Whatever your politics, today is a day of great moments.

In one profound respect, Barack Obama’s inauguration is similar to those of Andrew Jackson and John F. Kennedy, not so much as a matter of American politics, but of American culture.  A group that felt excluded to one degree or another from the American system — Westerners in Jackson’s case; Catholics in Kennedy’s — saw one of their own rise to the highest rank of American government.  And as with today, Jackson’s inaugural drew unprecedented crowds (snow held down the crowds at JFK’s).

But after more than two centuries of struggle, beginning with the struggle over slavery, continuing to the struggle over civil rights, despite the similarities with past inaugurals, today is singular.  We all know that this inaugural marks an epic transformation in our nation.  Among greatest disuniting factors in the union has become far, far less a source of disunity with Mr. Obama’s ascending to the presidency.

Having large policy differences with him, I did not support Mr. Obama for office.  But not everything in politics is political — not everything is policy and process, deals and deliberations.  The swearing in of Mr. Obama — a man of high ability and manifest integrity — is a singular and transformative moment in our national life and a tremendously positive moment for the entire country.

Many have long had faith that the full achievement of the promise of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution was just just a matter of time.   The BBC has posted a 1964 interview with Martin Luther King, Jr., saying we could see an African-American president in less forty years.  In the event, it took a little longer, but  now the time many believed was the inevitable has arrived.  A great moment.