Vice President Mondale introducing Senators Klobuchar and Franken.
All photos by D Wreck
After a long day at work yesterday and after getting abnormally cranky kids tucked into bed, I was ready to call it an early night and go to bed myself. Before retiring for the night though, I decided to check my email one last time. Imagine my surprise when I opened my inbox and saw an email titled, "Personal invite to Al Franken Senate Swearing in Viewing & Reception, Tuesday July 7th." In what I can only surmise is the confluence of early support for Franken and proximity to DC, I had scored an invitation to this reception. So, against all my wallflower instincts, I decided to take a day off from work and make the hour drive to DC for the reception. I thought I'd share with you my photos and observations from the event.
Much to the relief of Sen. Klobuchar's staff, Franken arrives to pick up new constituent services cases. Here Franni and Al speak with a wheelchair bound woman from Maplewood, MN.
The 9th floor of the Hart Senate Office Building was set up with light food, soft drinks, and a wall of televisions for viewing the swearing in ceremony for Franken. The room was a mix of young Congressional staffers, reuniting Franken campaign staffers, contributors, and friends. Al's family, even more friends, some of Franken's new colleagues, and other political illuminati would stop by later.
Sen. Franken arrives and begins working the room.
As Vice President Biden called Franken down into the well of the Senate, a hundred or so people at the reception gathered around the TVs. When Franken answered "I do" to the oath that finally permitted us to drop the "-elect" from the title Senator, the room erupted in cheers. The strength and duration of the cheer seemed to represent the release of all the stress accumulated over 21 months of campaigning and 246 days of recounts and litigation. But that "deer in the headlight" look in the eyes of the new staffers betrayed their new feelings of stress trying to hit the ground running in the middle of the session. This point was vividly driven home when Franken arrived at the reception with his body man carrying a 3 inch thick binder with "Judge Sonia Sotomayor" written across the front of it, prompting Franken to quip that he had a some light reading before a little upcoming vote.
Sen. Klobuchar with Franken's 4th grade teacher Mrs. Molin.
At times there was there was a "This is Your Life" vibe to the festivities because of Franken's public life as a performer and personality. Robert Smigel, who was hired by Franken as a writer at SNL 24 years ago, was on-hand to show his support. A couple of members from Franken's favorite band stopped by, too. Bob Weir and Mickey Hart shouted "Senator Franken" from across the room to catch his attention. Franken made a beeline to them and received a warm embrace (and I think I saw a little look of jealousy on Sen. Leahy's face as he stood in the corner). Frequent guests Tom Oliphant and Norm Ornstein from Franken's Air America show dropped in as well. People from the political realm wandered in and out of the event, including Senators Tom Harkin, Pat Leahy, Frank Lautenberg and Russ Feingold, Rep. Keith Ellison, Asst. VA Sec. Tammy Duckworth, and political strategists Paul Begala and Mandy Grunwald. Heck, even Franken's 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Molin was in attendance. She gained her own bit a fame with this early ad she cut for Alan.
Finally, it was time for Franken to speak to the whole room. After a brief remarks from Vice President Mondale and a witty introduction by Sen. Klobuchar, Franken addressed the crowd. He opened with praise for Klobuchar and her staff for all the work they did as Minnesota's sole representative in the Senate. Franken then thanked Mondale for his warm words and expressed his hope that he could follow in the legacy of Minnesota Senators Gene McCarthy, Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale, and Paul Wellstone. Thoughts of Wellstone were never far below the surface. Franken often speaks of Wellstone as his poliltical inspiration, and today was no different. Franken was fortunate enough to be sworn in using a Wellstone family Bible.
Franken offered his profound thanks to his campaign staff for their yeoman services, and his new Senate staff for their work to come. And as always, he thanked the people of Minnesota for making this all possible. He vowed to wake up everyday thinking how he could make their lives better.
Then, with emotion thick in his throat, Al turned to give thanks to his wife Franni and his children, Joe and Thomasin. Stepping up to, but not yet crossing the crying line, Al told an irreverent campaign anecdote in order to compose himself before finishing his offering of thanks and gratitude to Franni. With all of the recent political theater revolving around broken political families, it was a pleasure to see a man so obviously and unashamedly devoted to his wife. Anyone who has seen the way Al and Franni look at each other instantly feels their mutual love and respect.
Franken wrapped up his remarks by confirming his committee assignments. Franken's assignments include Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP), Judiciary, Indian Affairs, and Select Aging. I was disappointed to learn that Franken wouldn't be seated in HELP until the markup on health care reform was completed (but I am comforted in the fact that Sen. Whitehouse, whom Franken will replace, supports the public option and has a strong health care background).
So there you have it. No breaking news, no revelations, just a celebration and a little peek behind the day of Minnesota's junior Senator. It was an exciting day for me personally. I got to celebrate the seating of a United States Senator. I got to shake hands with a former Vice President of the United States. And I got a couple of minutes to talk about the public option with Sen. Klobuchar (I got the impression that the Democratic caucus still needed some managing, but I left feeling cautiously optimistic about its final inclusion).
I look forward to, and expect, great things from Senator Franken. It was a very close election, but I'm certain Al will prove his worth to all of Minnesota. I once again offer him my warmest wishes and congratulations!
Franni receives congratulations from Newsweek's Howard Fineman.
Vice President Mondale