Patty's Blog

IInauguration 2009

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Wednesday, January 21, 2009

I thought it would be simple to blog throughout Inauguration Day.  Obviously, it turned out to be harder than it sounded!  From the time I got up at 5:30 a.m., I barely had five seconds to sit down and record my thoughts.  But it was such an exciting day, let me take a few minutes now to go back through it for you.

When I arrived at my office in the Russell Building, it was still dark and very cold.  Yet outside my window, I could see thousands upon thousands of bundled-up people waiting to get onto the Capitol grounds.  Despite the cold and the long lines, people were laughing and singing and sharing stories and their excitement.  Watching it all, I thought how amazing it is to live in a democracy in which people from every part of our nation – people with diverse backgrounds and unique lives – can come together and share a moment in our history – share a celebration that literally belongs to us all.

Mid-morning, I left to walk with my fellow Senators from our chambers in the Capitol to our place by the podium.  Senator Durbin of Illinois and I led the group down the long corridor to the center of the Capitol and down the two flights of stairs where we waited to be announced.  Then we led the entire U.S. Senate – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents – out the door and onto the platform.  And what we saw was incredible.  I have been to four previous inaugurations, but nothing prepared me for the size of the crowd below.  It stretched as far as I could see.  For blocks and blocks across the National Mall, more than a million Americans looked up at us, waiting to watch Barack Obama be sworn in. 

Because I’m a member of Senate leadership, I was seated next to the front.  From there, I could see the crowds below as well as those behind and above us.  Although I had told my family I would look for them, I realized that was crazy.  They were just a few of what looked like a million dots stretching more than a mile down the Mall!  I saw thousands of flags waving in the crowd, and it struck me how much respect people were showing each other – despite the frigid cold – in the air of expectancy hanging over this magical moment.  Every single person wanted to say they were part of history.  And they were.

As Barack Obama took the oath of office, the sound of cheers and applause from the crowd thundered up to us, and even the most curmudgeonly politicians had tears in their eyes.  We all felt hope for the future.  It was a turning point, a change, an inspiration.  I tried to take as many pictures as I could so everyone could feel as close to it as I did.  I hope that one day each child who was there can say it was a day he or she will never forget.  I hope that decades from now, families will be able to say it was a turning point for our country.  But I also feel the weight of responsibility on this new President’s shoulders as he begins to lead us through the challenges we face.

After the Inauguration ceremony, I was escorted to the Statuary Hall, where I was one of 150 people to attend the Inaugural luncheon.  I kept thinking:  out of 305 million Americans, how did I get here?  The new President worked his way around to shake hands and thank everyone.  He said a few gracious words to my husband and me, and we wished him our very best.  Joe Biden (our new Vice President – but always “Joe” to me) did the same, but he stopped short of where we sat in order to re-join the head table.  So I went up to him, and I said, “Excuse me, Joe – so what’s up with skipping my table?”  He leapt out of his chair and came back laughing with me to talk to us.  He asked who I was going to give a hard time to now that he’s Vice President, and I told him not to worry – I would keep bugging him!

Just as a few speeches began, Senator Ted Kennedy suffered a seizure.  It instantly changed the emotion in the room.  Each of us bowed our heads and said a prayer as the medics rushed in.  President Obama spoke shortly after, and I felt as I had so many times that this indeed is a new era in our country.

When the lunch was over, my husband and I joined Senator Durbin at the Inaugural Parade.  Some in the crowds had been waiting for hours, and we chatted with them while we waited for it to begin.  Despite the cold and the wait, people were so excited to see the President they didn’t care how long it took.  And they were rewarded for their patience.  The President got out of his car and walked – right in front of us.  I have never seen so many people taking pictures at one time.  People cried and waved and yelled best wishes to him.  Shortly afterward, the Vice President (“Joe”) and his wife went by.  And people took pictures and applauded and yelled again.  We were talking about heading home when the Secret Service came over to us and asked if we would like to join the President’s Party in his viewing box.  Well, we didn’t have to think long – we said we’d stay!  So we walked across the street and into the glass box we had seen so many times on television.  Again, I thought:  “Wow!  How did I get here?  I so wish all the people I represent in Washington state could be here with me!”

Within a few minutes, the President and his family were announced, and they walked in and hugged everyone.  The parade started in earnest, and it was great – but I have to admit I was so frozen by then that after a few minutes, even I was saying that we needed to go home and get warm.  So we started our trek back to the office.  It took over an hour to get back.  We were tired and exhausted and our feet hurt – but our hearts were soaring.

Today, I’m sitting in my office.  The Senate is in session again, and we’re voting to confirm Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.  This morning, hundreds of people from Washington state joined us for coffee and shared their excitement and their stories from yesterday.  This afternoon, I’m working on the final touches of our economic security package.  With a debt looming and thousands out of work, we have a long road ahead as we work to get the economy back on track.  But after witnessing the spirit of optimism in the crowds yesterday, I have hope that America can join together, shoulder the burdens we share, and give our new President the support he needs to succeed.  As I told him just a week ago, “I want you to succeed, Mr. President.  But our country needs you to succeed.”

