The Hiller Instinct: President Obama's speech

The expectations were enormous--too high I think for anyone to meet--even as skilled a speech-maker as President Barack Obama.

His inaugural address was undeniably historic, but it will not be remembered for its beautiful words. What made it unforgettable was that it was delivered by the nation's first black president to more than a million Americans of every color who went to Washington to hear it.

It was not as emotionally charged as some of the speeches candidate Obama gave--particularly his address on race--when the words of Obama's pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, threatened his campaign. And it did not have the "Yes, we can" cadence that moved voters and touched their souls.

The power of this speech was its message: what America needs is a turn around from George Bush's Hhite House to a nation driven by its old values, including hard work, honesty, courage and curiosity.

And it took some courage for the incoming president to say "the world has changed and we must change with it" and "we are ready to lead again" while the outgoing president sat just a few from him, but he didn't flinch.

His address didn't get as many loud cheers or as much applause as you might have expected, but the faces in the crowd showed he connected...as the realization of what the speech represented became reality.

In his first speech in office--President Obama was pragmatic, sober, and optimistic.

He looked and sounded ready to begin--in his words--the work of remaking America.

I'm Andy Hiller and that's my instinct.

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