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Tuesday, January 13, 2009
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2 from area to be part of history PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION Associate Editor For those who would like to be an eyewitness to history at next week's inauguration, securing the hottest ticket in Washington, D.C., is just half the battle. Those people lucky enough to have tickets also need to get there and find a place to stay.
Two area people whose names are on the ticket list, Don Samuelson of Brainerd and Doreen Mahoney of Nisswa, have each had to use their resourcefulness as they made plans to see the inauguration of America's first black president on Jan. 20.
Mahoney, who will link up with her daughter who lives in Savannah, Ga., had planned to drive to Fredericksburg, Va., and take the train to Washington from there. She underestimated the demand for train tickets, however, and the only ones she could obtain called for she and her daughter to arrive on Monday (the day tickets must be picked up) and not leave until Tuesday night.
Having no place to stay in Washington, Mahoney's daughter, Alison Mahoney, put out a plea to her Facebook friends and a Sigma Kappa sorority sister who lived in Arlington, Va., offered them a place to stay. From the Arlington location the two women can park a car and walk a few minutes to the subway that will get them to Washington, D.C.
"So there is a reward for all those sorority expenses I incurred 10 years ago when Alison was in college," Mahoney e-mailed the Dispatch last week. Mahoney went on to say that being Minnesotans they know how to dress for cold weather.
Mahoney called Rep. Jim Oberstar's office after Sen. Barack Obama's victory and was initially told she was 210th on the list with the office expecting 198 tickets. Later, they moved up the list and they were told tickets would be available for she and her daughter.
"Right before the election we were talking about how cool it would be to go if Obama won," she said.
Mahoney said she was a little apprehensive about the crowds but felt better knowing they had tickets to a relatively secure area for the historic event.
"I've always been open-minded about ethnic and racial diversity in this country and to me this is just really a landmark for our country to finally get significantly beyond the prejudices that have been holding everybody back," she said. "And I also think he's an inspiring leader."
Samuelson, who served in Minnesota's House and Senate for many years, also received tickets through Oberstar's office and was told that the congressman had about 1,000 requests for 198 tickets. Planning the logistics of this trip was a challenge even for a political veteran like Samuelson.
When he first checked the price of round-trip airline tickets to Washington, D.C., about two weeks ago the price was about $850. The last time he checked the price was about $1,500. Trains to the nation's capital were sold out, Samuelson said. Samuelson and his son, Steve, decided to drive to Washington.
Next, came the challenge of finding a place to stay.
Samuelson called former U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, who lives in Mission Township of Crow Wing County. Nolan checked with his former chief of staff, James DeChaine, a former Brainerd resident. DeChaine didn't have room but connected Samuelson with a Georgetown neighbor who offered Samuelson and his son a place to stay.
The big day
What: Inauguration of the President-elect Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States.
When: Jan. 20.
Where: U.S. Capitol, Washington.
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Samuelson, 76, remembered distributing literature for Democratic candidates as a junior high student, but he's never attended a presidential inauguration. In fact, this election marked the first time Samuelson had ever donated to a presidential campaign.
"Kiddingly, I told Kenny Hasskamp (Rep. Jim Oberstar's staff assistant) to put my name in for ambassador to Sweden," Samuelson said.
The veteran lawmaker said Obama's ability to draw crowds during the campaign was unlike anything he had seen. The president-elect's skills as an orator reminded Samuelson of Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey.
"Unbelievable," Samuelson said. "It's just phenomenal. Part of it is a sign of the times. People are hurting. This guy's dynamic. He reminds you a little bit of (President) Kennedy."
Samuelson said the inauguration will be historic, in part because Obama will be the first black president. His inauguration, Samuelson said, might be a sign that the nation is finally reaching the point where candidates will be judged by their character and not their race.
"I think it's significant and good for the country because maybe, somehow, we get most of that stuff out of the way," he said of prejudiced attitudes.
MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.
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