The Inauguration

An event known as the INAUGURATION takes place every four years to mark the beginning of a new term of the President of the United States of America. More recently, the position is being abbreviated as POTUS. The first inauguration took place in New York City in 1789 when George Washington became the first president. At that time, the capital of the United States was New York City. The ceremony took place on April 30 and the Oath of Office was administered by Robert Livingston who was the Chancellor of New York. The Chancellor was the highest ranking judge in the state of New York. By the time of President Washington’s second inauguration, the capital of the nation had been moved to Philadelphia. The date of the inauguration was also changed to March 4, because this was the beginning of the nation’s fiscal year. The date was changed in 1937 to January 20 and it has remained that date since that time. If Inauguration day comes on a Sunday, the Oath of Office is administered on Sunday privately and the ceremony is held on Monday and the Oath of Office is repeated in public.

The second president was George Washington’s Vice President, John Adams. His first inauguration was also held in Philadelphia in 1797 and his second inauguration in 1801 was the first one to be held in Washington, D. C.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court administers the Oath of Office to the elected presidents in the inauguration ceremonies as a standard procedure. In the event of the death or removal of a president, any high ranking member of the judicial system can administer the Oath to the vice president.

The Oath of Office for the President of the United States is only 39 words including four unofficial words that are usually added at the end:

“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God”

The ceremonies at the inauguration are organized and under the control of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. The military has always been involved with the inauguration since the president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. They have their own committee to oversee military participation. The president has the Presidential Inaugural Committee that is responsible for events other than the ceremony. The parade and the balls are their responsibility, and they provide the events and the funds for the events.

Since 1805, the inaugural ceremony has been held at the Capitol except for four occasions. The 1817 ceremony was not at the Capitol due to restoration work on the building. On Franklin Roosevelt’s fourth inaugural, he chose to have the ceremony at the White House because of his health. Harry Truman chose to have his inaugural ceremony at the death of Franklin Roosevelt in 1945 at the White House. Gerald Ford also chose to have his inaugural at the White House on the resignation of Richard Nixon. Until 1981, the ceremony was held at the East Entrance of the Capitol, but it was determined that it would be much less expensive on the West Entrance and it would give more space for the public to attend. The idea of saving money on the inauguration started with the first time Ronald Reagan took the Oath of Office.

The Constitution requires that the incoming President take the Oath of Office before beginning his duties, but there is no ceremony that is connected by the Constitution with the Oath. The ceremony is governed by tradition and some of the traditions go all the way back to the inauguration of President Washington. Attendees that are invited and have seats reserved are: Family of the new president, outgoing president and his family and any living former presidents with their families. All of the living formal Presidents will attend except 92 year old George H. W. Bush whose health has him confined. Others include the new vice-president and his family, members of both houses of Congress and their spouses, Supreme Court Justices and their spouses, high ranking military officers, outgoing and incoming cabinet members, all living Medal of Honor recipients and other diplomats and state officials.

The public is invited to be present for the ceremonies and there is no charge for being there. The reserved seating cannot be purchased but you can purchase bleacher seating on the parade route. Although admission is free, you must secure a ticket to be in the crowd. Tickets are available from your Congressman. Lyndon Johnson had 1.2 million at his inauguration, but Barack Obama had an estimated record 1.8 million at his first inauguration. The experts are estimating that President Trump will likely have around one million attendees.

On Jan. 19, both Donald Trump and Mike Pence will take part in a ceremony at Arlington Cemetery where the two of them will lay a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. On Jan. 20, in the morning, Donald Trump will visit the White House where he will meet with President Obama and the two of them will travel to the Capitol together for the Inauguration Ceremony. The order of the series of events includes the National Anthem to be sung by teenage recording artist Jackie Evancho; singing by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Missouri State University Chorale; the Rockettes will perform a tribute to New York City, the home of Donald Trump.

There will be six ministers speaking and praying at the ceremony. Evangelical Leader Franklin Graham, Evangelical Pastor Paula White, Catholic Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Hispanic Christian Leader Dr. Samuel Rodriquez, Jewish Rabbi Marvin Hier, and Bishop Wayne T. Jackson will give invocations at the ceremony. Donald Trump will take the Presidential Oath of Office and be immediately followed by Mike Pence in the Vice-Presidential Oath of Office. The new President will then give his Inaugural Address. There will then be a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue back to the White House.

In the evening there will be a number of dinners and balls honoring the new President and Vice-President. The following day there will be a Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral to complete the ceremonies.