 Angelou told her friend Oprah Winfrey that the call requesting her to write and recite the poem came from television producer Harry <unk> , who organized the inauguration , shortly after Clinton 's election . Even though she suspected that Clinton made the request because " he understood that I am the kind of person who really does bring people together " , Angelou admitted feeling overwhelmed , and even requested that the audiences attending her speaking engagements pray for her . 
