Back in Cambridge, a group of about 15 members of the Harvard Republican Club (HRC) met in the Lowell House Junior Common Room to see their candidate take the oath of office on the Capitol steps.

Many members of the HRC board could not travel to Washington, D.C. for the event because they had to take an exam in Government 1540, "The American Presidency," that day.

Eugene Krupitsky '03, who worked on the campaign of Vice President Al Gore '69, said he watched the inauguration speech to find out the answers to two questions: "What does Bush want to get done?" and "How does he want to get it done?"

Bush's speech included some major points from his campaign--reducing taxes, bulding defense and reforming social security, for example--with an emphasis on his trademark idea of "compassionate conservatism."

The speech emphasized unity, with Bush promisng to build a "single nation of justice and opportunity."

Jason J. Kohout '04 praised Bush's emphasis on bipartisan cooperation in the speech.

"It wasn't that great an address but he delivered it well, " Kohout said. "He set a good tone for trying to unite the people."