INAUGURATION DAY: FANTASY OR REALITY?

It is noon on January 20th, 2009, and Barack Obama has just taken the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States.

He speaks:

“My fellow Americans, before I address you in my new role and give you my thoughts on this occasion, I want to acknowledge the gentleman seated in the row behind me – an outstanding jurist and a true American, Associate Justice John Paul Stevens. Earlier this year, Justice Stevens celebrated his 88th birthday, and earlier today, he handed me his letter of resignation from the court he has served with distinction for 33 years.

John Stevens told me that he delayed his resignation until this election, hoping that a new president would appoint a successor who shared his judicial philosophy. I am personally grateful that he chose to wait to announce his retirement, and honored that I will have the opportunity to name someone who will carry on his liberal tradition.

To that end, I am announcing that tomorrow, in my first official act as President, I will submit the name of just such a person — a distinguished American, who recently completed one of the most historic and courageous campaigns in American history and who, I am certain, will bring compassion, honor and distinction to the seat that Justice Stevens has graced.

My fellow Americans, I give you the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Hillary Rodham Clinton.