Inauguration week

Donald J. Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States on Friday . The peaceful transfer of power is moving to watch, and I intend to do so—on television, from home, avoiding the nightmare of trying to get around Washington that day. And, for what it’s worth, I’m turning down offers to comment on television or radio: I don’t want to pretend an enthusiasm for Trump I don’t feel, but I also don’t want to presume that his administration may not succeed in important ways. So I’ll keep quiet for a day. (Though, come to think of it, I’m certain Michael Graham won’t let me off the hook for my regular Friday podcast; so I guess I’ll have to think of something to say something after all).

 

There is, though, one aspect of the inauguration I’m willing to be judgmental about, ahead of time. I gather Paul Anka is going to sing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” at the swearing-in. I like the song, and in a way it’s appropriate for Trump, both because he’s a “my way” kind of guy, and because it’s become so associated with New York City. But now I understand Anka (or someone else) is rewriting the words for the occasion! That really is a sacrilege and an outrage. Changing those famous lyrics is no way to Make America Great Again. So I urge everyone to weigh in and demand that Anka sing the original lyrics. Or—even better!—why not simply play a recording of Sinatra singing his last signature song? I imagine a recorded Sinatra would be better than a live Anka. In any case, can’t we all, Democrat and Republican, Trump enthusiast and #NeverTrumper, agree on this? Re-writing “My Way?” No way.

(And by the way, worth reading on the topic of Sinatra: Irwin Stelzer’s 2013 Casual, our review of Tina Sinatra’s book about her life and her father’s, and Andy Ferguson’s 1995 item on Sinatra at 80.)