Among many highlights, perhaps the most moving and meaningful element of last week’s Inauguration for me was watching President Obama swear the oath of office on the personal Bibles of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. as we begin a year of deeply significant civil rights milestones.

January 1, 2013 marked the 150th anniversary of the effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation, an Executive Order issued by President Abraham Lincoln at the height of the Civil War in his capacity of Commander-in-Chief. It declared all slaves in the 10 States then in open rebellion against the Union to be free persons. Southern and border States not in rebellion began to abolish slavery in their territories, and two years later Lincoln achieved formal ratification of 13th Amendment to the Constitution outlawing slavery throughout the U.S.

Later this year we will celebrate the 50th anniversity of the landmark 1963 March on Washington which brought 300,000 citizens from around the country to the National Mall to demand civil rights and economic opportunity for African Americans. The iconic highlight of the March was the historic “I Have a Dream” speech delivered by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, in 100th anniversary year of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

 

Despite the long span of years since those landmark events, despite the efforts of giants like Lincoln and King, and despite the ongoing work of legions of freedom advocates, slavery still exists among us. It’s called “human trafficking” in polite company, and too many officials continue to avert their eyes or minimize or deny the problem. It is a well-documented fact, however, that millions of people around the world live in modern-day slavery. The risk and reality exist in every country.

Whether called human trafficking, modern-day slavery, involuntary servitude, or debt bondage, the impacts on victims’ lives and the moral fiber of our societies are the same. We can all play a role in combating the scourge if we are willing to accept that there’s a problem and if we learn what to look for.

American Ambassador Luis CdeBaca, who coordinates U.S. government activities in the global fight against contemporary forms of slavery, notes that the challenge of identifying victims can be a daunting one:

“While the victims may sometimes be kept behind locked doors, they are often hidden right in front of us at, for example, construction sites, restaurants, elder care centers, nail salons, agricultural fields, and hotels.  Traffickers’ use of coercion – such as threats of deportation and harm to the victim or their family members – is so powerful that even if you reach out to victims, they may be too fearful to accept your help.  Knowing indicators of human trafficking and some follow up questions will help you act on your gut feeling that something is wrong and report it.”

Modern-day slavery does not just refer to the physical barriers of chains, locked doors, and physical isolation. It’s important to understand the complexities of how threats, coercion, and denial of freedom of movement build mental barriers that create servitude and prevent escape. To better understand how to recognize less obvious situations in which human trafficking occurs, I encourage you to take the Human Trafficking Awareness Training developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

I talked at length last year about human trafficking and the various NGOs and other institutions active in anti-trafficking efforts. During the course of my work over the past few months I’ve come across additional resources and players that I’d like to share with you. The following are well worth work checking out:

- Slavery Footprint, a sobering look at how, through the choices we make as consumers, we all contribute to human trafficking;

- National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, which celebrates freedom’s heroes past and present while encouraging participation in the ongoing struggles for freedom; and

- Prescha Initiative, based in New Zealand, which has created great education tools to raise awareness here about signs that someone may be a trafficking victim.

I would also refer you to a resource that I’ve mentioned several times previously, the State Department’s smart and handy checklist of 20 Ways You Can Help Fight Human Trafficking.

Finally for now, I’m pleased to advise that this April 11-12 the Embassy will partner with the Salvation Army and ECPAT Child Alert in sponsoring in Auckland a ”Preventing People Trafficking Conference.” Information about the conference is available by clicking here. Please consider attending or sending someone from your organization. I look forward to seeing you there.

This installment in my series of insider guides to great locations to visit in the United States brings us to one of the original 13 American Colonies, the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our tour guide today is my Embassy colleague Corey Crane. His article talks about things he loves to see and do in his beautiful home State, where American icons such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson lived and changed history.

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VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS
by Corey Crane

The site of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America, Virginia offers unmatched historic destinations that speak to the very heart of the American legacy. Colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown join Jamestown as three of Virginia’s most popular destinations, offering visitors a glimpse into revolutionary-era America.  Accompanying these historic offerings are breathtaking mountains, pristine sandy beaches, rich cultural experiences, charming small towns, and award-winning wineries. Virginia is one of our States that has it all – and more.

A history buff’s dream, the Commonwealth State (as we call ourselves) is home to more than 120 national historic landmarks including the homes of American founding fathers George Washington (Mount Vernon), Thomas Jefferson (Monticello), and James Madison (Montpelier), as well as colonial-era villages and civil war reenactment sites. Virginia was the birthplaces of eight American Presidents, more than any other State.

The breathtaking panoramas of oak, pine, and dogwood contained within Virginia’s 15.72 million acres (6.36 million hectares) of forestland provide a stunning backdrop to this repository of American heritage. The state’s inland natural majesty is only matched by the beauty of the 112 miles of pristine Atlantic shoreline with hundreds of wide sandy beaches that draw millions of sun worshippers each year.

