An Historic Day

I know - all eyes are on Texas and Ohio and Rhode Island and Vermont. This may be the last day of the Primary season and the first day of the General season. More importantly, if that is the case, it would also mean that it is a great turning point in the history of our Republic, the day it became apparent that a mixed-race 46 year old black man from Hawaii becomes the first of his race (and of his state) to run as the nominee of a major political party for President of the United States.

March 4, 2008. Will it go down in history? I've said more than once on this blog that I thought his opponent would not only be the nominee but also the President. I've said this while being at times a supporter of hers, a supporter of his, and a supporter of Chris Dodd's, who last week endorsed tonight's would-be history-maker. And tonight, I am beginning to think I could very well be wrong.

March 4th used to be the day presidents took office. Only in the mid-20th century was that date changed to January 20th. Seventy-five years ago today, America embarked on another historic journey, one that would last fifteen years in its genesis, with social and economic programs and progress which continued for nearly fifty years, through Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson (especially Johnson), Nixon, and to an extent Ford, until their dismantling by one of America's most charismatic yet least qualified men ever to hold the office of president, Ronald Reagan. Reagan not only ended The Cold War (a good thing), he also ended once and for all The New Deal, begun in the first 100 days of the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt who took office 75 years ago today. Ending the New Deal was not a good thing.

Most of us know at least one line from Roosevelt's first inaugural, one where he took on the economic woes of the country and the bank owners of the day by proclaiming "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." His addressing "fear" had nothing to do with foreign powers, terrorists, or outside invasion. It had to do with the leading economic forces of America, forces which had brought the American economy to its lowest point ever. If only George W. Bush were half the man Franklin D. Roosevelt was, perhaps we could hope for hope sooner than it will democratically arrive next year on January 20th. Hope Springs Eternal.