On this historic day, a number of Members found themselves in Washington DC on “pressing personal business.” For those of us who remained in Richmond, we had a brief session at 10:00 AM. Then we gathered around television sets to take in the goings-on 100 miles north of us.

Over a dozen Members — a mix of Democrats and Republicans — remained in the House chamber and watched the ceremony on the Jumbotron screens that usually carry floor proceedings and roll call votes.