Lawrence residents reflect on President Obama's inauguration
Local residents, young and old, were glued to their televisions yesterday, as Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States. Enlarge video
Inauguration Day 2009
President Barack Obama takes the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Tuesday.
Obama’s inauguration
Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009 — the first African-American elected to the position. Many locals will make the trip to Washington, D.C., to watch the historic event. Others will watch from here in Kansas.
Presidential Memories
Reserve a piece of history
Purchase images from the historic 2008 election and inauguration.
Inauguration Commemorative Package
Purchase commemorative copies of the Journal-World.
Obama: America's 44th President
- World celebrates Obama’s presidency
- Bush tells cheering Texans ‘it is good to be home’
- Obamas kick off galas with ‘At Last’
- Kennedy suffers seizure
- Republicans find inauguration alternatives
- Day signals sharp break with past
- Jayhawks excited about Obama
- Obama takes office
- Obama takes reins of presidency as first African-American president
- Joe Biden becomes nation's 47th Vice President
- The text of Barack Obama's inaugural address
- More than a million turn out for inauguration, parade
- Bush leaves D.C. for Texas
- Lawrence firefighter salutes Obama's inauguration from South Pole
- Democrats replay day's greatest hits
- Michelle Obama picks white gown
- Hundreds gather at Brown v. Board site to take in Obama's inauguration
- Internet traffic slows KU Hospital's electronic record system
- Local students spend day learning about inauguration
- Obama has young — and unlikely — fan in Lawrence
- Sebelius takes in inauguration
- PHOTO GALLERY: Busy day in Washington, D.C., as millions celebrate Obama inauguration
- PHOTO GALLERY: Locals celebrate Obama's presidency
- PHOTO GALLERY: Global reaction to Obama's swearing in
- PHOTO GALLERY: Inauguration Balls
Even though it was a recording of President Barack Obama’s inauguration from several hours earlier, cheers still emanated from supporters Tuesday night in Lawrence.
“It’s joyous. Finally we have somebody who represents us in the White House,” said Lawrence resident Marybeth Bethel during the Douglas County Democrats celebration at Abe and Jake’s Landing, 8 E. Sixth St.
Ed Quick, chairman of the county party, estimated 450 people attended the event as they watched replays from the morning and other coverage. Obama didn’t win Kansas in the November election, but he did carry Douglas County by a wide margin.
The Democrats also praised Obama’s inaugural address, calling it realistic about the economic and other challenges the country faces.
“He will be asking Americans to make sacrifices, and I think a little bit you saw Americans react positively toward that,” said state Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City. “They want to be part of the solution going forward.”
State Sen. Chris Steineger, D-Kansas City, Kan., said the speech also struck a chord with people.
“I think collectively to get ourselves out of this economic predicament and then regain our standing in foreign affairs is going to take a lot of self sacrifice,” he said.
People in Lawrence also soaked in hours worth of inaugural events as they were broadcast live on television Tuesday morning.
Employees and many of those exercising at the Lawrence Athletic Club, 3201 Mesa Way, had their eyes glued to television sets as Obama was about to be sworn in as the nation’s 44th president.
“I’m just real happy something like this happened; it’s a big change,” said Wayne Jackson, personal trainer. “It just lets you know you can do anything in this country … no matter what race you are.”
Others had an early lunch at downtown Lawrence establishments to take in the historic inauguration of America’s first black president.
“I’m African-American myself, so I think this is definitely going to be a historical day for me to remember,” said Demetrius Early, who watched the events on a television projection screen at Buffalo Wild Wings, 1012 Mass.
Applause broke out at the Kansas Union after Obama made his inaugural address. Dozens of students crowded into multiple rooms at the university to watch the events on TV screens.
“It’ll be a notable event that you’ll remember for the rest of your life,” said Jenni Watts, a Kansas University senior from Salina.
Comments
LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.