Inaugural Fun Facts

Inside the Inauguration

This year's theme:
The theme of Obama's inauguration is "A New Birth of Freedom," according to Sen. Dianne Fienstein of California. It is to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth (which you all should know is also my birthday - YAY me!!!!!).

Lincoln, when delivering the Gettysburg Address in Pennsylvania in 1863, said "we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom."

The day's intinerary

Morning worship service:
Inauguration Day is steeped in tradition. Many presidents-elect follow the same routine as their predecessors.

The first tradition of the day is a morning worship service. Since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, every president-elect has attended church on the day of his inauguration.

Procession to the Capitol:
The president-elect, the vice president-elect and their spouses meet at the White House after the morning worship service. From there, they head to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremonies.

Before the automobile was invented, presidents rode to the ceremonies in a horse-drawn carriage. A couple of presidents-elect, Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson, chose to walk.

Swearing-in ceremonies:
The vice president-elect is first to take an oath of office. The vice president's oath is the same one given to members of Congress, but it's different from the one the president takes.

The swearing-in ceremonies have taken place at various locations throughout the years, but since 1981 they have been held on the west front terrace of the U.S. Capitol.

The president's oath of office is traditionally administered by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, although there have been a few exceptions. Since WWII, the vice president's oath has been administered by friends or associates of the vice president-elect.

Inaugural address:
Presidents have been giving inauguration speeches from the beginning. George Washington, after taking the country's first oath of office in 1789, went to the Senate chamber and gave a speech before members of Congress and other dignitaries.

The inaugural address gives the president a chance to present his or her vision of America and set goals for the nation.

Departure of the outgoing president:
Starting in the early 20th century, outgoing presidents have left the Capitol immediately after the inaugural address. Some have left by train and others by car, but since Gerald Ford in 1977, the outgoing president and frist lady have left by helicopter.

In recent years, the new president and vice president have escorted their predecessors through a military cordon.

Inaugural luncheon:
After watching the previous president's departure, the new president is escorted to the Capitol's Statuary Hall for the inaugural luncheon.

The luncheon has grown more elaborate in recent years. It includes speeches and gift presentations (President Obama & Vice-President Biden received beautiful crystal bowls presented by Lennox on behalf of the American people... they are very lovely - I just watched!). The menu is often based on the home states of the new president and vice president.

Inaugural parade:
After the inaugural luncheon, the new president and vice president lead a procession down Pennsylvania Avenue.

Once they reach the White House with their spouses and special guests, they watch the rest of the parade as it passes. The parade features a variety of groups, including military regiments and marching bands.

Inaugural balls:
The day ends with inaugural balls, planned by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, to celebrate the occasion.

The tradition began with only one inaugural ball, but the number has increased through the decades. Bill Clinton had 14 balls in 1997, and George W. Bush had nine in 2005.


The Oath of Office

The Presidential Oath of Office is specified in the Constitution:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) 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 Consitution of the United States."

The words "so help me God" are not in the Constitution, but every president-elect has added them at the end of the oath, following in the footsteps of George Washington.

Franklin Pierce and Herbert Hoover are the only president-elects to "affirm" rather than "swear" their oaths.

Notable history

Presidents were inaugurated on March 4 until 1937, when the 20th Amendment established that new presidents would take office at noon on January 20.

It was in 1933 that Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his inaugural address that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

John F. Kennedy's inaugural address in 1961 featured his famous quote "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

James Monroe, in 1817, was the first to take the presidential oath outdoors and deliver his speech to a public crowd.

George Washington's second inaugural address is the shortest in history. It was 135 words long. William Henry Harrison, on the other hand, took an hour and 45 minutes to read his 8,500-word speech in 1841. It is the longest in history.

Harrison didn't wear a hat or a coat at his rainy inauguration ceremony and he caught a cold. One month later, he died of pneumonia.

Info credit: goes here as normal, NOT in the box =)