It was timely. Four days before the end of Black History Month, the first African American president addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time.
A point not lost, even among President Obama's staunchest critics.
Louisiana's Republican governor, Bobby Jindal, who delivered the Republican response after Obama's address said, "Tonight, we witnessed a great moment in the history of our Republic. In the very chamber where Congress once voted to abolish slavery, our first African-American president stepped forward to address the state of our union." Jindal continued, "With his speech tonight, the president completed a redemptive journey that took our nation from Independence Hall ... to Gettysburg ... to the lunch counter ... and now, finally, the Oval Office."
Jindal's face appeared on TV screens shortly after the president's speech, a poignant moment in and of itself. Republicans shrewdly chose the 37-year old rising GOP star and son of Indian immigrants to deliver the official GOP response. (Jindal is seen as a possible challenger to Obama in 2012.)
Of course, Jindal's acknowledgement of the historic moment came in tandem with candid disagreement over the president's economic stimulus plan. Obama calls it "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act." With a price tag just under $780 billion coupled with assertions that it will increase the size of government and taxes down the line, Gov. Jindal called it "irresponsible."
Another prominent Republican who made note of the moment was Sen. Mitch McConnell, arguably the most powerful voice of the Republican party.
McConnell's office released the following statement:
"Tonight Kentuckians and all Americans were proud eyewitnesses to history as an African-American president addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time.
"Over the years, there have been many important markers in our nation's long journey toward racial equality. Few have been as compelling as seeing President Obama in the Speaker's rostrum tonight."
As the nation's 44th president, Obama has already made history. So, too, have his bipartisan gestures. How well President Obama can advance his agenda with the support of Republican opposition will likely be a factor in how history judges him.