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Photos by Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer
WASHINGTON – The vice president's official residence stands just around the corner from the New Zealand Embassy. Maybe that's why the Mainers who partied there Monday kept the noise down.
It certainly was a big enough crowd to rattle the timbers of the embassy building, where some 500 guests laid siege to an open bar, devoured lamb and lobster, and shared their enthusiasm for the inauguration of Democrat Barack Obama
"Frankly, I've never seen anything like the excitement about Obama's inauguration," said former Gov. Joseph Brennan, a Democrat who has attended inauguration ceremonies dating back to the beginning of the Reagan administration. "What a great statement the people of this nation are making to the world."
The event seemed to be on every well-connected Mainer's must-do list the day before Obama's swearing in as the nation's first black president.
But others who flocked to the capital from the Pine Tree State found plenty of things to keep them busy, ranging from tours of historic sites to protests aimed at the outgoing president, Republican George W. Bush.
The embassy luncheon was hosted by Preti, Flaherty, Beliveau and Pachios, a Portland-based law firm. Its members, in particular partner Severin Beliveau, have long been active supporters, fundraisers and lobbyists for Democratic causes.
Beliveau's son, Emmett, 32, is the executive director of Obama's inauguration committee. He oversees some 400 staff members who planned the weeklong series of events.
Emmett Beliveau made a brief appearance at the embassy Monday. He told the crowd that events so far have gone smoothly, but that Inauguration Day will be a challenge. The forecast is for cold, windy weather and light snow today, and Beliveau said the military would be called out to clear any significant amounts of snow.
He then noted that Maine Gov. John Baldacci was present.
"The governor is counting on all of you to help out," he said.
Monday's guest list included the front ranks of elected officials in Maine, including all four members of the state's congressional delegation, Baldacci, Brennan and other former governors.
Also present were such well-known Mainers as Joan Benoit Samuelson, the Olympic marathon gold medalist; Les Otten, a real estate developer and part-owner of the Boston Red Sox; and Robert C.S. Monks, a developer from Cape Elizabeth who led Obama's fundraising efforts in Maine.
Since he arrived two days ago, Monks and other members of the campaign finance committee have met with Obama.
Monks said he is eager to see the former U.S. senator from Illinois sworn in today, so work can continue on a dialogue about race that opened up during the Obama campaign.
"I'm hoping that we won't be wasting energy being uncomfortable with each other anymore," Monks said.
Mixed into the embassy crowd were a large number of Republicans, which GOP U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe took as a healthy sign of bipartisanship.
"I think this nation has come together as one, not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans," said Snowe, whose husband, former Republican Gov. John R. McKernan, also attended the reception.
Snowe said she has spoken with Obama and a number of top officials in his administration. She described the Obama camp as "responsive and reaching out" to GOP members.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, also a Republican, said she was looking forward to the inauguration as a chance for a fresh start on crafting policies that will address the nation's problems.
"The level of excitement is palpable," she said.
While some Mainers soaked up the anticipation of a new face in the White House, others took one last chance to criticize the outgoing one.
More than 200 protesters, led by a Maine activist, marched to the front gate of the White House and tossed shoes at the fence as a farewell gesture to Bush. No one was injured or arrested...
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