Kaine Takes Reins With a Nod To History and Bipartisanship

By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, January 15, 2006

WILLIAMSBURG, Jan. 14 -- Timothy Michael Kaine became Virginia's 70th governor Saturday afternoon after swearing his oath of office in the Colonial-era capital city where Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated 227 years ago.

In a ceremony rich with the texture of the nation's early history, Kaine evoked the 18th-century legacies of Jefferson and Patrick Henry but also vowed to embrace the 21st-century bipartisanship of his immediate predecessor, fellow Democrat Mark R. Warner.

"The promise of Virginia is bright today because of their efforts, and it is up to us to carry the work forward for future generations," he told a crowd of about 5,000. "Our challenges today are different than those faced by the Jamestown settlers or the first Virginia governors. But they require fidelity to the same values."

Speaking for nearly 15 minutes, Kaine promised education would be "our top priority" and said he would ensure that "your dollars are used responsibly" and that "every hardworking Virginian -- no matter where they live -- has access to a good-paying job to provide for their family."

And in a nod to the state's growing immigrant population, particularly in Northern Virginia, he called on those already here to welcome newcomers. Speaking at one point in Spanish, he promised to be "fair and inclusive of all communities" and pledged to formally recognize Virginia's Indian tribes.

Thousands of people from across the state gathered on bleachers and along Duke of Gloucester Street in cold, rainy weather to see Kaine assume the title of "His Excellency" from Warner, who, by tradition, quietly stepped away from the podium after the oath was given.

By the time Kaine started his speech, Warner and his wife, Lisa Collis, were on their way out of Williamsburg.

Immediately after taking his oath, Kaine signed six executive orders, including one that renews Warner's decision to extend anti-discrimination protection to gay men and lesbians working for the state.

The weather was brisk but bright as the day dawned. But as the skies darkened and rain began to fall, officials and invited guests donned clear plastic ponchos. Many in the crowd said the day reminded them of the bleak, frigid Saturday 12 years ago when George Allen (R) was inaugurated.

Kaine walked out without a poncho in a steady rain, accompanied by his wife and children.

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Leroy R. Hassell Sr. first administered the oath of office to Robert F. McDonnell (R), the new attorney general, and Bill Bolling (R), the lieutenant governor. Then the governor-elect placed his left hand on a Bible and raised his right hand to become Warner's successor.

When he finished, Revolution-era cannons boomed the traditional 19-volley salute for the governor, and Kaine was presented with a cannonball fired earlier this month. Watching the cannon blasts and waiting for the right moment to begin his speech, Kaine whispered to House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford), "I should have kept count."

In Richmond, the gleaming white Capitol that Jefferson designed is shrouded in scaffolding as workers perform the most delicate and comprehensive renovation of the landmark building in a century. That work, to be finished by next year, forced Kaine's inauguration to be moved 52 miles southeast to Williamsburg.

Here, Kaine's inaugural committee transformed what is billed as the nation's largest living history museum into the site of a modern-day political pageant beamed via satellite trucks to a statewide television audience.

"Let us remember that civility is not a sign of weakness," Kaine said to close his speech, "that cooperation and compromise are necessary for progress and for the sensible solutions we can all embrace to keep the promise of Virginia strong. Under God's hand, we have thrived. If we stay faithful to our history, we will succeed."

Kaine was elected Nov. 8, defeating Republican Jerry W. Kilgore. On Monday, the governor will deliver a speech to the General Assembly in which he probably will detail how he wants to fix the state's congested transportation network. He did not reveal anything about those plans in his inaugural speech, saying only that a "lack of coordination and will has us stuck. . . . Let it not be fear and politics that leave us stranded."

Saturday was a day for pomp, not policy. "It was more poetry than prose," University of Virginia Prof. Larry J. Sabato said of Kaine's speech.

Virginia lawmakers, who have begun the 2006 legislative session in Richmond, praised Kaine for using the speech to reach out to both political parties.

"I thought he was very conciliatory," said Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (R-Fairfax). "I was pleased to hear that."

