The Swearing-In Ceremony of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the 111st Congress

January 9, 2009

George and I were invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House of Representatives and the swearing in of the 111st Congress on January 6, 2009. We accepted and on Monday of this week headed for Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday, the day of the ceremony, we arrived at the appointed time as instructed at the South Door of the Capital. From there, after security checks, we were escorted through two great halls of the Capital, up a grand marble staircase where there hangs a painting depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence, to the Speaker’s Office. The place was buzzing – the corridors, the grand halls, the stair wells --- people hurrying by – guests like us, staff, officials. We didn’t know where to look or to what to pay attention. Oh --- there’s… and he is gone ---coming off the elevator -- Congressman Rangle – gone too fast before we could say hello. And then, another – known and unknown. There was a definite sense of excitement.

Another turn and we were at an arched entrance, embossed with gold letters, “Office of the Speaker -- Nancy Pelosi.” (I wondered about what is required to change that when the gavel is passed on). In keeping with the position, the Speaker’s offices comprise a complex of offices and special rooms for her staff --- 65 strong --and where she can hold special interviews and receptions. We entered the area --- a place humming with activity this morning.

Down a corridor -- past a young staffer computer in hand and checking us in -- our coats were taken, and we were invited into the reception room. Waiters flanked each side of the entrance offering beverages --- water, juices, wine—to the arriving guests. As I looked inside, I let out a sigh surprised at the beauty and majesty of the room --- so well proportioned, with a high ornate ceiling, full length windows, brocade drapes, walls decorated with ornate lights and paintings, a crystal chandelier hung in the center. There was a sense of grandeur which conveyed both dignity and importance. A table almost the length of the room held a beautifully presented buffet brunch of croissants, rolls, salads, platters of fruit, and small chocolate desserts.

George and I moved around the room taking it all in, proud to be American and happy to be in that place at that moment. Others started arriving as we waited for the Speaker herself. A number of folks from the Boston area whom knew were also there – as well as others we had met at other occasions hosted by the DCCC.

At noon, the Speaker entered followed by staff, family, and clergy. She made a short speech and then moved among the guests, welcoming each, thanking them for their support and for coming today. She has a wonderful warm way --- a charm that doesn’t always come across on a television screen. She looks you right in the eye and addresses you by name --- and always comments on something personal --- a winning touch for a successful politician! Upon seeing George and me, after the first greeting, she announced to everyone close by that we had won our long running case in Armenia. She was ecstatic and congratulated us! We had the chance to applaud the judiciary of Armenia --- while those around us started to ask us about the case.

If this had been the end of the day and we had been ushered out, it would have been OK with me – as we’d already seen and experienced so much. But, the best part was still to come. We were again escorted through the corridors of the Capital to the observation galleries above the House of Representatives chamber --- where the House meets, where joint sessions of Congress are held, and where the President gives the State of the Union address each January. We settled into our seats joining hundreds of other guests of other representatives, both Democrat and Republican, who have come to witness the proceedings as we have.

The House chamber is imposing. The podium set up high across the front of the room with the hundreds of seats for the representatives arranged in a fan-like pattern across the full width of the room. On one side sit the Democrats and on the other side, the Republicans separated by an aisle -- hence the expression ‘reaching across the aisle’ which infers bi-partisanship, of working together. Usually, an orderly place, on this first day of the newly elected Congress, the scene below appeared chaotic as the 435 members of House assembled many accompanied by children and grandchildren to witness the ceremony.

From our perch in the galleries, we starting searching out representatives we recognized and knew by name --- there’s Waters, Kucinich, Harman …Wasserman, Frank, Blunt, Markey, Schwartz, Pelosi --- and so on. It was fun trying to remember who was who --- who did what and who chaired which committee and so on. It was a perspective one could not appreciate from watching proceedings on C-Span – even live. The visual impact of seeing all of these House members gathered in one place, impressed on us the difficulty of trying to arrive at consensus in order to govern.

