Inauguration Reception at the Ambassador’s Residence

21 January 2009

Inauguration Party at Ambassador's Residence [photo gallery]

On January 20, the day of President Barack Obama’s official inauguration, U.S. Ambassador to Poland, Victor Ashe, hosted a formal reception to celebrate the occasion at his Warsaw residence together with Polish and American guests.  “As a U.S. citizen, I hope Barack Obama fulfills his role as 44th U.S. President with excellence, especially in these hard times,” Ambassador Ashe told the press. “The problems Obama will have to tackle are extremely important and difficult; I hope Americans give him the support he needs.”  The guest list included prominent politicians, Catholic Church leaders, diplomats, renowned journalists, and key figures from Poland’s business world. Among those present were: H.E. Primate Józef Glemp, Primate of Poland, Andrzej Wajda, world-famous film director, H.E. Ambassador François Barry Delongchamps, Ambassador of France, Mr. Sławomir Skrzypek, President of the National Bank of Poland, Dr. Janusz Kochanowski, Human Rights Ombudsman, Prof.  Tadeusz Iwiński, Deputy Chairman of the EU Committee and Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee (SLD), and Mr. Ryszard Kalisz, Chairman of Justice and HR Committee (SLD). 

It was about 4:30 p.m. in Warsaw (10:30 a.m. in Washington) when the first guests of honor and U.S. Embassy representatives started arriving at the Ambassador’s residence.  A large screen and theatre-style seating set up on the screened-in patio allowed everyone to comfortably follow the live CNN broadcast from President Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony.  Closer to the official part, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Washington time (17:30 Warsaw time), conversation ceased in the adjacent reception room as the guests took their seats in front of the screen to witness the ceremony and the incredible energy filling what CNN reporters referred to as “a sea of people” – the immense crowd who came to witness the ceremony at the National Mall.  The room fell completely silent when Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California began her welcoming remarks followed by Rick Warren’s inaugural invocation, Aretha Franklin’s performance of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” and a special performance of “Air and Simple Gifts” by Oscar-winning composer John Williams, written especially for Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration.  A few minutes after 18:00 in Warsaw (12 noon Washington time), when Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, the Ambassador’s Warsaw residence filled with cheers, tearful joy, good wishes, and a vigorous applause.