Philippa Walker thought better of freezing with strangers in Washinton for the presidential inauguration – opting instead to spend the day with friends Ruthie Rogers, Liz Murdoch and Matthew Freud who hosted a party at The Electric

I couldn’t get through to my partner Alan Yentob in Wasington because the sheer volume of mobile-phone calls had collapsed the system, despite the extra masts erected. Later I found that he’d been up at 5 am to film the crowds streaming over the bridge into the Capitol to listen to the man they believe can bring them regeneration.
At the Electric we streamed in too: Sabrina Guiness, Molly Nyman, the Baileys, Rachel Johnson, Ruby Wax, Bella Freud, Claudia Schiffer, Nic Formby, Jeremy King and Simon Curtis. Ronnie Newhouse was on hand to tell me who designed of Michelle’s dress – the Cuban-American Isobel Toledo (they don’t miss a trick those Obamas) – while Antonia Fraser looked impossibly gorgeous. Harold Pinter was much missed.

Bella Freud, Ruby Wax and Philippa Walker

The excitement was palpable – a feeling of New Dawn pervaded the room. The Electric, where decades ago I would watch all-night Andy Warhols, was bearing witness to one of the great events of our times.Most remarkable of all was that the man himself seemed, well, happy. When Chief Justice Roberts fluffed his lines, Obama just laughed. I snuggled down in a comfy armchair between my friend Lynn Barber and Alan Rickman. When Aretha sang I cried, soundlessly. We were awed into silence – only the tiny Gill twins roared their approval.
When Obama gave his speech, he treated us as grown-ups. Lynn pronounced it “measured” and though Bob Geldof hankered after the soundbite, Alan Rickman said “there are all kinds of hidden messages in there for all kinds of people.” Vanessa Branson and Ruthie loved it. Salman Rushdie, who I visited afterwards, said it was very “adult.” 

         

Jemima Khan, Eric Fellner, Sabrina Guinness

Obama talked of “greed and irresponsibility on the part of some” – no names mentioned here but there was a mighty cheer when the helicopter bearing Bush away from the Capitol finally took off. But his clearest message was of tolerance – “the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve” was my favourite line. The playing field is now levelled. America told us it would use its power with “humility and restraint” and no longer “entitlement.” It did indeed make one gasp.

-Philippa Walker is a documentary film-maker and mother of two – Jacob and Bella

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