Robert G. Kaiser (The Post)

• Full Coverage: Inauguration Special Report • Talk: Politics message boards • Live Online Transcripts

As George W. Bush today takes the oath of office and assumes his place in U.S. history, his first task is to attempt to strike a tone of unity and confidence to begin his administration. What does his speech say about him? After parade marchers and the protesters go home and the debris of celebration is cleared away, what will the Bush presidency be like?

Readers talked about the new president's speech, the inauguration and the incoming Bush administration with Post associate editor and former managing editor Robert G. Kaiser on Saturday, Jan. 20.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Robert G. Kaiser: Welcome from a cold, wet Washington to washingtonpost.com's discussion of the new president's inaugural address. We welcome your questions and comments.

Arlington, Va.: How many former presidents typically attend inauguration ceremonies? Obviously the ones who are still living, and this time Reagan's in the hospital, so it makes sense that he's not there. But I see Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. Is this a ceremonial thing you do no matter what you think of the new guy?

Robert G. Kaiser: I think it's normal for former presidents to come to the inauguration, regardless of party.

D.C.: What'd you think of the speech?

Robert G. Kaiser: Regular readers of these discussions will know how little confidence this commentator has in his own first reactions, but I thought it was quite good. This is an odd time in American history; we really don't have any huge problems, the country is not waiting to hear where the new president will lead us. Bush seemed to have concluded that, in such circumstances, it would be good to revisit some first principles, which I thought he did quite gracefully. I'm sure some will say he overfulfilled the cliche quota, and others (see below) won't like the way he re-introduced his campaign platform, but overall I'd give him a good grade.

Seattle, Wash.: Do you really think that President Bush will have any effect on the Microsoft anti-trust trial?

Robert G. Kaiser: Is this a joke from Seattle, or is someone out there so nervous about the Microsoft case that they would think of this question at this moment? Am I getting questions from Bill Gates himself?

Anyhow, the answer is a resounding yes. Bush, his new Attorney General and assistant a.g. for the anti-trust division will have a big say in what happens next to the Microsoft case. There are certain to be future opportunities to settle the case, and a new administration is free to settle it as it sees fit.

Washington, D.C.: Will we ever again be able to listen to an inaugural speech that doesn't mention taxes? Geez, give me broad statements meant to inspire.

Robert G. Kaiser: See what I mean...

NW D.C.: Who wrote the speech?

Robert G. Kaiser: I'm embarrassed to say that I have forgotten the name of the speech writer, a man, who has been identified in The Post recently. Perhaps I can get someone to look it up while we're here. Or give me a link to the story we printed.

washingtonpost.com: Speech story: New President to Debut As a Man of Few Words (By Mike Allen, Post, Jan. 18)

Silver Spring, Md.: How is the weather affecting the crowd?

Robert G. Kaiser: I saw some empty chairs on TV -- I suspect some people just stayed home. I'm not in the crowd myself, but elsewhere on washingtonpost.com you can find direct reports from the streets of the city.

washingtonpost.com: Dispatches From the Inauguration (Jan. 20)

Baltimore, Md.: How do you interpret Bush's comments about religion having a place in "law" in his inaugural address?

Robert G. Kaiser: You know, American politicians from the very beginning have had a challenging time with religion. America was founded, you could argue, for religious reasons -- by people who wanted to be free to practice their religion, and who were not free to do so in England and elsewhere from which they came to America. Religion has always been hovering over our public life. I am old enough to remember when "under God" was inserted in the pledge of allegiance. In the context of American history, I don't think Bush went over any red lines today.

Richmond, Va.: What's your take on Bush's "honeymoon"? Is he going to have one?

Robert G. Kaiser: This is the Big Question for the next few months. How will the Democrats in Congress, particularly, play the role they have been dealt? How, indeed, will they define it? They could, fairly I think, see themselves as representatives of the clear majority of Americans who voted not for Bush, but for Al Gore in November, and they could try actively to defend the interests of those voters. To do so would likely preclude any meaningful honeymoon. But there are certainly numerous other possibilities. Stay tuned. Specifically, be sure to sign on to washingtonpost.com several times a day!

