Barack Obama takes his seat in U.S. Senate

Jet, Jan 24, 2005 by Kevin Chappell

As he makes his way from his temporary basement office to the U.S. Capitol building, Barack Obama jokes that he finally has an apartment, but no furniture. He finally has a bed, but it has no sheets. He has a refrigerator but it has "nothing in it, not even a six-pack," he says. But he does have a seat in the U.S. Senate!

Indeed, on this, the first day of his new job, the sole African-American U.S. senator is the first to admit that he's a long way from Illinois and the comforts of home.

But it's a day the 43-year-old has worked for much of the last decade. He's now one of the country's most powerful African Americans--winning a landslide victory in the November election in a state known for making political history and political superstars.

As Obama marches to his historic swearing in ceremony, his pace is brisk crossing the street and heading for the Capitol. He encounters a Black taxicab driver who blows his horn and yells out "We're proud of you." A few seconds later, two Sisters scream when they realize that the man who had captivated America during last summer's Democratic National Convention was right there in front of them. Next an older White woman tourist asks Obama to pose for a photo with her. The handshakes, smiles, photo requests and back pats make a normally short trip along the historic streets of Capitol Hill seem more like a day-long campaign swing through Chicago.

But it's already become routine to Obama, who, ever since arriving in Washington, has kept a hectic schedule. There have been appointments to keep, meetings to attend, family to attend to, and reporters, dozens and dozens of reporters, camped out in front of his office. Not to mention, the bus loads of supporters who traveled from Illinois to witness the historic moment. They all want time with the man they helped put into office.

Cameras flashed as Obama entered the U.S. Senate chamber to he sworn in by Vice President Dick Cheney, who presides over the U.S. Senate. The event, which is now a historic landmark, lasted little more than a minute as Obama, dressed in a dark-colored suit, placed one hand on his personal Bible and raised his other hand. His wife, Michelle and daughters, Sasha and Malia, looked on with pride as he took the oath, making him only the fifth Black senator in the country's history.

Earlier in the morning, Obama and the other freshman members of the 109th Congress met with President Bush at the White House. They included the four new Black members of the House of Representatives--Al Green of Texas, Cynthia McKinney of Georgia, Wisconsin's Gwen Moore and Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri. They too were sworn in during ceremonies in the House chambers.

Obama, who has already been named to the key Foreign Relations, Environment, Public Works and Veterans Affairs committees, says that he has a particular interest in nuclear proliferation issues and a personal interest in Africa. He says that he expects to head a delegation to Africa in the near future. "Certainly in the next two years I will visit Africa," he said. "When I go, I want it to be substantive and do it right."

Much of Obama's family, some from as far away as Hawaii and Kenya, traveled to Washington for the momentous event. They all had dinner together a day earlier. "This is a good excuse for a family reunion, except you don't get to see them but for a couple minutes at a time," says wife Michelle, with the couple's two daughters in tow. "This was the first time the children have met many of their relatives."

The brief ceremony was followed by a gala reception at the Library of Congress later that evening, where the nation's only Black senator greeted several thousand supporters who had gathered to celebrate the hope that he brings to his new job. He delivered a rousing message that didn't disappoint the faithful.

"I will be working in D.C. and in Illinois to make sure that every child gets a decent shot at life, to make sure that every senior citizen is eared for, to make sure that the diversity of this country is appreciated, and to make sure that we create the kind of nation that your children and grandchildren deserve," he said to the crowd. "I promise you that this is not the end of the road. It is just the start. I look forward to traveling that road with you."

As the crowd cheered, Mrs. Obama said that her task now is to attempt to build as normal a life as possible for her family. Next week, she planned to head back to work at the University of Chicago Hospital, and get the children back in school, leaving her husband in Washington by himself to begin his history-making journey.

"I see us getting our family life in order, and my husband rolling up his sleeves and getting to work," she said, "and finally doing something to warrant all of this attention."

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