Sign up to The Irish Times Archive (1859 - 2008)My Account »
Thu 01 Jan 2009Bush is airlifted out to gasp of pleasure as a new America emerges
ONE SIMPLY wanted to be present. Freezing cold or not, a crowd of two million, whatever – solemn warnings about tight security, long lines, traffic jams, cell phones not working. In the end, one wanted to be there on the Mall before the Capitol on Tuesday at noon amid the jubilant throng and see the man take the oath of office – our first genuine author-president.
So I hitchhiked a ride in the middle of the night on a jet heading to Baltimore and got to the train station at 5am and already the platform was packed. A lot of black people in parkas and scarves and mittens. All were beaming and nobody complained about how cold it was or having to wait in line.
Choose a Subscription type - required