Washington, D.C.: I think it's insane the amount of security preparations accompanied this inauguration. Closing bridges? Shutting down Metro stops? Closing Connecticut Avenue? Ya gotta be kidding. If this guy's supposed to be a uniter, not a divider, what's he afraid of?

Robert G. Kaiser: I'm with you. This security stuff has gotten WAY out of hand. My most fervent hope for our new president is that he will have the courage (he used that word a lot in the speech) to do the really hard thing and ... reopen Pennsylvania Avenue! Here, I think, is the problem: when the secret service comes to you and solemnly swears that your life and the lives of thousands are in imminent danger, and we simply must close Connecticut Avenue to make sure you're alive until the inaugural balls begin, it's hard to look them back in the eye and say "Baloney."

Washington, D.C.: Bob, what did you think of President Clinton's 11th-hour actions, both in working the deal with Robert Ray and in the pardons? Is this guy simply determined to steal the spotlight?

Robert G. Kaiser: And look at the long list of new people pardon, or sentences commuted, already posted elsewhere on the site, Clinton's last day's work. It's quite something. But I don't think it's fair to say that the deal with Ray was a desire to hog the spotlight. I'm sure Clinton wishes no deal was necessary.

washingtonpost.com: Clinton pardon list

Washington, D.C.: It's funny listening to the TV talking heads repeat back the "best" lines of the speech. With a little inflection, some of the lines really aren't bad at all! But Bush lacked a: sincerity b: passion c: CONVICTION -- there's another C-word -- and d: delivery. You think that's the best he's got?

Robert G. Kaiser: Several colleagues, particularly E.J. Dionne in a column this week and Tom Shales in a remarkable piece in the Style Section, have speculated on how much the country is going to miss Bill Clinton. Whatever else you may think about him, Clinton knew how to use the television camera, and use occasions to touch people. Did any of you react as I did to the scene on that podium today, and think that Clinton looked about 1000 percent more comfortable than Bush?

Judging by what we've seen so far, this and the acceptance speech in Philadelphia are about the best we should expect from the new president. And that isn't half bad, in my opinion. It just isn't in the class of our recently-departed First Actor.

Robert G. Kaiser: Let me add a second thought to the previous answer. Both Clinton's inaugural addresses were, I think, eminently forgettable, passionless and rather dull. Do you remember either of them? So even the best find this a hard role to play, I surmise.

Alexandria, Va.: Who pays for the inauguration? Is this funded by tax money or private donations?

Robert G. Kaiser: Bush had to go to three black tie dinners around Washington on Thursday night to thank the big donors who paid for much of the inauguration, many at $100,000 a pop. Like all of our public life now, this is funded by the private sector.

Bethesda, Md.: Are any protests expected to turn violent?

Robert G. Kaiser: You've used one of my least favorite journalistic crutches. When someone says, or writes, "is expected to..." who exactly is talking? Do I personally expect violent demonstrations? I don't. Do I have an informed basis for saying that? I do not. Much of what is "expected to happen" is just editorializing, I think. There are a great many cops out there; I hope there's no trouble.

Washington, D.C.: Do you think the hyper-protection of the Bush daughters is warranted? I could see wanting to shield Chelsea -- she was 12 when Clinton came into office. But these girls are 19.

Robert G. Kaiser: I can only say that if they were my daughters, I'd want to give them all the protection I could find. Who would wish on their 19-year-olds the full force and fury of America's snoopy news media?

Washington, D.C.: Man, that wasn't much of a kiss Bush gave his wife after taking the oath. I was hoping for some Al and Tipper-style kissing.

Robert G. Kaiser: Here's what I meant earlier about the country not facing any compelling problems or stirring issues...

Baltimore, Md.: Doesn't Cheney get to make a speech?

Robert G. Kaiser: Nope.