Virginia’s irregular shape gives it many neighbors on the east coast of America. To the north, the State is bordered by West Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. To the west are Kentucky and Tennessee, to the south is North Carolina, and to the east lies the Atlantic Ocean.

Within these borders is a veritable wonderland of sights and activities spanning a huge range of interests beyond history or seashores, from the classic and renowned to the truly odd … including the glorious Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park, world-class resorts, amusement parks, a tank museum, the world’s most accurate replica of Stonehenge (made out of Styrofoam), and, of course, the gravesite of General Stonewall Jacksons left arm.

Virginia is named after Queen Elizabeth I (the Virgin Queen). It became the 10th State to enter the Union, on June 25, 1788. Our wonderful and tranquil State is now home to more than 8 million residents, spread across more than 42,000 square miles (109,000 sq. km.) which is about the size of New Zealand’s North Island.

Virginia has the 12th largest population in the United States, but our cities remain open and unencumbered. Our largest city, Virginia Beach, has only 435,000 residents. In my view that low density reflects our style of life, which is slower and calmer than most places. We enjoy life greatly and spend a lot of time reflecting on our past. (If you don’t believe me, just consider our State motto – Thus Always to Tyrants, a saying that encapsulates our belief that oppression and overt control will always be thwarted.)

The city of Richmond, with approximately 200,000 residents (about the size of Hamilton, New Zealand), is Virginia’s historic, stately capital. Located near the center of the State, Richmond was founded more than 275 years ago, in 1737, and is known as the River City because it sits along the banks of the James River.

Richmond’s Old City Hall is a breathtaking landmark. Built in the late 1800′s, it occupies a very special place downtown facing Jefferson’s Capitol Grounds. The building was retired from official use in the 1970’s, but remains a major tourism site for the city. In my visits, I found the sky lit atrium to be particularly interesting. The floor of the atrium is a suspended glass block, propelling light all the way to the basement level, lending the main chambers an ethereal, beautifully lit quality.

The city has seen its share of historical moments. Patrick Henry delivered his “Give me liberty, or give me death” speech at the St. John’s Church, and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (penned by Thomas Jefferson) was debated and passed there. During the American Civil War, Richmond served as the capital of the Confederate States of America.  Though it was burned and heavily damaged near the end of the fighting, it recovered quickly after the conflict because of its brick-making and ironworks industries.

To the east, along the Atlantic Coast, is Virginia Beach, a holiday city with miles of beaches and many dozens of hotels, cafes, restaurants, and other entertainment venues along its beachfront. Every year Virginia Beach hosts the East Coast Surfing Championship as well as the North American Sand Soccer Championship, which bring large numbers of spectators to town. It is also home to several state parks, protected beach areas, three military bases, and several notable universities, including Regent University.

An hour’s drive north from Virginia Beach will bring you to Busch Gardens Williamsburg (not to be confused with the colonial village). Opened in 1975 (adjacent to Anheuser-Busch’s brewery), the park has a pre-industrial European theme. With an estimated attendance of more than 2.5 million visitors per year, it’s one of the top 20 entertainment parks in the world and particularly well known for its roller coasters. Among my favorite regions of the huge park are the Banbury Cross of England, Killarney of Ireland, San Marco of Italy, Oktoberfest of Bavaria, and Aquitaine of France.

The real magic of Virginia isn’t in the cities and amusement parks, though, but in the wild, lush land beyond. As the State’s catchphrase says, “Virginia is for Lovers.” With rich, bountiful, beautiful landscapes covered in vivid watercolor strokes, rolling hills, and crystal blue lakes, it’s next-to-impossible not to fall in love while in the State. And visiting is convenient – it’s easily possible to visit summit and beach in the same day.

I have fond memories of visiting Skyline Drive as a child, located in the Shenandoah Mountains that border Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. Doing the drive is essential, particularly if you find yourself visiting during the months of October and November. The views are breathtaking, and the many quaint, locally owned cafés along the route enhance the trip with food and espresso. The Shenandoah Mountains are located only 70 miles (112 km) west of Washington DC, thus providing a great weekend getaway for the hardworking residents of the Nation’s capital.

Not far from the Shenandoah Mountains are the Luray Caverns. As a child in grade school, I took a field trip here that I’ll never forget. Discovered in 1878 by five local men, the Caverns are home to wondrous sights including the largest musical instrument in the world – the Stalacpipe Organ, which is a system of stalactites covering 1.5 hectares that produce melodic tones when struck by rubber mallets. Creating the natural “organ” required more than 5 miles of wiring and 36 years of work. The songs played on the organ change seasonally, and the deep tones resonate all through the extensive caverns, captivating visitors.

