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Call For Unity Only Link To 1801 Inauguration

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By WALT BELCHER wbelcher

@tampatrib.com

Published: January 20, 2009

History records that in 1801 when Thomas Jefferson took the oath of office as the nation's third president, he strolled over from a boardinghouse to an unfinished Capitol building.

He gave a short but memorable speech to a packed Senate chamber. He spoke of unifying the nation after a bitter, hard-fought political campaign. And then he walked back to the boardinghouse for dinner.

There was newspaper coverage of this inauguration, the first to be held in the nation's capital. But it took awhile for the account to spread through the country.

Things have escalated considerably since Jefferson symbolically wore "plain clothes" to show that he was a man of the people. It was a low-tech, low-cost event.

A worldwide audience will see Barack Obama become the 44th president in one of those shared moments made possible by live television coverage.

There will be symbolism and another call for unity in trouble times. And it probably will become the most-watched inauguration in history, easily topping the 42 million that watched Ronald Reagan's 1981 ceremony.

The inauguration and all the related events, including concerts and parties, may also set a record for costs - or maybe not. It depends on how the bills are tallied.

Obama critics, including several TV political pundits, have been comparing the $150 million-plus price tag for today's events with the about $40 million spent on George W. Bush's second inauguration.

But, reportedly, that $40 million Bush figure does not include costs incurred by the federal government and the District of Columbia for security, transportation and cleanup while the Obama $150 million estimate does.

When the costs the federal government and the District of Columbia incurred in 2005 are factored in, the total cost of Bush's 2005 inauguration is around $150 million, too.

In each case, the inaugural parties and balls are paid for by private donations. And in each case, the figure is mind-boggling, especially now during the nation's economic woes.

Running up the cost this time is a record crowd. It will be a historic moment and 2 million to 3 million people want to be there to see it in person.

RUSSELL RHODES: Officials of Fox-owned WTVT, Channel 13, had nothing new to say Monday about the future of morning anchor Russell Rhodes, who was arrested Friday night in the parking garage at Channelside.

Rhodes, 49, was stopped by an off-duty Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy for allegedly driving recklessly in the garage, according to a sheriff's office spokesman.

Reportedly, Rhodes tried to walk away twice after he was ordered to hand over his keys, and then he ran from the garage, fell and received bruises. He was booked into Orient Road Jail on charges of obstructing or opposing an officer without violence. He was released Saturday on $500 bail.

He has apologized.

A Fox representative referred my inquiry to the WTVT Web site and the previous statement: "Fox 13 management is aware of the matter and is reviewing it."

MARS RETURNS: ABC's quirky, offbeat "Life on Mars" returns with new episodes on Jan. 28.

Based on a hit BBC series, "Life on Mars" stars Jason O'Mara as a cop who is injured and wakes up in the 1970s. It was ABC's only new drama this fall and it was taken off after it faltered in the ratings.

It will get a second chance on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. It co-stars Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol and Jonathan Murphy.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

"Neighborhood Inaugural Ball," 9 p.m., ABC

ABC reportedly paid $2 million for the rights to this and a concert that aired Monday on the Disney Channel. New President Barack Obama will dance with his wife, Michelle, while Beyonce Knowles sings "At Last."

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