January 19 is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. January 20 is Inauguration Day for the first African American President of the United States. Juxtaposing images, as almost every media outlet will, of King's 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial and Barack Obama's inaugural address at the Capitol tells the compelling story of a 45-year journey from one end of Constitution Avenue to the other. Now, America's new president must write the next chapter of that continuing story and lead America "once more into the breach."

Regardless of political persuasion, the overwhelming majority of Americans understand and appreciate the significance of Tuesday’s event. Even those who dislike Obama, believe he is too inexperienced or otherwise unqualified to be president, and were unhappy to see him elected, will acknowledge that America has crossed an important threshold. Only the truly racist, and judging by the results of the election there are ever fewer of them, will see the election of an African American president as a step backward.

Where Obama will rank in the panoply of American presidents when his time in office has ended and sufficient time has elapsed to objectively assess him, we can only speculate. He takes office facing more severe crises and challenges than all but a handful of American presidents. With that comes the opportunity for great success or great failure. Because so much is at stake, we must hope that Obama achieves success. Our security and prosperity and that of our children are at risk.

Judging from most of the people he has chosen to serve in high positions in his administration, he understands what he’s up against. For those that involve national security and the US economy he has recruited well known, experienced, and respected people. His appointments and his own recent statements indicate that in these two critical areas there will be far less change from the policies pursued by George W. Bush than the rhetoric of the campaign led us all to believe.

The Wall Street wizards from whom Obama has selected his advisors smoke the same expensive cigars as those who advised President Bush. The generals, politicians, and scholars from whom Obama has selected his national security team come from the same schools and elite circles as those who advised Bush.

To be sure there will be some departures. Obama intends to allow the Bush tax cuts to lapse. He’ll discard the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military. He’ll discontinue enhanced interrogation techniques used by the CIA on terrorist suspects. And he’ll open the door to discussions with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hugo Chávez.

Unfortunately, Democrats, the media, and Obama’s campaign rhetoric have saddled him with unrealistic expectations. Obama’s recent warnings that the US economy will get much worse before it gets better and recovery will take a long time, notwithstanding, the hardest-hit Americans expect him to quickly reverse the downward trend.

Despite recent shifts in Obama’s talking points on Iraq, Democrats and independents opposed to the war expect him to move expeditiously to withdraw our forces. They haven't been listening to Obama's call for a "responsible" withdrawal and the absence of his criticism of the agreement on US forces already reached by Bush and Iraq's president, Nouri al-Maliki.

Those who believed that Bush weakened our friendships and alliances because of Iraq and his "go it alone" attitude expect Obama to quickly rebuild them. Many of our "friends" and "allies" will surprise them when they continue to criticize America and its new president.

Although Obama has begun to distance himself from his own criticisms of the way Bush conducted the war on terror, people at home and abroad expect him to quickly close Guantanamo, suspend warrantless wiretaps, and return to dealing with terrorism as a criminal justice problem. They're all likely to be disappointed.

Obama will not break radically with policies pursued by Republicans on the economy or national security. He will strive to achieve a consensus that includes Republicans and Democrats. Republicans, therefore, will not oppose him vigorously in these areas until the campaign for the next mid-term elections begins. Obama takes office with a 76 percent approval rating and Republicans have a long way to go to shore up their own damaged image.

In the meantime, it’s Democrats, especially the far left, that may be Obama’s greatest headache. Unhappy with Obama’s economic and national security policies, they will turn to their social agenda to seek satisfaction.

What still remains a mystery to most people is to what extent Obama will support and pursue the left’s social agenda—pro-gay marriage, unrestricted abortion, pro-gun control, pro-secularism. Obama’s voting record in the Illinois legislature and in the US Senate marks him as the most liberal man to ever ascend to the presidency.

Nevertheless, he has waffled on many social issues. We still know little about what Obama really believes. Do his liberal beliefs have the same passion and underpinning as Ronald Reagan’s conservative beliefs, or is Obama’s philosophy still under construction? Will his desire to win the acceptance of the broadest possible spectrum of Americans move him toward the center on social policy as it has economic and national security policy? We'll soon know.

Like it or not, on January 20, Barack Obama becomes the President of the United States. Millions of African Americans will see his inauguration as, at least, a partial fulfillment of Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream. Men and women from all walks of life will wish him well and hope that he succeeds in resolving the crises and conflicts that confront America. Religious people will pray that God watches over him and guides his decision making. All Americans will have a new president.