In 1800, our second president, Federalist John Adams, ceded leadership of this country to Thomas Jefferson and his Democratic-Republican party.

It was the first peaceful transition of power between two competing parties, a transition without historical precedent.

A couple of hundred years later, ours is now a tradition steeped in the peaceful transition of power. It’s our default mode, our factory setting.

In watching today’s inaugural, it was impossible to not be struck by the presence of every living former president and first lady – both parties – every living former vice president – both parties – and current leaders of every branch of government – both parties. It’s impossible to not be struck with what a difficult exercise it must have been for John McCain, for George Bush. Yet they were there to represent the consent of the governed to the results of this election.

Tomorrow, the conversation of democracy will continue with conviction (and possibly a rude word or two). But today… today is the day we can revel in the inexorable fact that – like the election result or not – we all believe in this democracy.

And that is no small thing.