Circling back to one of my earlier points, many of the most interesting attractions in Virginia focus on the state’s storied history. Among the many highlights, you can visit 406-year-old Jamestown, the first English settlement in the New World. The American Revolution ended on Virginia soil when General George Washington decisively defeated the armies of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, forcing the British surrender.

In addition, with more than 300 acres of original and reconstructed buildings, Colonial Williamsburg will transport you back in time to 18th century Virginia, where you can get a firsthand glimpse at revolutionary war-era life in America. Williamsburg is the Nation’s largest and most popular living-history museum.

Other historical sites reflect Virginia’s special status as the ”Mother of Presidents,” which is one of our nicknames. For example, Montpelier, the home of our 4th President, James Madison, is located near the town of Orange. Since 1934, Montpelier has hosted the annual Montpelier Hunt Races in which thousands of horse lovers visit on the first Saturday in November for a day of wholesome family fun. As a teenager growing up nearby, I appreciated the historical site but thoroughly enjoyed the horse racing, the family reunions we scheduled there, and the great barbeque (with a smell nearly as prevalent as that of the horses).

When only in his mid-twenties, Thomas Jefferson, our third President, began building his home, Monticello, just outside Charlottesville, which is now represented on the back of the U.S. nickel coin. Because of its historical and political significance, Monticello is a United Nations World Heritage Site (the only American residence to make the list). In the home Jefferson collected a veritable treasure trove of Native American, pre-colonial American, and scientific artifacts, and his library of more than 6,700 books launched the famed U.S. Library of Congress.

Eclipsing both Montpelier and Monticello in popularity is Mount Vernon, the famous historic plantation of the first President of the United States, George Washington. Conveniently located just outside of the Nation’s Capital overlooking the Potomac River, it’s a great place for tourists to spend an afternoon visiting the mansion and gardens. The structure is an excellent example of colonial architecture, and the furnishings, art, and decorations are almost all original, including the key to Paris’ Bastille, a gift to the President from General Lafayette.

In addition to Washington’s mansion, there are several other buildings of interest for tourists to visit on the estate. You can see a 4-acre (1.6 hectare) demonstration farm where original colonial agricultural practices are maintained and utilized. A working blacksmith will sell you any farm implements you might need. Several theatres and museums display George Washington’s life and times, and a 3-mile trek takes you to Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill, fully functional operations where you can buy a pint to finish off the day.

During the American Civil War, Virginia was considered the stronghold of the rebel South. The Confederacy’s capital was established in Richmond, and Robert E. Lee, a Virginian, was appointed to be the commander of Confederate military forces. In the final stages of the war, retreating Confederate troops set fire to Richmond, burning much of the city in an attempt to prevent it from falling into Union hands.

More than 2,200 of the approximately 4,000 battles fought during the conflict took place on Virginian soil. The first and last significant battles of the war were held in Virginia — the First Battle of Bull Run (near the city of Manassas) and the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse, respectively. You can visit many of the battlefields, which are carefully preserved and often stage full-scale reenactments during the spring and summer months.

I also highly recommend Alexandria, a beautiful city that sits just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Alexandria was an important port bustling with colonial and then Union trade. It maintains a colonial feel with many homes featuring their original facades, and it still contains one of the oldest continuously operating markets in the United States, Market Square in Old Town.

Today, Alexandria is also home to the Alexandria African American Heritage Park. Founded in 1995, the park was created to acknowledge and showcase the contributions of African Americans to the city. It contains 7.6 acres (3 hectares) of walking paths, commemorative sculptures highlighting individual African American achievements, and an historic cemetery. The park is also a natural habitat for a variety of animals such as painted turtles and beavers.

Located nearby, Arlington National Cemetery is well worth an extended visit. Both solemn and beautiful, it covers 642 acres (250 hectares) of landscaped grounds and contains more than 300,000 grave sites and monuments, including those of President John F. Kennedy, his wife Jacqueline, his brothers Robert and Ted, President William Taft, famed hero Audie Murphy, and many other notable Americans. On the hill in the middle of the grounds is Arlington House, the former home of Robert E. Lee, which offers one of the best views of the National Mall. You can easily walk from Washington to the Cemetery across the bridge behind the Lincoln Memorial.

The most moving part of Arlington to me is the Tomb of the Unknowns (or Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) that contains the remains of unidentified Americans soldiers who have fallen in the line of duty. The Tomb is dedicated to the common memories of all soldiers killed in any war. Soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment (nicknamed the Old Guard) guard their fallen comrades here every minute of every day regardless of weather, natural disaster or political strife. Tourists can visit the tomb and observe the changing of the guard. When he visited Washington in 2010, Prime Minister John Key laid a wreath at the Tomb.

