events. But the

Listening to
voices at the
Presidential
Inauguration
Inauguration to have fun and watch
the "mystery of American renewal."
Thousands of visitors cranmed
hotel rooms, friends' houses, and
sometimes slept in cars.
Inaugural-visitors expressed
their enthusiasm at the flock of
movie andmusic stars in attendance.
Hollywood is America's clos-
est thing to royalty, said Motion
Picture Association President Jack
Valenti.
The stars came out in force to
support the newly-elected president,
while some entertainers came sim-
ply to sightsee.

lining up at 6:00 a.m. to watch the
ceremony.
As the crowds gathered together,
Clinton trumpeted a call for unity.
"We must care for one another."
Echoing his call, Maya Angelou,
the first poet to speak at an Inaugu-
ration since Kennedy's, read her
poem, "On the Pulse of Morning."
"Here, on the pulse of this new
day, you may have the grace to look
up and out and into your sister's
eyes, and into your brother's face,
your country and say simply with
hope - Good Morning," she read.
But the spirit of the Inaugura-
tion didnothide the divisions among
those in attendance.
As the President called for the
United States to join together, pro-
life and pro-choice groups six
blocks away drowned out his speech
as they shouted for hours in front of
a Civil War statue.
Neither side said they expect
Clinton's administration to end the
rift between pro-life and pro-choice
activists.
However, Clinton's call for
unity was positively received by
Congress and governors.
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) ex-
pressed confidence in thenew presi-
dent. "We just want to reach our
hands out and work with the new
President to achieve real progress
on the compelling issues of our
times," he said.
University Law School alum-
nus Rep. John Porter (R-Pa.) said
he felt the Republicans could play a
substantial role injump-starting the

Inauguration
shows
stability of
country
I do solemnly swear that I
will faithfully execute the office
of president of the United
States, and will to the best of
my ability, preserve, protect
and defend the Constitution of
the United States.
With that 35-word oath, Bill
Clinton
became
the 42nd Josh
president Dubow
of the
United
States.
More
than 200
years
ago,
George
Wash-
ington
took the
exact same oath to become the
country's first president. And
all 40 presidents in between
have recited those words to
begin their terms.
And each time a new
president has taken the oath of
office, the former president has
handed over the reigns of the
country without a fight.
While Clinton was taking
his oath of office on the steps
of the Capitol, George Bush sat
and watched his presidency
come to a close.
After Clinton's inaugural
address, a caravan drove
through Washington, taking
Clinton from the steps of the
Capitol to his new home - the
White House.
At the White House, the
Bushes were saying their
goodbyes to the White House
staff and their home of four
years. Before the Bushes left
their house on Pennsylvania
Avenue, they wished the
Clintons good luck for their
four years at the helm of
America.
What amazed me most
about the inauguration
ceremonies was not the $28
million spent on the
extravaganza or Clinton's
speech or the millions of people
who came to Washington to
welcome in a new generation of
leadership for this country, but
the fact that George Bush gave
up arguably the most powerful
position of the world without
an argument.
In many countries, the
change of leadership would be
welcomed not with parties, but
with bloodshed; not with a
caravan of limousines carrying
the new leader to his house, but
a brigade of tanks plowing
through the streets.
Tuesday morning, George
Bush woke up and was
commander in chief of the most

powerful army in the world;
Wednesday he was a private
citizen. This drastic change
came without a fight or any
other opposition.
When George Bush left
Washington to rejoin the
civilian world, he left with little
fanfare. He did not dispute the
elimination of his power. He
accepted the results of
November's election and went
on to live the rest of his life.
For most of the country,
Wednesday was not much
different than every day of the
year. Wake up, go to work,
come home, go to bed - and,
oh by the way, we have a new
president today.
That is the beauty of a
democratic society. The people
have the power to make
decisions, and politicians
respect and abide by the
people's wishes.
When George Bush lost the
election, he thanked the
American people, congratulated
Clinton and wished him luck in
running the United States for
the next four years.
However, in some countries,
. n- ,.~ - -A

majority ofIn-
auguration
goers faced
long lines,
crowded sub-
ways and ob-
structed
views.
Inaugura-
tion organiz-
ers aimed to
keep the
masses happy.

