INVITATIONS RECEIVED TO PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION

Former congressional candidate Emily Firebaugh can't help feel some disappointment mixed with the excitement.

Lifelong Democrat Otis Baker of Cape Girardeau is honored to have been asked to go but can't attend.

Portageville's Amy Simpson is just thrilled.

All three have one thing in common: They have been invited to attend next week's presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C.

Firebaugh said she'd been invited to go before, but last year's visit to Cape Girardeau by President Clinton and his endorsement of her failed 8th District congressional campaign may have swayed her to accept this year.

"We're going to go up for the festivities and celebrate President Clinton's inauguration for a second term, which is really unusual for a president in these days," she said. "Of course I'm very disappointed that I won't be going to Washington, D.C., as an elected congresswoman, but I'm still very pleased to go for these festivities."

Firebaugh is looking forward to the actual swearing-in of President Clinton, the massive fireworks display and the ball. She doesn't think she'll get a chance to meet the president again.

"Hopefully I'll get to see him again," she said. "But I don't anticipate him coming out of the crowd saying, 'Emily, how good to see you again.'"

Firebaugh has returned to her timber business and has been working with the Farmington Chamber of Commerce's transportation committee since the end of her campaign in November.

The 90-year-old Baker is physically unable to attend the inauguration despite the personal invitation.

"They sent us a plaque some time ago saying we were strong supporters of the party," he said. "Then here comes this Friday."

Baker said he's been involved in the Democratic Party his entire life.

"My daddy was that way before but that's not why I'm a Democrat," he said. "I'm a Democrat because you can see the difference."

He plans to frame the invitation and hang it next to the plaque, which is signed by both Clinton and Vice President Al Gore.

Simpson, an 18-year-old Portageville High School senior, is attending the inauguration through her involvement with the National Young Leaders Conference. She was invited along with 380 other graduates of the program.

"I've loved the city since the first time I went," Simpson said. "I don't really know a whole lot about what we're going to be doing but I know we get to go to the inauguration itself."

Simpson said she's an admirer of Clinton's and would have voted for him if she had been old enough.

"I've seen what it's like on TV," she said of the inauguration. "I know it's going to be cold. I just hope it lives up to the expectations that I think it will."