(HOST) Commentator Madeleine Kunin watched the President’s recent State of the Union address not so much for what was said, as for the historic import of the moment.
(KUNIN) At every State of the Union Address it’s always been hard to stare at the two men sitting behind the President: the Vice President and the Speaker.
Then why, this time, did I so much enjoy looking at Nancy Pelosi, the new Madame Speaker?
I tried to read her facial expressions for any hint of approval or disapproval, or even boredom. I watched when she applauded, when she stood up, when she sat down, all with fascination.
I was pleased that she kept as neutral a visage as is humanly possible, knowing that the camera was on her for almost every minute of the speech, which much of the nation watched.
Yes, it was history in the making.
President Bush gracefully acknowledged the seismic movement of the Congress from male to female leadership.
“Tonight, I have the high privilege and distinct honor to be the first President to begin a State of the Union Message with the words “Madame Speaker.” That set off a rousing, sustained roll of applause.
The earth had moved.
Was it just appearances that mattered?
The New York Times noted that Speaker Pelosi had changed from a beige suit, worn earlier in the day, to a light green one, which, in their words, “offered more contrast to her leather speaker’s chair.”
Would the former Speaker, Dennis Hasert’s suit, be remarked on, whether he had changed it from one color to another?
No.
But I confess, I was aware of the color of her suit and had a different interpretation of why she chose light green.
I concluded she had deliberately not worn red, as many of the Congresswomen and Senators did, standing out like flowers on a shaded lawn.
She didn’t wear red because she didn’t want to detract from the President.
She wanted something subdued, discreet, and, of course, well tailored.
I have often bemoaned the attention spent on political women’s hair, clothes, and speaking style.
br>But let’s face it; because women are new at this, style will be part of the conversation that even feminists can indulge in.
What matters, is that she was there – right behind the President, third in line to the Presidency.
What matter is that she had the gavel in her hand.
What matters is that she was welcoming the President of the United States as a guest into the House chamber.
Not only did she welcome the President, she welcomed women throughout this country and much of the world into the chambers where decisions are made.
We saw ourselves reflected there as never before.
The old sign, “Girls keep out” has been taken down.
The new sign, “Women welcome” has been nailed on the door.
Nancy Pelosi belongs there. We belong there, sharing power, wielding power.
Madeleine May Kunin is a former governor of Vermont.