Master of the House

The day had an odd familiarity about it. It began with a worship service for the newly elected leader. The formal swearing-in ceremony, after a night of festivities, began at high noon. After the oath, he gave an inaugural address designed to reach out to all Americans, to rally the nation to work together for a great common future. The network anchors broadcast live from Washington, and the new leader was photographed gazing at the Washington Monument and embracing his mother.

If it wasn't a presidential inauguration in fact, it was certainly so in spirit -- an investiture of power in...