The Washington air was charged with excitement as workmen built the stands for the inaugural proceedings. We noted their progress from day to day and hoped to watch January 20 the parade from our tenth-floor office windows, a block from the White House and directly on the parade route. That was about the closest we got to being part of it all—except that prior to the big day the office served as temporary repository for the striped pants and homburg of Billy Graham, who was asked to offer the inaugural prayer.
As we watched the festivities we could not help musing on the fact that the occupant of the White House has only a four-year lease, renewable by the electorate but once. Mr. Johnson left without asking for a renewal. So the transition took place, and life goes on much as before.
One interesting change was the selection of Dr. Edward L. R. Elson, minister of the National Presbyterian Church in Washington and contributing editor of CHRISTIANITY TODAY since its inception, as chaplain of the United States Senate. Kudos is due him for the honor that is his, and our prayers are offered on his behalf as he undertakes this spiritual ministry.