At 12:30, the Clerk of the House --- a large, stately woman, who walks with an erect posture brought the gavel down hard on the podium and called for order with a booming voice. She read a number of communications, including the resignation of Rahm Emmanuel who has accepted the position as Chief of Staff for President –elect Obama. It was, however, hard to hear everything above the animated, noisy chatter from all over the chamber. Next, pounding the gavel harder, and speaking even louder, the Clerk called for nominations for the Speaker of the House. Now, there was more quiet. Congressman John D. Larsen, the new chair of the House Democratic Caucus, rose to nominate Congresswoman. Nancy Pelosi as unanimously selected by the Democratic Caucus. The Clerk accepted the nomination and asked if there were any other nominations. In like fashion, from the Republic side Congressman John Boehner was also nominated for the position.

Next the Clerk announced a roll call vote. Four representatives came forward to record and tally the votes. The voting lasted nearly one hour as the names of the 435 representatives were called in alphabetically order and each, in response, cast their vote by shouting out his or her choice --- Pelosi --- Boehner --- Boehner --- Pelosi and so forth. When over, the votes were tallied and the results were announced -- 255 for Pelosi, and 177 for Boehner. There was a standing ovation throughout both the chamber and the galleries. Republicans, too, stood and applauded! (Later Speaker Pelosi commented on how thrilled she was to hear the majority number by which she won --- a tribute to a lot of hard campaigning by all Democrats.)

The noise level rose again and the Clerk again called for order. She read out the names of the leaders of both parties, various other representatives, and the full California delegation. She asked them to leave the chamber with the Speaker-elect in order to present her officially to the full House. They exited – and re-entered some 15 minutes later through the rear doors escorting the Speaker down the aisle – passing between the Democrats and the Republicans -- to the podium.

Congressman John Dingell of Michigan, the longest serving member of the Democrats came forward and administered the oath of office to the new Speaker. Congressman Boehner, as the leader of the Republican party in the House, handed her the gavel after making a short speech. He welcomed everyone that day, acknowledged the severity of the problems facing the country, and promised to respond favorably to Obama’s reach across the aisle. He said, “The Republicans will not be the party of opposition, but the party of problem solving. As we stand ready to work with you, Mme. Speaker -- it is my privilege to present to you the gavel of the House of Representatives….” Loud applause!

Speaker Pelosi took the gavel and welcomed all of the new members of the House. She acknowledged the families present. She said, “Now is the time to put country ahead of party. Few have had such responsibility… We must look forward, not point fingers… a powerful new hope in two weeks… with the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama…” Again – loud applause. “Many Americans today are losing everything …. We need action NOW!.... In Health Care…. We need action now! For the crises among the elderly… We need action now!.. in Energy…. Infrastructure… We need action now! Our nation needs action --- and we need action now!” “…. Alliances must be renewed… working together for the ‘common good.’ Thunderous applause!”

She invited the children present to join her on the podium (as she did two years ago) --- nearly 50 or so scramble up in response, including her many grandchildren. When all were in place, the Speaker asked the members of the House of Representatives to stand. For the first time, there was now complete silence in the chamber and the galleries. Neither was there any perceivable motion anywhere. The Speaker asked the representatives to raise their right hand and to respond to the oath of office which she read,

“ I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God." The full House responded in unison, ‘I do.’

Thunderous applause followed --- once again. Except for some additional House business – the presentation of the Majority Leader and Whip, and the same for the minority party --- the first session of the 111st Congress was over.

There were a few aspects to these proceedings that surprised me --- there was no saying of the Pledge of Allegiance, no color guard, no Star-Spangled Banner singing and no prayer. We didn’t miss it --- it wasn’t until sometime later while writing this that I realized these were absent.

George and I were nonetheless moved by the ceremony we witnessed-- as many others were. This congress is going to debate and pass laws more critical to the preservation of our country than at any time in our recent history. It was probably the only time in our lives that we would attend something like this --- we did not take it lightly --- but as a responsibility of citizenry. We felt empowered, as if we had taken the oath too, to be better citizens and to pay close attention to what our congressional representatives do with their charge of office. We told several representatives that night at the gala banquet given to celebrate the day’s events that we will be paying attention to what they did and will hold them responsible. We had a renewed sense that these representatives are working for us! This is the people’s House ---and we the people must take charge by holding them accountable and watching what is done in our name! We need action… and we need it now!

Next --- the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States which we have decided to attend.

Carolann S. Najarian, M.D.