|  Friends & Colleagues, The confetti has been swept up. The gold ballroom chairs are stacked. The champagne flutes are in their racks, awaiting the caterers. Another inauguration is over. Whatever your political preferences, this much should be said – the transfer of power was peaceful. We hearken back today to an earlier inauguration, that of the first commander in chief. We feature his engraved portrait, which was made in 1785, a few years before his inauguration in New York, not in Washington. There were certainly some differences with yesterday’s events. But this much was the same. The event proceeded without violence. That is the very hallmark of our democracy. For that we are grateful. And we say “Hail to the Chief”. Sincerely, Nick | | |