Welcome To The Bloggyland Inauguration Tour
My favorite watermelon pink gown.I'm all primped and dressed.
My ride has arrived so I won't be late for all the festivities.
The Pelosi Car
But first, a little history about the Inaugurations of years past.
1st President George WashingtonOur beloved country became "a more perfect union" also known as the United States of America in 1776. Before that we were governed by the Articles of Confederation, which was agreed to by Congress November 15, 1777; ratified and in force, March 1, 1781. The Constitution was ratified in May 1787.
This week's 44th U.S. presidential Inauguration in Washington, District of Columbia, will involve a cast of thousands and an audience of millions.
At the beginning of the formation of our government, the populace had to hear the news through the written word and could take months. This inauguration will be televised and on the internet, ready to be viewed by billions in the blink of an eye.
What will happen today? There will be a church service, a procession by the President-elect to the Capitol Building, an oath of office administered by the chief justice, and a 21-gun salute. The newly sworn in President will give a speech and the members of Congress will host him at a formal lunch in the U.S. Capitol. The President will lead a parade of more than 10,000 people and dozens of floats back to the White House.
There will be nine official balls and nearly twice as many unofficial parties. The First Lady's inaugural gown will likely be presented to the National Museum of American History in Washington.
The National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., collects inaugural ball gowns worn by First Ladies. On the left is the gown worn by Lucretia Rudolph Garfield in 1881. Next to it is the gown worn by Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy in 1961. SourceThe whole shebang will cost 40 million U.S. dollars, paid for by private donations solicited from President Barak Hussein Obama, Jr.'s supporters.
This one didn't come anywhere near that amount! In a mural of the first U.S. presidential inauguration to take place at the Capitol Building, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall administers the oath of office to Andrew Jackson in 1829. SourceThe 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that the term of the President expires at noon on January 20. Other than the date and time—and the wording of the oath of office—the transfer-of-power protocol is based on traditions going back to George Washington.
How a few "firsts" in Inaugurations trivia? Are you up to the task? :o)
Some Noteworthy Inaugurations: Firsts and Other Facts
April 30, 1789: George Washington
On the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, Washington was sworn in wearing a dark brown suit, steel-hilted sword, white silk stockings, and silver shoe buckles. During the oath of office he placed a hand on the Bible, beginning a tradition that nearly every U.S. President has repeated.
March 4, 1801: Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson is thought to have been the first and only president to walk to and from his Inauguration. Wanting to draw a distinction between royal events and simple, democratic ceremonies, he declined to ride in the customary carriage.
He was the first President to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C.
It was the first time a newspaper (the National Intelligencer) printed the inaugural address on the morning of the Inauguration.
March 4, 1861: Abraham Lincoln
The secession crisis required tight security for the new President and his parade. Army sharpshooters were on the rooftops overlooking the parade, and people complained that they could not see the President in his open carriage, as it was completely surrounded by cavalrymen. April 12, 1861 he led our nation into the War of Northern Aggression. His poor leadership led to a war of brother against brother.
March 4, 1865: Abraham Lincoln
His Inauguration was the first time blacks participated in the Inaugural Parade. Tragically, April 14, 1865 he was shot and killed. May 26, 1865 the War ended.
March 4, 1905: Theodore Roosevelt
He was President since 1901 due to Pres. William McKinley's assassination, Theodore Roosevelt did not have an inaugural parade until 1905. Veterans of Roosevelt's Spanish-American War Rough Riders charged along the parade route at full gallop. Some 35,000 people took part in the parade. [I'll bet that was a hoot to watch!]
January 20, 1949: Harry S. Truman
His was the first Inauguration to be televised
January 20, 1981: Ronald Reagan
His was the first Inauguration that was held on the west terrace of the Capitol.
It was the first closed-captioned TV broadcast for the hearing impaired.
It was also the warmest Inauguration on record (excluding President Ford's, which was on August 9, 1973, after President Nixon resigned).
January 20, 1985, and January 21, 1985: Ronald Reagan
As January 20 fell on a Sunday, festivities were held on Monday, January 21. Reagan did, however, take the oath of office on Sunday, January 20.
It was the first time a TV camera was placed inside the President's limousine.
It was also the coldest Inauguration on record.
January 20, 2005: George W. Bush
It was the first Inauguration since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
He had the tightest security of any Inauguration (more than a hundred square blocks closed off, 6,000 police officers and 7,000 U.S. troops deployed, fighter jet patrols, chemical sensors).
Source
There's a whole bunch more trivia at the Source link. I found it interesting that very nearly every President has a "first" on record.
That's enough history for now. Let's come back to the present.
Have a happy day folks!
~ Amen.
♥ ∞