Davis's husband, U.S. Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.), called the speech moving because it evoked the special day in Virginia's history. "I've been to several of these now; his was more soaring than what we've seen from his predecessors."

Del. Robert H. Brink (D-Arlington) said Kaine's speech "set exactly the right tone for what we need to do for the next four years for the commonwealth."

And former governor Charles S. Robb (D) said Kaine "hit all the right notes. He laid out a challenging agenda for the commonwealth and for himself. I would hope for and encourage the kind of bipartisan cooperation he's going to need to accomplish his goals."

Del. Harvey B. Morgan (R-Gloucester) said the speech "was very uplifting, made in the spirit of reaching out to everybody."

Kaine's father-in-law, former governor A. Linwood Holton Jr. (R), and former governors Allen, Robb, James S. Gilmore III (R) and Warner all attended the ceremony.

Kaine presided over a weekend of festivities, beginning Friday night with a concert by the Beach Boys. Kaine's son Nat and his high school band performed the opening act, and the soon-to-be governor played a few bars on his harmonica with No Speed Limit, a bluegrass band from southwestern Virginia.

Hotels in Williamsburg were packed with lawmakers, lobbyists, reporters and members of high school marching bands.

Saturday's events started at the 290-year-old Bruton Parish Episcopal Church, where Kaine attended a prayer service with Bolling and McDonnell. Before the service, the three men adjusted one another's ties and joked about being fashion-challenged.

At the end of the service, Kaine beamed and gave a thumbs-up sign as members of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church of Richmond performed "My Country 'Tis of Thee." His daughter, Annella, leaned against her father as they sang together.

In a brief and traditional ceremony before the speech in the Secretary of State Room at the old Capitol, Warner took a key to the governor's mansion out of a small black box.

"As much as I, in some ways, regret handing over these keys," Warner said, "I can't think of anybody I have more trust and confidence in and who will be a greater governor than my friend Tim Kaine."

Taking the key, Kaine joked that "someone must hold this. I will lose it in the first five minutes."

The rain continued after Kaine's speech as representatives of dozens of schools and other nonprofit groups began slowly making their way along Duke of Gloucester Street for the inaugural parade. Kaine, wearing a black raincoat over the traditional gray morning suit of newly installed governors, stepped into a gold-colored open carriage for the ride to the reviewing stand across from the Colonial Governor's Palace. His wife, Anne Holton, was on his left; their three children sat across from them.

Farther down the parade route, wet spectators watched staff members unload chairs onto the reviewing stand, then carefully cover each one with black plastic. Onlookers huddled under the eaves of 18th-century buildings, making friends with others waiting for the parade to pass by.

At last, with a flourish, rows of red-coated fife players announced the arrival of Kaine and his family, waving from the carriage. A reenactor in a deep-blue, hooded velvet cloak rushed forward, lifted a digital camera and snapped a photo.

"You know, this is worth it," said Teresa Givens, who was driving to Norfolk from her home in Richmond and decided to stop by Williamsburg for the festivities. "We'll put on the heat for 45 minutes and drink some hot chocolate, and we'll be fine."

Saturday night, Kaine and his family planned to attend two inaugural balls -- one in Williamsburg and the other in Richmond.

At the Williamsburg ball, hundreds of people jammed the basketball arena at the College of William and Mary and watched Kaine sing "My Girl" and play the harmonica. His daughter won a limbo contest. Guests dined on shaved roast beef and chicken skewers with peanut sauce.

The Kaine family later went to the Richmond party, where hundreds more packed the convention center, snacking on offerings of cheese, fruit and alcoholic beverages.

On Sunday, Anne Holton will hold a brunch at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and the first family will host an open house at the governor's mansion from 1 to 3 p.m.

In cyberspace, Kaine's ascension became official as he finished his oath. At 12:20 p.m., Warner's Web site, http://www.governor.virginia.gov , came down and a new one went up: "Governor Tim Kaine -- Virginia Leading the Way."

Staff writers Rosalind S. Helderman and Chris L. Jenkins contributed to this report.