‘Each one is unforgettable’

History shows every presidential inauguration is unique

At noon Friday when Donald J. Trump swears to uphold the oath of office of the president of the United States, he will be taking part in one of the country’s most lasting and essential traditions: the peaceful transition of power.

It’s a tradition that dates back 228 years, when George Washington became the first president of the United States on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City. Since then, 43 other men — all but one of them white — have sworn to faithfully execute the office of the president and preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.

To attend an inauguration is to witness history.

“The ceremony is really about America, and is not so much about politics,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who will attend Trump’s inaugural. “It really brings the country together.”

“The inauguration is such a splendid event,” said former U.S. Rep. Lawrence DeNardis. “It will subsume any discord that we are hearing about. It’s such an

outstanding, remarkable event. There may be protest groups half a mile away, but nothing untoward will mar the actual event.”

“As a ceremony, it is very moving and inspiring,” said Blumenthal, who attended the inaugurations of Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. “I’m sure there will be a big crowd. The transition of power is very inspiring. I remember at Obama’s inauguration looking out at a sea of people of different races celebrating democracy. And that’s what it really is — celebrating democracy.”

This year, dozens of congressional Democrats have announced they won’t be attending Trump’s inauguration. Some disagree with his politics, others for different reasons — U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., told NBC he won’t attend because “I don’t see this president-elect as a legitimate president.”

“I will be going out of respect for the peaceful transition of power, which is a hallmark of our democracy,” said Blumenthal. “I have great respect for people who make a different decision, but I just feel that I want to show my respect for the democratic process. I’ll go with respect, but I also defend the protests against some of the likely Trump policies.

“It really is overwhelming, with so many people,” Blumenthal said. “All the ones I’ve been to have had a feel of real unity and a joy of being an American. Each one is unforgettable.”

DeNardis remembers sitting behind Ronald Reagan as he was sworn in for the first time in 1980. DeNardis, a Republican, had just been sworn in to represent the 3rd District in the House of Representatives.

“I had just days before been sworn in as congressman from the Greater New Haven area, so it was a pretty remarkable time,” he said. “It was one of the most memorable days of my life.

“There I sat with members of Congress in the rows behind the president-elect and vice president-elect and their spouses and witnessed the swearing-in on that vista from the west all the way down to the Washington Memorial. It was an absolutely magnificent vista. It was a rather remarkable day for me.”

“The hallmark of the inauguration, its most important aspect, is the peaceful transfer of power from one leader to another,” said Quinnipiac University history professor Philip Goduti. It also provides the president with the opportunity to make one of, if not the most important, speeches of his administration, Goduti said. “Inaugural speeches play a huge role in shaping the presidency of the individual,” he said. “It is probably one of the most important speeches they will give in a presidency and sets the tone for their administration.”

Presidents have used the opportunity to unite the country in times of conflict.

“With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in,” Abraham Lincoln said during his second inaugural address, given just as the Civil War was ending, “to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations.”

“In my opinion, Lincoln’s second address was one of the greatest inaugural addresses,” Goduti said. “It talks about bringing the country back together and was almost poetic,” he said of the speech that Lincoln himself wrote, before the time of speechwriters.