There was no coup or massive invasion that day. There was no fight or coercion. There was only a ceremony and a speech.

On March 4th, 1797, George Washington watched as John Adams assumed the Presidency of the United States. After Adams had finished speaking, Washington made a point of following the new President out of the room. The peaceful transfer of power was complete.

It is remarkable that we now find it ordinary that this country passes the most powerful position in the world peacefully from one President to the next. It was an extraordinary thing that day in Philadelphia in 1797 and it is still extraordinary today.

On Tuesday, Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States. It is a day that is historic in its own right as he becomes the first African-American to hold the office. The nation will once again celebrate our shared heritage of democracy and the peaceful transfer of power.

The new President will face a number of challenges and issues in his term. When I believe he has the right solution, I will support him. When I believe he has the wrong solution, I will oppose him. Our democracy demands that the people’s representatives have a strong voice.

However on this day, we celebrate the genius and humility of our founding fathers. Our democracy has endured for over 200 years because of their example. It has made the extraordinary seem ordinary, not only here, but around the world.

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