Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird on Obama, pipelines and al-Qaeda in Mali
By Luiza Ch. Savage - Monday, January 28, 2013 - 0 Comments
In conversation with Luiza Ch. Savage
Photographs by Keegan Bursaw
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird was in Washington this week to attend the inauguration of President Barack Obama. As Americans gathered for the public ceremony and the black-tie galas, the minister attended the Canadian Embassy’s invitation-only inaugural “tailgate” party at its plum location on Pennsylvania Avenue, which featured Beavertails, Tim Hortons coffee and some of the best views in the U.S. capital.
Q: You’re here for the second inauguration of Barack Obama. Are you going to any balls?
A: No, I’m not. I’m not a ball guy.
Q: Can you imagine a million Canadians coming to Ottawa because a Prime Minister was taking the oath of office?
A: I was just telling someone that I remember when the Prime Minister was sworn in. I think we had cookies and coffee afterward. Then there was a dinner for the cabinet that evening, with the food prepared in the parliamentary restaurant. They certainly do things much grander here in the United States. The sense of national pride is exciting. One thing that is bittersweet for me is Hillary leaving. We had a great relationship. Continue…
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A celebration for the ages
By Luiza Ch. Savage - Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 11:20 AM - 0 Comments
A day in the life of the new President
On the morning of Jan. 20, at 8:45 a.m., Barack Obama left the historic guest quarters at Blair House, across the street from the White House, and climbed into the back seat of a black Cadillac limousine—an armoured personnel carrier that the Secret Service have dubbed “the Beast.” He wore a black suit and red tie, and was accompanied by his wife Michelle, clad in a coat and dress of Swiss-wool lace in a cheerful, non-partisan yellow.
The Obamas headed for the traditional inaugural church service at St. John’s Episcopal Church, where they were joined by family members and the soon-to-be vice-presidential couple, Joe and Jill Biden. The choir sang This Little Light of Mine. A guest pastor from Dallas, T.D. Jakes, preached that “God always sends the best men into the worst times.” Later, Jakes turned directly to Obama, and quoting his own 14-year-old son, he added, “May the force be with you.”
