Thinking back to 1974 when Nixon resigned in disgrace, there was a strong sense of relief in the nation. We felt that yesterday, too. But the experience for most of us went well beyond relief. For the outgoing president, there was no resignation, no admission of defeat; only a hollow self-congratulatory farewell event planned by the man himself.
In sharp contrast, our new President and Vice President stood at the center of a joyful, hope-filled celebration. And yet, they never placed themselves at the center. They placed the country there. It was much more than a relief. It was much more than a return to normalcy. It gave us a tangible sense of hope that we can not only begin to repair the damage of the last four years but that we can move forward at the same time. Not magically, not without a tremendous amount of hard work, but practically. If we can manage to achieve even a fraction of the unity that President Biden called for, we can make dramatic progress.