‘World Series of politics’ excites Carrigans

LYNN – His fifth-grade teacher inspired Jim Carrigan to love and take part in American democracy and he has never let her down: He attended Robert F. Kennedy’s first speech; helped African-Americans in Mississippi become politically active and, on Jan. 17, he will travel to the nation’s capital with his wife, Anne, to see Barack Obama sworn in as the next president.It’s not the couple’s first inaugural: They attended former President Clinton’s second swearing-in in January 1997 but the memories of spotting Clinton in his limousine and attending a formal ball don’t dim their expectations for the Obama inaugural.”It’s the World Series of politics,” Jim Carrigan said.The couple obtained tickets for the Jan. 20 event through U.S. Rep. John Tierney’s office. Congressional offices across the country are handling most of the inaugural ticket distributions and the Carrigans are looking forward to taking a seat in the ranks of chairs arranged in front of the U.S. Capitol.”It gives you a renewed sense of patriotism to see thousands of people gathered to witness something that often does not take place in other countries,” Anne Carrigan said.Their previous inaugural excursion prepared them for the long lines and blocks-long walks required to negotiate the crowds as well as the intense security likely to all but paralyze Washington in two weeks. They are staying in the home of a “friend of a friend” and are prepared to ride the Metro transit system and walk to get to the inaugural.Ford School Principal Claire Crane found the Carrigans a place to stay. Her efforts to promote voter registration with parents earned her an inaugural invitation from U.S. Sen. John Kerry’s office. She plans to attend one of the inaugural balls and to take plenty of pictures.In 1997, they attended the Massachusetts ball and endured long coat check lines only to miss Clinton’s appearance at the ball. During the inaugural, they sat several rows behind the late John F. Kennedy Jr.”People were standing on chairs to get a better look at him,” Anne Carrigan said.They plan to travel light and take advantage of their trip to see old friends, including Tierney, who has enjoyed the couple’s campaign support and work.”I look forward to the parade: I’ve only seen it on TV,” Jim Carrigan said.