Every four years after the drama of a presidential election has subsided, we get to witness the excitement of a Presidential Inauguration.  The Inauguration marks a time for our nation to come together and look toward the future.  No matter who citizens individually supported in the election, it is an opportunity for us as a nation to come together and observe the swearing in of our president. 

In just a few short days, we will celebrate the Inauguration of the incoming 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.  I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the Inaugurations in both 2001 and 2005. However I believe the 2009 Inauguration will provide the world with an outstanding demonstration of how peacefully and competently power can transfer from one party to another.

As a Member of Congress, I will be fortunate to have a front-row seat at the ceremony, and I will report back to you in the coming weeks what I saw.  For now however, I would like to share with you some background on the history of the event.

Typically, the day starts with the president-elect attending a morning worship service at a location of his choosing.  This tradition was started by Franklin D. Roosevelt, who attended a service at St. John’s Episcopal Church on March 4, 1933.

After the service, the president-elect, vice president-elect and their spouses are escorted to the White House for a quick meeting with the current president.  Once the meeting is completed the current president and the president-elect travel to the Capitol together. This trip has been a part of the day since 1837, when Martin Van Buren and Andrew Jackson traveled to the swearing in a carriage constructed from the U.S.S. Constitution.
Once the procession arrives at the Capitol, the vice president-elect takes the oath of office.  Before 1937, the vice president took the oath of office in the Senate Chamber, but since that time, the vice president-elect has taken the oath on the Inaugural platform.

After the vice president is sworn in, the president-elect takes the oath of office. When George Washington was sworn in as the first president on April 30, 1789, he took his oath of office on a balcony in front of New York's Federal Hall. When the ceremony was finished, Washington gave a short Inaugural address in the Senate Chamber. 

President-elect Thomas Jefferson was the first to take the oath in Washington D.C.  Jefferson was given his oath of office by Chief Justice John Marshall on March 4, 1801 in the Senate Chamber.  Almost every Inauguration since Jefferson’s has taken place in Washington D.C. 

Until 1829, most presidents gave their address in either the House or Senate Chambers. Today, the president-elect takes his oath of office and gives the address on a platform on the west side of the Capitol.  This tradition began in 1981 with Ronald Reagan’s Inauguration to give the citizens in attendance a better view of the ceremony. 

After being sworn in by the Chief Justice, President Obama will give his Inaugural address, which has been done by every president since the very first Inauguration.  

Some outstanding presidential speeches have been given and immortal words have been spoken on this day. It was during his Inaugural address that Abraham Lincoln said, “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive to finish the work we are in.” Franklin D. Roosevelt said during his speech, “we have nothing to fear but fear itself.” 

After the Inaugural address, the outgoing president departs, usually escorted by the new president.  Since 1977, when Gerald Ford left office, the outgoing president and first lady have typically departed by helicopter.  Once the outgoing president has departed, the new president then attends the inaugural luncheon.

After the luncheon, there is a parade held in honor of the new president. The president and vice president lead the procession back toward the White House and then view the parade with guests as it passes by their stand.
After the parade, the day will be concluded with Inaugural Balls.  The first Inaugural Ball was held in 1809, when First Lady Dolly Madison held a ball for her husband with around 400 guests in attendance.  While there was initially just one ball, there will be 10 official balls held in honor of President Obama. President Clinton currently holds the record for most Inaugural Balls at 14 in 1997.

On Tuesday even as these old traditions are followed, a new page in Inaugural history will be written for the ages, with a new president beginning his term in office. This is an exciting time for our nation, and I look forward to witnessing the Inaugural events which will unfold next week.  If we are fortunate, President Obama’s speech will join Lincoln’s and Roosevelt’s in our history books.
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