I agree with you that it was a spectacular success. The President owned the room. The reporters got the message. The viewers got the message. I cannot help but wonder if his opponents got the message too, but I wouldn't be too surprised if they didn't.
The President's demeanor appears to have changed. He appears to have matured. I don't remember exactly, but wasn't it Truman who said that "the office makes the man?" The office seemed to have worked its magic once again.
Cheers, PW.
P.S. Thank-you for the comments about my Peggy post.