Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th president of the United States yesterday on a cold, clear day with millions of people watching, not only in the nation's capital but around the world.
No more Sen. Obama, no more candidate Obama, no more President-elect Obama -- by the Constitution he became president at noon, before he even took the oath of office administered by the chief justice of the Supreme Court. In his inaugural address Mr. Obama made reference to the remarkable irony of an African American being sworn in as president in a Washington that not many years ago was still segregated. He said America's "patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness."
Mr. Obama called the nation to responsibility and accountability. His job, as he and the American people see it, is to provide the country in its hour of need with new and steady leadership infused by fresh ideas to tackle America's problems. He spoke clearly, using some eloquent lines, although none quite matched the unforgettable prose of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy.
The time has come, Mr. Obama said, to "begin again the work of remaking America." At home, the question "is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works, whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified." Abroad, he said, "we are ready to lead once more," relying on "sturdy alliances" -- words that will be welcome to America's allies.
The rest of the event outside the Capitol included some windy moments, although the participants and performers made important contributions to the spirit of the day. Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, an icon of the civil rights movement, quoted from the Black National Anthem, imploring "God of our weary years, God of our silent tears" to "mend our brokenness" and help Americans make "choices on the side of love not hate, on the side of inclusion not exclusion, tolerance not intolerance."
Americans can hope that yesterday's inauguration signifies, in Mr. Obama's words, the beginning of "a new era of responsibility" and a "moment that will define a generation." We need the change that he promised in his campaign and we surely need his acceptance of responsibility to lead in these difficult times.
Today, after the inaugural balls are over and the celebration is a memory, President Obama will see firsthand how grave America's problems are and how difficult they will be to fix. Yesterday's call for hope and conviction will be a great place to start.
First Published: January 21, 2009, 2:00 a.m.