Washington, D.C.: What could possibly be going through a new president's head right now? I keep looking at Bush, thinking he looks nervous and a little empty, but then again, what's your expression going to be like when a zillion cameras are on you?

Robert G. Kaiser: I had a similar thought. Not many people get to have those feelings, and they must indeed be overwhelming.

Washington, D.C.: Thanks for lending us your insights. During your earlier tenure at The Washington Post, among your other accomplishments you developed a reputation as a strong manager over what I'm sure were some big egos. As an expert in politics and management, do you think of George W's laid back "corporate" management work in with his ego-charged cabinet? Any advice for him?

Robert G. Kaiser: I hope the author of this flattering question is not one of my relations! I don't consider myself very expert on management, particularly of governments, but Ben Bradlee taught me years ago that you get the best out of strong people by giving them room to operate. Personally my biggest question about Bush is how he is going to deal with the substance of complex questions, especially those he has never had to deal with before. Giving your top assistants room to operate isn't the same as abdicating responsibility, but taking responsibility requires mastering the subject matter. Will he do that? And if he tries, how well will he do it? To my mind those are the big open questions about Bush.

Arlington, Va.: Was there anyone on the pardon list who surprised you?

Robert G. Kaiser: Brother Roger seemed slightly over the top. It's a long list, and most of the names are unknown to me, but of the famous ones I didn't see any other surprises.

Washington, D.C.: Why do you think Webster Hubbell didn't get a pardon? And isn't it a little weird to pardon your brother?

Robert G. Kaiser: Re: the brother, see above. Hubbell is a hard case. He did admit to bilking his clients of many thousands of dollars, for lawyers an especially heinous crime. Is that pardonable behavior?

Washington, D.C.: What are we going to do without Clinton? Are we going to be bored without a new tabloid scandal every few weeks?

Robert G. Kaiser: Now let's be fair about this. If your mathematics were accurate, we'd have had 136 tabloid scandals in the last 8 years (my math: 8 years is 416 weeks, a scandal every three weeks would have been 136.) I don't think we had even 36, did we?

Washington, D.C.: Oh, come now. Clinton's addresses weren't so bad. "There's nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what's right with America."

Then again, maybe I was just a naive poli sci student . . .

Robert G. Kaiser: Give this reader the Good Memory Award!

Helotes, Texas: Didn't see ex-President Ford at the inaugural. Do you know why he didn't attend?

Robert G. Kaiser: Nope.

Washington, D.C.: Yes, I realize that it's not a serious issue, but nonetheless millions of people worldwide are going to see the chief justice of the United States wearing that robe with the goofy stripes and the equally goofy hat.

And Barbara Bush with the dime store plastic rain gear.

Don't these people know they're going to be photographed?

Robert G. Kaiser: You know, those stripes were Rehnquist's personal idea. I've sometimes wondered at the thought-process that led him to decide 1) that he needed some symbol on his robes to distinguish himself from your run-of-the-mill supreme court justice and 2) how he hit upon those stripes as the answer. Whatever the answers to those questions, I think we have to assume that Rehnquist likes this outfit. As for Mrs. Bush, perhaps she wanted her blue suit to shine through?

Arlington: Why so many reaction shots of Gore? I didn't vote him, but damn. You gotta feel bad for the guy.

Robert G. Kaiser: Speaking of feelings few of us will ever experience... Here's a guy who, I believe, has every reason to think that he actually won the election, or would have if the sentiments of those who voted were actually expressed in the voting procedure. Can't be easy is right.

Re: Scandals: In the interest of fairness, you're right. Maybe it's just that they've gone on for soooo long. As a citizen and observer, I was deeply grateful that he made the deal yesterday.

Robert G. Kaiser: Thanks for your comment.

Robert G. Kaiser: We've run out of questions, a heartening sign that Americans still have things to do on a Saturday afternoon! Thanks to all for taking part, and welcome to the era we'll undoubtedly come to know as Bush II.