REMARKS: INAUGURATION GALA BRINGS BACK MEMORIES

Barring something totally unforeseen, George W. Bush should have been sworn in as the 43rd president of the United States by the time this column is read. For me, a "'tweener," President Bush represents my ninth president and the seventh I actually remember.

I can remember watching Richard M. Nixon being sworn in for his second term in 1973. That, of course, marked the zenith of his popularity. Fresh from a resounding victory in the 1972 election on the heels of trips to China and the Soviet Union, and with American POWs beginning to arrive home, Nixon was on top, poised for his historic fall.

I also remember watching Gerald Ford take the oath after Nixon's resignation in 1974. He opened his remarks by saying that he realized he had not been voted into office by the people. "You're darn right you didn't, buster!" was my mom's replay to the new chief executive, reminding him that he'd better "watch it!"

The idea to photograph the historic moment suddenly hit me Jan. 20, 1977, as I prepared to watch Jimmy Carter become the 39th president. I grabbed our trusty old Kodak 126 camera and attached a flash cube. When the one-time Georgia peanut farmer took the oath, I snapped one picture. As it turned out, the shot came out quite well -- especially for a 126. Although that inauguration was not necessarily a pivotal moment in history, it was still a significant moment. I never bothered to shoot another televised inauguration, but still have the Carter photo in my album.

I actually had a ticket to attend Ronald Reagan's second inaugural in 1985. I was in an interim class at Central Methodist College that spent three weeks in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding area. We toured many of the historic sites (meeting with Sen. John Danforth in the Capital, etc.) and having to keep a detailed journal. We had tickets to get a bird's-eye view of the inauguration ceremonies.

As it turned out, Washington suffered one of its most bitter winters in years. We traipsed through snow and freezing rain, and by Jan. 20, it was well below zero, with terrible wind chill factors. We were going to miss spring registration and the first day of classes, according to the syllabus. I don't think any of us were too disappointed when the outdoor ceremonies were called off. We got to head home a day early and avoid several hours of unbearable cold. Of course, we also missed what was likely the only chance for most of us to see an inauguration live.

Incidentally, one memory that stands out (other than a friend passing out on a subway train and us dragging him back to the hotel one night) was the warning not to get near the hotel windows when the inauguration parade went past. We were told that agents would shoot any figures seen standing in the windows. I'm still not sure if there was any bluff in that warning or not. We didn't chance it.

New political junkie

Since getting cable in May, I've become a CNN and Fox political junkie. I never see regular network TV shows, but hate to miss Larry King, The O'Reilley Factor, The Capitol Gang or The Spin Room. I have to admit, though, that I've become so angry recently, that I may have to give it up or risk assaulting my TV set.

It amazes me that our society has reached the point where leaders of various groups would proclaim (almost unchallenged) on international airwaves that being a born-again Christian and praying for divine guidance in one's duties each day makes one unfit for public office. Naturally, I refer to John Ashcroft and his "controversial" and "divisive" nomination for attorney general.

The man may not be a saint, and I understand that not everyone who voted against him in the November election did so out of sympathy for the Carnahan family. Still, the man has been maligned, slandered, libeled and generally assaulted for being a conservative Christian. I have seen no evidence that any of the charges leveled have any basis whatsoever. The only charge that might have the thinnest thread of legitimacy is that his opposition to Ronnie White was in revenge of an earlier political clash. I don't believe that either, but it has to be about the only thing brought up by opponents that even warrants serious thought.

Then again, unlike the dead skunk Mr. Ashcroft likes to refer to, I'm not exactly in the middle of the road, either.