We stand on the doorstep of history. The world over, people will want to know whether Obama will have the words to inspire visions of peace and prosperity, along with the capacity to fulfill them.

History tells us that Lincoln, FDR and JFK inspired America with their magical words and deeds, but that is a view in hindsight. Never has more been expected of a president on Day 1 and beyond than Barack Obama.

In 1947, Brooklyn Dodger General Manager Branch Rickey picked the now-legendary Jackie Robinson to integrate the game of baseball, America's microcosm, because of Robinson's vast skill, crisp intelligence and steely moral and emotional toughness. On Nov. 6, for the same reasons, America picked Obama to impel our integration process. Today, we get a glimpse of whether we chose as wisely as Rickey.

Obama will be living and working under unprecedented pressures, as he tries to maneuver us through and around problems of historic scope. Can he divine answers to an enfeebled economy and two debilitating wars, just to name the headliners? Are these even predicaments that are within one executive's power to conquer?

America expects magic in actions, not just words. Voting blocs that never mustered any interest in the political process flocked to the polls to sweep Obama into office fully expecting that magic, and magic they must have.

Our nation was bent on creating history during this painfully long, two-year presidential campaign. Very likely, we'd have elected our first woman if not our first African American — at least, half African American. Either way, we'd have surged ahead sociologically. No longer will we have to endure a black candidate being a curiosity solely because of race.

Do we need a woman president, for a similar reason? Indeed we do. Half the people are women. They must feel in their souls that they share the franchise equally.

Meanwhile, we wait and watch to see whether Obama will turn out to be Lincoln, FDR and JFK all bound into one man. Will his elegant words and masterful delivery reflect or mask what's really underneath? One thing is certain: Never in human history have more people expected more magic from one person.

The campaign and election are over decisively so. The hope and prayer of all Americans must be that Barack Obama has all the qualities that seemed to fascinate so many to him the past two years.

It isn't magic we have a right to expect. It is a deep insight and an infectious presence to galvanize the nation in the confidence that we'll prevail in the struggles ahead.

We desperately want those expectations to begin to be fulfilled when Barack Obama takes the podium today.