Many of those responding to our cover story were elated by Barack Obama's triumph on Nov. 4. One called the president-elect "the right person at the right time to lead our nation," adding, "I am proud to be an American, proud to be a Democrat." Many also complimented our election cover package. One reader said the issue "may have been the finest piece of journalism I've ever seen." Another simply marveled, "Wow, just wow! Congratulations."
Your Nov. 17 special issue is an amazing piece of work. In my old age I have grown impatient with long essays that don't grab my attention quickly. But I read your special issue from cover to cover like a great novel that I couldn't put down. It helped, of course, that there was (for me) a happy ending. But when I was finished rereading, I liked John McCain more than I did last week (in my heart I believe that he is pro-choice), and I liked his wife even more (she probably hates Karl Rove even more than I do). It was beautifully put together. Thank you.
Neil Haldeman
Ann Arbor, Mich.
I am a freelance journalist in Chicago, and I have lived and breathed this presidential election. I saw every debate, filled all my evenings with political analysis and read The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Chicago Tribune daily. I have always enjoyed NEWSWEEK, but never more than after reading your 50,000-word account of the campaign. I spent the better part of several days reading the issue. For those of us who followed the election closely, this was the icing on the cake. As a student of journalism, I thought your work was breathtaking. And for those of us who wondered what else there could be after Nov. 4, thank you. Your reporting and writing set a bar of excellence that all reporters should strive for. Bravo.
Susan Berger
Glencoe, Ill.
Barack Obama's victory was as significant as George Washington becoming our first president, Abraham Lincoln holding the country together during the Civil War or Franklin D. Roosevelt taking office during the depths of the Great Depression. The lasting legacy of Washington, Lincoln and Roosevelt is that they governed wisely. I have every expectation that a soon-to-be President Obama will do the same.
Denny Freidenrich
Laguna Beach, Calif.
Congratulations to Barack Obama on his historic election. I sincerely hope he lives up to the astonishingly high expectations of his supporters. I am cautiously optimistic about his presidency, but it scares me to know that he owes his victory more to the will of the press than the will of the people.
Anne Martin
Chicago, Ill.
I am immeasurably proud of my country—not because we elected an African-American president, but because we did not allow race to prevent us from electing the best man for the job.
Joanne Trapanese
Ghent, N.Y.
Your Nov. 17 issue is one of the best examples of news reporting I have ever read. The inside details of the long presidential campaign is exactly the type of in-depth journalism I seek with respect to national news yet rarely find. Congratulations from a regular reader on an exceptional issue.
Ken Wager
Via Internet
We do well to get several things straight about the election of Barack Obama. First, this election was not a referendum on his liberal policies. Swing voters did not vote for him because of his position on abortion, stem-cell research or civil rights. Instead, they voted for him for several reasons: his personality (he is articulate and charismatic) and his campaign (he raised tons of money and had a much better strategy than John McCain). But the financial crisis "heard 'round the world" that erupted six to eight weeks before the election was the primary reason that fueled his numbers. (Things in the Senate and House might have been different had the financial collapse waited until after the election.) Voters chose Obama because McCain's entire campaign was erratic and ineffective. They voted for him because it was so very easy to convince America that George W. Bush was the problem. None of this should lead anybody to conclude that Americans are now more liberal than they were. Obama would do very well to remember this as he governs. I, for one, hope he does.
David Webb
Hobart, Ind.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the magnificent coverage of the election process over the past 20 months, and especially for the Nov. 17 issue summing it all up. I am archiving this copy for my great-grandchildren (if I ever have any) and for their future generations.
Frederica Anderson
Schenectady, N.Y.
The majority has spoken. America must move forward. Let us pray that our president will surround himself with the best of counsel and lead us responsibly, judiciously and honorably without prejudice or partisanship.
H. Gordon Havens
Independence, Mo.