On today's MLK day, the day before the inauguration of Pres. Obama, I spent pretty much the whole day thinking about Charles Hamilton Houston. For me there is so much symmetry between Obama and Houston (and so much to learn from both of them). Besides the obvious things like the Harvard Law Review and being law professors, they shared an ideological symmetry. Both fundamentally believed in the American system. That if tested, America could and would make the right choices. Both men put America to the test and came out making us all more hopeful for our futures. So, tonight, on the eve of the big day I have a delighted, peaceful smile on my face for Mr. Houston. The man that brought down Jim Crow and created the space for Barack Obama. Always good to remember those that spent their lives working for our future.