PRESS RELEASES
2/03/2005
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SPEECH RINGS MORE SOLEMN FROM INSIDE HALLOWED CHAMBER
By Gred Hilburn
WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert cracked his gavel for silence and the acoustics carried the demand throughout the House chamber here Wednesday night.
Then came the words that the audience was waiting to hear:
"Mr. Speaker," a voice rang out, "The president of the United States."
Americans have heard those words before every State of the Union address through radio and television, but somehow it sounds differently inside the chamber.
The words themselves brought the audience to its feet, save for a few stubborn Democrats and working reporters, and stood the hair on their necks on end.
As President Bush made his way to the podium, he stopped occasionally to shake the hands of supporters and the loyal opposition.
The chamber looks bigger on TV than it does when you are there in person.
In fact, the Monroe Civic Center Jack Howard Theatre holds more people - just over 2,000 - than the House chamber. So does the sanctuary at First Baptist Church of West Monroe.
There's a seat for every House member and senator, as well as for the Cabinet and Supreme Court justices, on the floor, and balcony four rows deep reserved for spectators with tickets, among them the first lady.
But those few on the floor, less than 1,000, represent just about the entire United States government.
The chamber itself is elegant, but not opulent - mostly brown leather and maple wood - fitting for conducting the business of the people.
Vice President Dick Cheney and Hastert, R-Ill., sit directly behind the president in high-back leather chairs, but the president faces the rest of Congress in his annual address mandated by the Constitution.
All of the famous faces are there, from Republican Sens. Bill Frist and John McCain to their Democratic colleagues, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
Louisiana's delegation was there, too, with 5th District U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman, standing out during ovations with his 6-foot-4-inch frame.
Newly elected U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Metairie, held up an ink-stained right forefinger in honor of the Iraqis who voted in Sunday's election.
David Vitter, R-Metairie, heard his first State of the Union address as a newly elected senator after multiple terms as a representative.
U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-New Orleans, offered occasional polite applause, but in a chamber literally separated by party she often sat out the frequent ovations Republicans gave.
Bush himself leaned into his speech, emphasizing with body language that he has no intention of backing off of his second-term goals.
And his speech, as any president's, carried the weight of freedom delivered from sacred ground.
GREG HILBURN is the business reporter for The News-Star. His column is published on Sundays. Contact him at ghilburn@thenewsstar.com, 362-0288 or P.O. Box 1502, Monroe, La. 71210.
Originally published February 3, 2005
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