As U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman was sworn in for his 13th term as congressman for the 5th Congressional District, an exceptionally large gathering of his proud constituents watched the ceremony via closed-circuit television in Washington, D.C. Two bus loads of invited residents and local officials from Nassau and Queens joined Rep. Ackerman in D.C., in a high-charged day that included not only the swearing-in, but a tour of the White House and a meeting with the Clinton family at Senator Hillary Clinton's office.

"It was a great day, I was so exhilarated," Rep. Ackerman told the Great Neck Record when he returned home to New York. "It was so gratifying to see so many of my constituents come down with me for this historic moment. We had one of the largest, if not the largest group from the House," he added.

Rep. Ackerman spoke about "a great sense of satisfaction," with the Democrats now the majority in the House and the Senate. He spoke about now being able to work on "process" and developing new policy. And, of course, a great part of the excitement in D.C. on Jan. 4 was about Nancy Pelosi, the first woman Speaker of the House, as well as the first Italian-American Speaker of the House.

"The new Democratic agenda is exciting to all," Mr. Ackerman said. "It's very good for the American people; very good for my constituents all over Nassau County." The congressman noted that he is "very proud to help people and represent them in the Congress."

Those who traveled to Washington to witness the historic moment when the Congress was sworn in, had the extra excitement of not only local tours, but a visit to Senator Clinton's office, where they saw Chelsea Clinton and had the rare opportunity to meet former President Bill Clinton.

Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Lee Seeman, already a friend of Senator Clinton, was thrilled to meet the former president and thank him for having appointed her to the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad. Ms. Seeman told the Record: "I have never missed the opportunity of being at the swearing-in of Congressman Ackerman in Washington, but this year we had real history. The Democrats won the Congress and our congressman, Gary Ackerman, is in line to be chair of the sub-committee on the Middle East. As a Democratic state committeewoman of the16th Assembly District, I am proud to be a part of all this."

Ms. Seeman's legislative aide, Ellen Birnbaum, who also serves as the Great Neck Democrat's central zone leader, was equally thrilled; thrilled with the day's events and thrilled to meet Bill Clinton, who, she said, walked around the room, so nonchalantly, shaking hands and greeting people. "It was an exciting day, a day to remember, with a feeling of good things to come," she said.

A long-time town employee and currently a commissioner for the Great Neck Water Pollution Control District, Deena Lesser felt a deep sense of excitement with this "time of change." All, she told the Record, was "enhanced with seeing Gary Ackerman a part of the majority." Ms. Lesser noted that "Washington seemed extra sparkly" with the new majority coming into place.

And the new majority, Rep. Ackerman said, is ready for the future, ready to get to work right away. As for the immediate future, Gary Ackerman now hopes to chair the International Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East and he plans a future of really hard work to try to find ways to make this region more secure. "This is the world's troubled area ... terrorism is a real threat to the world of our children and grandchildren and we are now obligated to leave this world a better place," Mr. Ackerman, the delighted grandfather of two, stressed.

This "security issue" in the Middle East, he emphasized, "is the wellspring from whence it comes ... the terror network."

As for Rep. Ackerman's subcommittee and the anticipated chairmanship, he stated that "my committee has a lot on its plate ... it's a daunting challenge." Referring to the Bush administration, Rep. Ackerman stated: "I'm not quite sure our administration gets it. They are going in the wrong direction."

For the future of the United States of America, and for the future of the world, Gary Ackerman firmly stated, "You gotta get it right!"