The hard work of the Barack Obama presidency begins with the end of his inaugural speech. Yet at the inauguration, the center of gravity was anticipating the words and the power of Obama’s first address as president.

These were his first words as president:

“My fellow citizens,

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

“Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

“So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

“That we are in the midst of crisis is now well-understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

“These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

“Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

“On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear; unity of purpose over conflict and discord.”

(Turn to msn.com and other online sources for the full text.)

n

The timing of the inauguration, this Jan. 20 tradition, was intensified because our first black president took command one day after Martin Luther King Day.

It was interesting to see how closely Obama’s words resembled  the spirit of King’s timeless words from his April 1968 “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech:

“The nation is sick, trouble is in the land, confusion all around. But I know somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.

“Let us rise up with a great resolve. Let us strive with a quiet determination and let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge, to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better place.”