- Patty

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Tuesday, January 20, 2009

I am sitting at my desk in the Russell Senate Office Building, and in a few hours a new President will be sworn in just a few blocks from here.  Outside my office window, thousands of people are in line working their way through security to be able to  see this historic event.

I am so impressed by their excitement, their patience, their high energy and hopes.  Everyone wants to be here to say, decades from now, "I was there."  THAT is what gives me a true sense of optimism.  This country and this democracy will always be as strong as the people who are part of it.  With what is happening here in the Nation’s Capital, with literally millions of people to embrace this new President – we can face those challenges ahead.

- Patty

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Monday, January 19, 2009

On Friday I flew home, as I do every weekend.  And here in Washington state, I've been amazed by how excited everyone is about the inauguration: no matter where I've been -- at the grocery store, at a business lunch, or even out for a walk -- people have stopped me over and over to say how thrilled they are.  Everyone says they will be watching.  Everyone asks for me to wave to them!  It is truly empowering to hear that so many people have hope and optimism about this historic change in our country.  At the same time, though, I'm worried about the difficult challenges confronting us.  I hope that this new President can keep us all together in the months to come -- and help us to understand the sacrifices we'll all have to make in order to see our country grow strong again.  Still, for this week, I share everyone's excitement.  We are witnessing history being made!

So as I pack and head back to D.C., I'm bringing every article of warm clothing I have so that come Tuesday, I can be ready to spend hours outside in very cold weather.  And I'm packing in my heart all of your warm wishes and strong hopes for this new President and his team.

- Patty

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Thursday, January 15, 2009

It has been an amazing week here.  Well, I should say an amazing few years. 

In just a few days we will see a new President of the United States sworn into office.  We will see a huge change in the policies, the attitudes, and the ideas of the people in government.  And leading that will be a man I have grown to respect and admire over the last four years.

I first met Barack Obama when he was a young, charismatic Senate candidate in Illinois.  And I got to know him as a fellow Senator.  He sat next to me on the Veterans Affairs Committee, and shared my passion for helping the men and women who had served us.  He was straightforward and never hesitated to challenge ideas and work hard for what he believed in.  We shared stories of balancing our families and lives in the Senate and trying to make sure we got home every weekend.  When our Democratic Caucus worked its way through tough issues and debated policies and approaches, he was pragmatic, listened carefully and spoke with a voice of assurance that even the most senior Senators respected.

As I watched him campaign, I saw him grow more confident and generate excitement and hope from so many people in our country in a way I haven’t seen for a very long time.  And, finally, on Election Night – after months of debates, and rallies, and primary votes – I watched as thousands cheered and cried in the streets of Seattle because they believed so fiercely in his leadership.  Change had to come to our country.

The election seems like it was yesterday.  Since the new Congress convened last week, I’ve hardly had time to think about the inauguration in between meetings with the new Senate leaders, work to address the economy, and flights back home to help with the flood recovery, and to hold hands of friends at the Post Intelligencer who got word their paper was for sale.  But this Tuesday, the reality hit when the new President-elect came to speak to the Democratic Caucus and ask for our help as he takes on the biggest challenge facing all of us – the economy.  Solemnly, he outlined the seriousness of the situation, and he asked for our support for his three-pronged strategy to stabilize the economy, get business moving, and regulate the financial industry so we will never see a crisis like this again.  I could see the weight of the future on his shoulders, and I knew we were all in this together.  Later, in a private conversation, we talked about this vote, and I told him, “Barack I want you to succeed.  But my country needs you to succeed.”

So here we go.  Next Tuesday, he’ll be sworn in, and millions will be in Washington, D.C., to see this dramatic change in our country.  Every day, workers are getting things ready at the Capitol and the National Mall.  They’re adding unprecedented security, and closing streets to accommodate the crowds of excited Americans. Thousands upon thousands of Porta-Potties have been brought in and installed everywhere.  Memorabilia is for sale in literally every store.  And hundreds of excited faces have already appeared on the streets, asking directions and pointing to the platform where we will sit on Tuesday morning. 

I am truly honored to be here, and to be a part of history in the making.  We all pray that Tuesday will the beginning of change in this country – change that gets our country back on track and gives all Americans a feeling of hope and optimism and security.

Over the next few days I will try to be your eyes and ears inside the Capitol.  As a member of leadership, I will be behind the new President as he is sworn in.  I will be looking out at the millions of people on the Mall as they look back at us.  I will try to share my thoughts and tell you what I see as best I can.

- Patty

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Washingtonians’ Blog from the Capital

Monday, January 19, 2009

We just picked up our tickets!  Thank you SO much!  Plus, your staff was totally awesome and efficient.

