PRESIDENT Barack Obama officially began his second term at the White House yesterday with a bold commitment to gay rights, gun control, and action against climate change.
Fresh from his successful re-election in November, Mr Obama made clear his ambitions for the next four years in front of a 700,000-strong crowd at the Capitol.
In his second inaugural address, the 51-year-old said: "America's possibilities are limitless… My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment, and we will seize it so long as we seize it together."
But, in contrast to his 2009 speech, which called for bipartisanship with his political opponents, Mr Obama seemed much more prepared to go on the offensive - and why not?
Free from the shackles of seeking re-election, he can afford to be bolder. Furthermore, he should also benefit from the fact that the economy surely cannot struggle as badly as it did at times in the previous cycle.
Already, the signs are there that the United States is over the worst for now and, of course, Mr Obama can take some credit for the improved standing.
As an example, the President's decision to bailout the automotive industry in Michigan proved vital in saving thousands of jobs, and it was richly rewarded at the ballot box in the state in November.
Meanwhile, since then, the United States has avoided so far falling off the much-hyped fiscal cliff following a last-minute budget deal which will avert tax rises and budget cuts.
However, the wider social reforms will certainly not come as easily. No way.
Mr Obama is still faced with a Republican majority in the House of Representatives and conservatives have reacted with howls of anguish at certain sections of his speech.
On same-sex marriage, the President made no secret of where he stands when he said: "Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law."
And, if that was not enough for the foaming right-wing zealots, Mr Obama has announced plans to take on the gun lobby as well.
But that also looks to be a stern test, despite the tragedy just before Christmas at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut.
There, 20 children, all aged four and five, and six teachers were killed in addition to the perpetrator's mother who was shot at her home.
It has been confirmed as the second-deadliest school shooting in United States history after the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre - but, as this extraordinary chart shows, there have been plenty other deaths caused by gunfire even since then.
It just goes to show that some Americans have such a strange sense of liberty. After all, many of the same folks who defend their right to bear arms under the Second Amendment refuse minority groups equal rights.
Of course, stubborn opposition is not the only problem which Mr Obama faces.
Foreign affairs will likely feature, as they always seem to do - and, while Mr Obama is reluctant to engage in any more theatres of war after the struggles in Iraq and Afghanistan, Benjamin Netanyahu's own re-election as Israeli Prime Minister is likely to bring Iran's nuclear programme back to the fore.
Despite all this, though, Mr Obama's biggest opponent to him leaving a legacy is most probably time.
A commonly-held belief is that a second-term President must achieve his goals within the first two years of his re-election before the attention begins to turn to whom his successor will be.
At least, though, the 44th President is aware of the ticking clock. He said: "For now decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay.
"We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate."
I am sure many will agree that those words are more like it from Mr Obama!
And, following four years of dampened expectations, maybe - just maybe - he can and will realise a more progressive society in the United States.
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