'There is nothing
wrong with America
that cannot be cured
by what is right with
America.'
- President Clinton

R u e
McClanahan,
star of NBC's
"Golden Pal-
ace," came to
"experience
the Inaugura-
tion," and
make a video
of the event.
Other
stars came to
perform and

A " PHTO

America's Reunion on theMall,
the crown jewel in the "People's
Inaugural," was attended by
500,000 people over two days. Re-
union participants waited on the
Mall a half-hour to purchase ethnic
cuisine in the American Kitchen,
one hour to eat free cheesecake, .
and several hours to get inside the
music tent.
But Inaugural watchers were
willing to put up with the crush of
people. The events were crowd-
pleasers, skillfully produced by
noted TV producer Linda
Bloodworth-Thomason who mixed
star power, music, free food, mili-
tary might, and activities for all
ages.

pass along their renewed optimism
to the public. Lauren Bacall said for
the first time "in ages" she felt ex-
cited about the prospects of a new
administration.
Academy Award Winner Geena
Davis attended in response to an
invitation from President Clinton,
in response to what Clinton called
"Davis' stirring words" of support
during the campaign.
The "reunion" brought together
those who had been locked out of
the executive offices. Democrats,
out of the White House for 12 years,
returned to the fold to restore politi-
cal contacts. They scrambled to re-
ceive last minute consideration from
the Clinton personnel office for the
3,000 political jobs still unfilled.
College students networked with
other students who had worked on
the Clinton campaign. The sold-out
youth ball was called a "pre-pubes-
cent political meat market" by a
Columbia University sophomore.
Most called the swearing-in cer-
emonvthe week'shighlightand said

working with this president."
Gov. Douglas Wilder (D-Va.)
said Clinton could put an end to the
gridlock that had prevented states
from taking greater control of fed-
eral funding.
"We have the ability to invest in
education,job training, at levels that
will truly make a difference in offer-
ing hope to
people."

economy.
"(Republi-
cans) are all be-
hind the new
president. It's
important that
he act aggres-
sively and in a
bipartisanman-
ner tojumpstart

4 It Ar

l y fellow
citizens, this is our
time.'
- President Clinton

Politi-
cians were
not the only
ones singing
Clinton's
praises.

Many Inauguration goers said
they wanted to "connect" with a
president they believe will change
their lives.
Clinton choose five dozen Girl
Scouts from one of the poorest
schools in Washington to help lead
the march and ring the bells of
hope expressing their hope and
inspiration.
Even 12-year-old Clarese
Rebel, who said she had seen people
shot and watched her friends join
gangs, turned political.
"We, the children, have put our
dreams in his hands. We are here
today to strive for a better tomor-
row, and we hope he does the best
he can, because we cannot survive
without change."
To conclude his speech, Clinton
summarized the hopes and trust of
the people who had elected him
and now look to him to fulfill his
campaign promises.
"From thisjoyful mountain-top
of celebration we hear a call to
service in the valley. Wehave heard
the trumpets, we have changed the
guard. And now each in our own
wav. and with God's helh. we must


"Ifpeopleweren'thaving a good
time, they wouldn't be here," said
Inaugural chair and Commerce
Secretary-designate Ron Brown.
The Inauguration was a family
affair. Whether it was the first fam-
ily or the Joebson's - a family
from Abliene, Texas, who spent
thu.v2.2t :- mnpv n th.tri

the economy and provide jobs for
the millions out of work," Porter
said.
Former Democratic presidential
candidates were unanimous in their
support for the new president.
Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.), 1992
candidate, said he was confident
that health care reform would be
implemented under Clinton.
"I believe that within the first
year we will see comprehensive
univrgel heith care-"hesaid- "Pm

At the.
swearing-in ceremony, JuanitaCan-
non, a Knoxville, Tenn. native and
the only African-American board
member of the National Education
Association, said she felt Clinton
might finally be the education presi-
dent Bush could not be.
"The American people have put
their trust and faith in this president
to live up to his promise of sweeping
change and radical reform," she said.
"Clinton is someone who cares and
snmeone who will he enuinelv

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