Now we're off to get some sleep, since we will catch the metro back into town at 4am. -

- Karen from Ellensburg

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An hour in line to clear security to get into the Senate office building.  Once inside, easy, warm, uncrowded.  We met welcoming personal assistance in Sen. Murray's office.  Got our tickets; left our little gift.... Finally found food at the Capitol City Brewery, had to wait an hour for a table tho'.  The city is PACKED!! ...

Despite huge crowds and long waits, everyone is so happy!! Just smiling and polite, saying 'sorry' and 'scuse me' if there is a little inadvertant bumping.  No hostility or pushing/shoving.  Americans on their best behavior.  Cool.  Even funneling into single file lines to go thru Metro turnstiles, people queueing, deferring to others....There are lots of citizens in the Capitol today who appear not to have ridden any subway before who rather do slow the whole process down.  I am in awe of the people with toddlers or small school kids in tow... Strangers are striking up conversations on mass transit and in lines.  A woman in line behind me at the Senate Office building today was an Army nurse from Chicago hoping to pick up tickets from the newly seated and controversial junior senator from Illinois, Mr.
Burris. 

We chatted while we waited and had a "6 degrees of separation" experience.  She served during an exercise in Korea under Dr. (General) Stan Flemming, my Tacoma friend who guest lectures in our neuro class....Today was tiring but fun and without major hassles.
 We did not see any sights as previously planned because everything just took a long time.  We did hit the shopping mall near our hotel and both a ton of protein bars in case finding food is equally difficult tomorrow.

It's all good. -

- Juli McGruder for self and Banks Evans

 

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Sunday, January 18, 2009

So, my flights yesterday were... interesting since the first flight was bumped up and then cancelled, and I missed my second flight after my re-routed flight got in almost on hour late.

But, as a result, I was on the plane with San Francisco Mayor, Gavin Newsome, whom my garrulous and apparently well connected row-mate pointed out to me.  As nifty as it was seeing a big city mayor fly coach (albeit, in the exit row), the highlight of my trip yesterday occurred at the gates of the baggage claim.

There was a camera crew and small group of people waiting at the terminal door.  As a Korean gentleman carrying a little baby girl (who had been a total angel on the flight, incidentally) walked through the doors, a young couple turned and joyfully welcomed the new addition to their family: that beautiful baby girl.  It reminded me so much of the moment when the Obamas and their extended family took the stage at Grant Park on election night; they were a family of many hues and origins, but reflected in that diversity the beauty of the American family, much like that family last night did in the baggage claim of Dulles Airport.

Today, I cooked a T.G.I.O. (Thank Gawd It's Over) feast for my friend, with whom I'm staying in Virginia and about fifteen of her equally Bush-weary friends.  I'm utterly exhausted, but was glad to follow an evening of surprise family encounters with an afternoon of new friends.  Tomorrow, it's off to D.C. for the concert and my first real taste of the crowds.  Should be interesting, especially since it might snow.  Yay.

Thanks again for the tickets!  See you in 36 hours (not that I'm counting, or anything)!

- Karen Francis-McWhite

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What a great experience to be with so may "hopeful" people at the afternoon concert at the Lincoln Memorial. We were far away, but being near the Washington Monument gave us a great view of the crowd and the many large screens.

- Dan

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Saturday, January 17, 2009

Today, Saturday, we visited the Newseum. This is a "must" for DC visitors! CNN was reporting live on the roof of the building. We learned that Barack visited the museum with his two daughters for two hours last Sunday after his interview there.

- Dan

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Friday, January 16, 2009

Today the news is the weather. It is frigid cold around our nation's capitol. In spite of the wind, it was also very sunny. But everyone seems to be taking it in stride. We also purchased a week Metro pass (with Barack's photo on it). It works very well.

- Dan

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Thursday, January 15, 2009

For me, the experience has already begun, as I caught a ride over from Ellensburg to Seattle this afternoon.  I fly out EARLY Friday morning.

I cannot express how grateful I am for the tickets!  I've resumed hitting the gym and doing stomach crunches in part to help strengthen my core for the hours spent in the standing gallery.  :-). Thanks for providing the extra motivation!

As we drove through the pass, admiring the persistent beauty of our state, even after an avalanche/mudslide and flooding, I felt over-whelmed with the hope that one of the things President Obama helps make happen will be the implementation of a light rail between central Washington and "the westside". The drive on I-90 is breathtaking, but never more so when car drivers get distracted by that beauty.

At any rate, that's enough day-dreaming for one day!

- Karen Francis-McWhite

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Last night, my son, Banks "Eric" Evans and I were on KONG 6 and KING 5 late news.  We showed the African cloth (khanga) with Obama's picture that we recently received from Tanzanian friends and intend to gift to Senator Murray as a token of our tremendous thanks for this opportunity. 

We also are supposed to be interviewed by a reporter from the Tacoma News Tribune and see another reporter from KING 5 when we go to Sen. Murray's office to pick up our tickets on Monday. 

- Juli McGruder