Remembrance of presidents past

Today was still January 20 in the US, which means the anniversary of inauguration days. The US newmedia was talking about the mid-point of President Obama’s first term (and for a good take on that, check out Roger Green’s post) as well as the fiftieth anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s inauguration.

I can’t quite get my ahead around my thoughts on President Obama’s midpoint (another reason I’m glad Roger got his views out). Instead, I thought about past inaugurations and I realised that I have no idea which president was the first I actually watched being inaugurated. It was probably Nixon (more likely 1973 than 1969), but after that I think I watched at least part of most of them.

I remember a profound disappointment watching Reagan and Bush 2 sworn in (twice each), less so with Bush 1 and I’m sure I was thrilled about Nixon (I was a child Republican back then). I was happiest at Clinton’s first inauguration because he was the first president I voted for who actually won. I was, of course, also thrilled with President Obama’s inauguration.

Obviously we can’t know who will be inaugurated on January 20, 2013, but I’ll probably be watching. Whether I’m happy, profoundly disappointed or somewhere in between will depend a lot on what happens this year, because the next year, 2012, will be taken up entirely with the election. It’ll be an, um, interesting ride.