Opinion

Do inaugurations matter?

America will inaugurate its 47th president on Monday. Pictured: President-elect Donald Trump. Photo Credit: Donald Trump/X. 

As America prepares for the 60th inauguration of a president a small question arises.  Do inaugurations matter? Millions of dollars will be spent to celebrate the advent of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term in office. Dignitaries, friends, family, and government officers will gather on the West Portico of the White House to watch the 45th President be sworn in as the 47th President, becoming only the second man to hold the office on two separate occasions (Grover Cleveland in the 19th Century also did it). Millions of people will assemble and watch the proceedings on television or streaming services. Former presidents will make the trek to Washington, foreign leaders will fly into Reagan National, and journalists will lead an invasion second to ants at a picnic. What is the fuss all about? 

According to the White House Historical Association, “On April 30, 1789, George Washington took the oath of office in New York City. Later he said of this new presidential role, ‘I walk on untrodden ground.’ Inauguration Day began with the sounds of ceremonial artillery and church bells ringing across New York City, our nation’s first capital. At noon Washington made his way through large crowds to Federal Hall where both houses of Congress were assembled. On the second-floor balcony facing the street he was administered the oath of office by Robert R. Livingston, the Chancellor of New York, and officially became the first president of the United States.” Since that auspicious beginning, inaugurations have become a national new year. Every four years America resets itself and a new presidential term begins. Sometimes it marks the end of a presidency and the beginning of a new one, or it can simply be the halfway point for a two-term presidency that needs a refresher.

In 1801 Thomas Jefferson became the first president to take the oath of office in Washington, the new capital. His decision in 1805 to ride on horseback from the Capitol to the president’s house amidst music and some Navy Yard mechanics who chose to join the festivities explains the origin of the Inaugural parade. These parades have taken on a life of their own and can be used to emphasize a president’s beliefs, initiatives, or outlook. In 1865 this was especially true when President Abraham Lincoln included black participants in the parade for the first time. 

The first inaugural ball was held at Long’s Hotel where James Madison and his wife Dolley were the guests of honour. The importance of the event serves numerous purposes. Besides renewing the democratic process, the celebration allows people to hold dances, and receptions, invite diverse segments of the population and uphold the tradition of a respectful transfer of power while commemorating the country’s rich history.  

The presidency, an office originally meant for modest leadership has grown in importance and influence during the nation’s history. When a president was elected in the late 18th century and well into the 19th century it could take weeks for the new chief executive and his family to pack, move, and get to their new home. New congressional members and senators would also have to travel long distances as new states were added meaning that there were long intervals between elections and swearing-in ceremonies. March 4th was originally selected as the date when administrations changed hands and inaugurations were held. Even with the advent of trains and faster transportation, the date remained the same until the passage of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution moved the date back to Jan. 20, 1937. Since then, all presidential terms have ended at noon on January 20th and new ones have begun the moment a new president is sworn in (except for the death of a president in office). 

Some of the more recent inaugurals have included some interesting moments. When Dwight Eisenhower became president in 1953, he and Harry Truman held no high regard for each other. In the National Park Service’s “A Cold and Frosty Affair,” the author describes the scene: “When Eisenhower arrived at the White House, he refused an invitation to come inside and have a cup of coffee with the president; he instead waited on him to come outside and join him in the car for the ride to the Capitol. While they were photographed both smiling together in the back seat, the two men were anything but happy to be together. The ride down Pennsylvania Avenue was chilled and quiet.” It was not until after John F. Kennedy’s funeral that the two mended fences, enjoying a visit after the funeral and parting with a long handshake. 

Kennedy’s inaugural in 1961 saluted the start of a new era of leadership because Kennedy was the first president born in the twentieth century. He was 27 years younger than Eisenhower and used the opportunity to accentuate his youth. His inclusion of poet Robert Frost and his tip of the hat to his father sitting in the review stands added to an unforgettable day as the young president also delivered the most memorable speech in Inauguration history with his famous line, “Ask not what your country can do for you but ask what you can do for your country,” among many other notable quips. 

By 1977 I was interested in watching the spectacle and easily recall Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s decision to escape their limousine and walk the length of the parade reflecting Carter’s connection to average citizens. In 1981 Ronald Reagan’s first inauguration returned glitz and pageantry to the extravaganza after the toned version of his predecessor. Reagan even wore a formal morning coat to highlight the return of a courtlier presidency. When Barack Obama took office in 2009 millions of people wanted to be in person at the swearing-in. The crowds flooded the DC area for days before the event and while Trump’s team claimed the people who attended his inaugural in 2017 eclipsed or equalled the Obama numbers, most police and security people who saw both felt that the Obama crowds were significantly larger (about 1.8 million versus less than a million at Trump’s). 

As the 2025 inaugural approaches, the excitement grows. Once again America will happily retire a former president and welcome back a new (and in this case a former) president into office. Yes, inaugurations matter in the world’s oldest democracy. 

To read more about this unique celebration and find a series of interesting articles about the history of inaugurations check out this site: https://www.whitehousehistory.org/collections/presidential-inaugurations 

 

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