Nevadans view the inaugural events in many ways

Suzanne Struglinski and Benjamin Grove

Friday, Jan. 21, 2005 | 11:05 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- An estimated 400 Nevadans trekked to the nation's capital to witness Thursday's inauguration of President Bush, each with a different perspective on the event.

Thirteen political science students from the Community College of Southern Nevada saw the inaugural activities from an academic, but also personal, viewpoint. The students wrote reports on various aspects of Washington and discussed the broader importance of the presidential inaugural before a college-credit trip to the nation's capital to see democracy in action.

Student Christina Polster, 28, said she was deeply moved during a visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, prior to the inauguration. Polster's boyfriend is a helicopter gunner being deployed to Iraq soon.

As "war president" Bush took his second oath of office, and as Polster strolled Washington's monuments and memorials in the last week, thoughts of her boyfriend -- and the cost of freedom -- weighed heavily on her mind.

"I'm scared to death for him to go there," Polster, a Democrat, said.

Felipe Medina, 22, a Republican, also said visits to Arlington Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Memorial stirred deep emotions. His grandfather served in the Army in the Pacific in World War II.

"Even in my own family, people don't fully recognize the sacrifices (veterans) made," he said.

Medina said he respects Bush for being a man of his word even if he does not readily admit mistakes.

"He says he is going to do something and he does it," Medina said. "That just shows his faith in his convictions."

Student Bryan Hester dismissed the debate over whether this year's $40 million inaugural was too celebratory at a time of suffering and strife around the world. Hester, who voted for Kerry, said he wasn't bothered by the ritzy galas and corporate-funded events. Inauguration celebrations should match the power of the office, he said.

"Let him have his day," Hester said.

The students kept journals for personal reflections.

Stacy Fulton wrote in her journal about gazing on the towering 19-foot bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson in the Jefferson Memorial, where his words exalt the power of the common man in democracy.

"But then they make these memorials that treat them like gods," she said. "I just thought it was really ironic."

Teacher Mark Peplowski said one goal of the CCSN "externship" is to show students that presidents and the powerful people who run the government in Washington are people just like them, and not faceless, unreachable bureaucrats. He also aimed to show the students -- five of whom are Democrats -- that the president serves everyone.

"For the next four years, this is the president we have. He's their president. He's everyone's president," Peplowski said.

Melissa Laughter, 38, who hopes to attend law school and then work in a congressional office, said she had caught a "fever" to work in politics in Washington.

Laughter, a local leader of the Bush-Cheney campaign in Las Vegas, said she was impressed that partisan bitterness seemed to fade a bit during the inauguration.

"At the end of the day, we come together to support the process and the office, and we get behind what the president stands for, and that's democracy," Laughter said.

Roger and Elise Norman, who own the Crystal Bay Club Casino in Crystal Bay at Lake Tahoe, are members of "The Regents," a group of Republicans who are among Bush's biggest campaign donors.

They were in Washington to celebrate.

The couple attended Thursday's swearing-in ceremony, the parade, a reception at the luxury Hay Adams hotel, and then the Constitution Ball. Elise Norman had a black Dior bag with four large silver dice on the zippers.

"I didn't want anyone to have to ask which state I was from," she said. "Where do you think I got this? In Las Vegas."

"It's the least we can do," Roger Norman said of financially supporting Bush. "It's worth it, he's someone we really respect. We're really honored that he's our president."

"And she's (Laura Bush) our first lady," Elise added.

Among the perks that their financial contributions netted them: a special gold pass that allowed them access to a bar at the ball with no line, a hot commodity in an overpacked ballroom.

The Constitution Ball was designated for Nevada and 17 other states and U.S. territories, including American Samoa, Guam, Georgia, Minnesota and Indiana.

Many of the Nevadans at the ball said they were excited to celebrate Bush's second term and be a part of something that only takes place every four years.

"It's like a completion," said Earlene Forsythe, chairman of Nevada's Republican Party. "You're out there knocking on doors, getting those voters to the polls, by the time it gets to Nov. 2 and he wins, it's such a celebration.

"It's like a front row seat to history," Forsythe said.

Forsythe and her daugher, Lisa Wark, along with her husband, Steve Wark, of Las Vegas, sat next to protesters during the swearing-in ceremony Thursday morning, but did not let the experience ruin their trip.

The Warks said they wanted to see a part of history with their own eyes.

"You don't get to dress up like this and go to a ball every day," Lisa Wark said. "You kind of feel like you're throwing your own party."

Attending the swearing-in ceremony on the Capitol grounds and National Mall was a challenge for some due to cold weather, crowds and tight security.

But Nevada's Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt had an easy time watching the ceremony and parade from a suite sponsored by CitiCorp. This was her first inaugural ball, an experience she did not want to miss because it would be Bush's last.

"The underlying thing of it all is a sense of patriotism," Hunt said at the ball. "There is a real bipartisan feel when it comes down to it. We are all Americans. It's overwhelming."

Kathleen Miller, also of Las Vegas, attended a board meeting of the National Right to Life Committee in Washington this week then attended the Constitution Ball on Thursday night.

"We worked hard to re-elect George Bush and he stands for what we believe," Miller said. "We want to celebrate with him."

Her day was marred Thursday by strangers telling her that she had killed animals for her coat.

"I had a fake fur coat that never gave me so much grief before," Miller said.

This was also the first inaugural for Reno resident Ellie Lopez-Bowlan, who wore a blue dress with a silver wrap fastened with a Nevada-shaped pin to the Constitution Ball.

"I wanted to wear our colors," she said.

She did not make it through security downtown to see the swearing-in ceremony, but she did watch the parade and attended the ball.

"I wanted to share in it," she said. "I wanted to continue what we started."

Lopez-Bowlan and her husband paid $125 each for parade seat tickets and $150 each for ball tickets.

"That's the Republican way, we don't take handouts," she said.

The Constitution Ball was at the Washington Hilton, the hotel in front of which President Reagan was shot. The day was full of historical facts and trivia for Nevadans introducing the inaugural experience to their children.

Bob List, a former governor of Nevada, danced with his 8-year-old daughter Elizabeth on the ballroom floor.

List said his children and wife, Polly, have visited Washington before for the July 4 fireworks display and to see the sights, but this was a more "ceremonial trip."

It was List's six inauguration visit, but this one had a different purpose.

List pointed to his children. His son Robert, 10, watched from the edge of the dance floor. "They are just living it up."

"This one is for our kids, to give them an introduction to this history," List said. "We've only had 43 presidents in the history of America. It's a big moment."

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