Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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T I I J 1 |\ /I I \/ THEY SAID IT I ^ \\ / I I yL "Be sincere; be brief; be seated.” X X I J ±▼ X JLjL V franklin “ ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Workers prepare for Thursday’s inauguration ceremony. For the nation’s 55th inauguration, President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney will be sworn in for their second term . The ceremony will officially begin at noon on the western side of the Capitol. U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist will swear in President Bush. Hail to the chief Inaugurations steeped in tradition, shaped by presidential personalities . By RYAN DALLAS THE GAMECOCK In 1873, Ulysses S. Grant was sworn in for his second term as President of the United States, and he kicked off the party with a food fight at the inaugural ball. While this year’s inauguration should prove to be just slightly less exciting and raucous, that doesn’t mean it won’t bring something new to the table. On Thursday, President George W. Bush and Vice President Cheney will be inaugurated for a second term as President and Vice President of the United States at the 55th inauguration ceremony. The presidential inauguration has a long, colorful history full of traditions that have been passed dowij through the years. The tradition began April 6, 1789, when the declaration rang clear that George Washington would be the first President of the United States of America. On April 30, Washington was officially sworn in by Congress in New York City. Washington started the tradition by saying the words, “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President to the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” He then added “so help me God,” and kissed the Bible, two traditions that have been carried on at the successive inaugurations. At Washington’s second inauguration in 1793, he set the record for having the shortest address, at 135 words. Technology has played a role in how Americans view the inauguration. James Polk’s inauguration in 1845 was the first to be covered with a telegraph. Technology progressed when James Buchanan’s inauguration was the first to be photographed in 1857., Movie cameras showed up in 1897 at William McKinley’s first inauguration. Warren G. Harding was the first president to use loudspeakers at his inauguration in 1921. In 1925, Americans could listen to Calvin Coolidge’s address on the radio, and in 1929 they watched Herbert Hoover on a talking newsreel. Harry S. Truman had the first televised m/n Thomas Jefferson would eventually become the first president to be sworn in at the current home of the inauguration, Washington, D.C. In Jefferson’s second term, he began the tradition of opening the Executive Mansion to anyone that wished to meet and greet the president after his swearing in. The first inaugural parade was for James Madison in 1809, but his parade marchers consisted only of local militia there to accompany him to the capitol. This was probably not the most exciting parade that a president could have arranged, but it was Madison’s first try. In 1841, William Henry Harrison got the parade festivities started by adding floats to his presidential parade. Military themed floats, militia men and war veterans led the way on a cold inauguration afternoon. After watching the parade, Harrison went on to give the longest inaugural speech in history, lasting an hour and forty-five minutes. Throughout the parade and his speech, Harrison wore no topcoat, no hat and no gloves in freezing conditions. Less than one month later, Harrison would lose a batde with pneumonia, becoming the first president to die in office, and the president with the shortest term. John Tyler became the first vice president to assume the role of president. Another part of the pageantry associated with an inauguration is the plethora of inaugural balls thrown in the President’s honor. James Madison was able to grab another presidential first with the first-ever inaugural ball. Hosted by Dolly Madison, this first ball included a sit-down supper that was preceded by formal dancing. The balls met their first barrier with Woodrow Wilson, who thought they were undignified and unbefitting of a president even though Abraham Lincoln saw fit to have them even during the Civil War. A ball wasn’t seen again until 1921, when they began to be hosted unofficially, thus overcoming the obstacle of how to fund a ball during a depression. Since then, only Jimmy Carter has felt the need to play down the importance of the balls when he lowered the tickfet prices and called it a peanut and-pretzel affair. Today, Bill Clinton r-A (r\ - mort KtIIc ir.r^r, /J/-I “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the 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.” OATH OF OFFICE FOR U.S. PRESIDENTS at 14. George W. Bush might have been able to give Clinton a run for his money had the first election results not been delayed. While the balls and the parades are important to inauguration day, one must return to the focus of the day — the oath and the inaugural address. In 1817, James Monroe became the first president to give his speech directly to the people, a tradition that is followed to this very day. It is seen as an opportunity to come out and talk to the American people and to give a vision of the future. In his speech, Abraham Lincoln called for the binding of the nation’s wounds, Franklin Roosevelt called for a revival and a return to the nation’s once prosperous ways, and John F. Kennedy told all Americans, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” So when George W. Bush steps up and says those familiar words, remember that as Bill Clinton once said in his inaugural address, “There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.” President George W. Bush will be sworn in by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist and deliver his second inaugural address on the west front of the U.S. Capitol at noon Thursday. For more information, check out www.inaugural05.com. -1 - Comments on this story? E-mail On Inauguration Day I , Key events of the day. steeped in tradition and ritual, when the U.S.prestdent is sworn into office: Morning worship service President Franklin D. Roosevelt began this tradition „ in 1933 jJ Procession to Capitol Outgoing president accompanies president-elect from-White House to Capitol; began in 1837 Swearing-in President Oath written in Constitution; administered by chief - ■ Sv Inaugural address Every president has delivered one: shortest: 135 words, longest. 8.445 Inaugural luncheon Since 1953, flj hosted by House ^ and Senate in m., Capitol rotunda Inaugural I parade Early parades were military Jj? escorts; floats, bands, citizens A £ groups included f i, by 1841 Inaugural ^ balls j Saurcm Jem<aangma»qr>rt CownftMw qr> mugurM G*nmant** GanpMc- Jetty T>«bte leg__ COURTESY OFKRT CAMPUS #2005_ THE 5 5 T H PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION Swearing in the chief j <■ At noon on Thursday, Jan. 20. the ceremony to swear in President Bush for his second term will commence on the west side of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. The presidential > solemnly , , "IWTvwii faithfully execute th Office ot the President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, v,’ preserve, . protect and , i I * defendt^el 1 Ccfrisitution of \ ' * the United States 'So help me God * ‘ When taking the i oath of office, incoming presidents can choose to put their left hand on the Bible of their choice, open or dosed. In 2001. Bush used a dosed family Bible. ‘ historical American flags will be draped from the Capitol. . . .. including the U S. flag signifying Texas' II11 admission to the |||| Union in 1845 „ . _ Current Texas First flag statehood American "** (28 stars) flag The president will deliver his w second inaugural address from * the octagonal Inner platform. sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Dennis Hastert will administer the oath of office to Vice President Dick Cheney. Once the oath is taken, the military will administer 8 21 gun salute and the Marine band will play "Hall to the Chief’. SOURCES: Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies; Presidential Inaugural Committee AP