In three days, America will hear one of the most consequential speeches in the nation’s history.

A new president will take the oath of office before a National Mall cordoned off by unscalable fencing and armed sentries, a National Mall likely to be more glaringly devoid of cheering supporters than even the inauguration held there four years ago.

Robert Price is a journalist for KGET-TV. His column appears here Sundays. Reach him at RobertPrice@KGET.com or via Twitter: @stubblebuzz. The opinions expressed are his own.