When President Donald Trump delivered his second inaugural address on Monday, January 20, he preserved a tradition of national mythmaking that has only served Americans poorly.
Mr Trump also spoke of his own return to the White House as both personal vindication, following two assassination attempts, and a mission for dramatic overhauls of domestic and foreign policy.
His Altitude column offers a regular perspective on politics in a moment of radical disruption.
While he may be better prepared than in 2017, when his administration was mostly dysfunctional, he will still struggle to achieve many of his pledges