Just a short Metro ride away from Arlington is another Virginia landmark – the Pentagon, headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defence. The world’s largest office building by square footage (more than 6,500,000 square feet, or 604,000 square meters), it’s a veritable city unto itself containing almost 30,000 military and civilian employees and about 3,000 non-defense support personnel, as well as a bevy of shops and restaurants.

Public tours of the Pentagon are available, accommodating more than 100,000 visitors each year. On the grounds is a memorial to those innocents who died on the site when terrorists crashed a civilian airliner into the building on September 11, 2001. Simple but emotionally powerful, the memorial is a must-see.

Of course, even the avid history lover often needs to stop for refreshment, and Virginia boasts some of the finest food in the country. The eastern coastline is home to a variety of succulent seafoods including the world-famous Virginia oyster, fresh flounder, and eastern shore crab.  But the State is perhaps most famous for its Smithfield Hams, which by law must be cured within Smithfield’s town limits.

If you get thirsty, Virginia is home to more than 200 wineries and is the 5th largest wine-producing State in America. The wines produced in Virginia regularly win prestigious awards around the world. Particularly well-known are those produced with Viognier, the officially designated State grape. When you visit, you can easily drive, bike, or  kayak among groups of world-class wineries, enjoying the vintages and live music amidst beautiful scenery.

Finally, I should note that Virginia makes a great launching place to visit other U.S. destinations. Washington, DC is right next door, as are the beautiful Chesapeake Bay recreational areas, Maryland’s famous cities of Annapolis and Baltimore, North Carolina’s outer banks recreation areas, and West Virginia’s stunning Blue Ridge Mountains.

A short train ride north takes you to the historic city of Philadelphia with its museums, memorials, and vibrant cultural scene, as well as revered Pennsylvania historical sites such as Gettysburg, Valley Forge, and Washington’s Crossing. And you can easily take an Amtrak train from Virginia farther up the coast to New Jersey, New York City, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Boston, and many other great destinations.

I consider myself truly lucky to have grown up in the great State of Virginia. Its playground of forests, beaches, and caverns gave me a childhood that I will never forget, and the plethora of historic towns, reenactments, and monuments give my family something interesting and uplifting to see and do every time we go home. Take it from me, Virginia is the perfect location to relax, slow down, ponder the past, and enjoy a vacation filled with good weather, great people, and remarkable beauty.

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I enjoyed Corey’s piece because I’ve experienced many of the Virginia pleasures that he described. When I was a small  child, my family visited Jamestown, Williamsburg, Arlington, and other historical sites, and I’ve been back many times as an adult. As Ambassador, I visit the Pentagon and other government facilities regularly, and most times that I come to Washington I walk across the bridge for a couple of contemplative hours at Arlington paying my respects.

Thus, I echo Corey’s recommendations and urge you to explore the beautiful, historic Commonwealth of Virginia for yourself. For more information about Virginia, things to see and do, and how to plan your trip, take a look at the State’s travel and tourism website.

As always, let me know if there is an American State, city, or activity that you are curious about. I selected Virginia this week because of suggestions by readers, and I’d be happy to find other colleagues to write on travel topics of interest to you in the future.

Just as it was four years ago, Inauguration Day was exhilarating, uplifting, and moving in ways difficult to describe. I haven’t yet found adjectives to capture what it’s like to stand amidst a crowd of a million cheering people, or to see virtually an entire government assemble outdoors in a public park to install a chief executive per the direction of its People, or to hear parents explaining to their children what the civic exercise they are watching means to their futures.

My colleague Phil’s guest post yesterday nicely covered the elements of the ceremonies as well as the officials and entertainers involved this year. Rather than restate that information, I’ll simply note a few of the highlights that I found particularly meaningful … starting with the oath of office and the President’s stirring Inaugural Address:

 

In 2009 I was struck by the large number of families who came to witness Barack Obama make history, as well as by the outpouring of happy tears (in some cases uncontrollable sobs) when he repeated the oath. Although we are now four years along, the scene on the National Mall was similar, with a large number of children, folks from the far corners of the country and around the world, a joyful atmosphere, and many moist eyes. And again I wouldn’t have traded the 5 hours in the cold winter weather for a comfortable chair in front of a TV.

Among the other highlights for me were the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir’s extraordinary rendition of the Battle Hymn of the Republic … the procession of Senators, House Members, Supreme Court Justices, and Cabinet Secretaries, displaying in one place our carefully calibrated balance of power among three independent branches of government … Myrlie Evers-Williams’ stirring and deeply symbolic invocation … the President taking his oath of office on the Bibles of Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. …

… the President’s soaring statement that “We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths –- that all of us are created equal –- is the star that guides us still;  just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall;  just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone;  to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth” …

… the high spirits and conversations at the Balls and parties … and, yes, the guy who climbed to the top of a tree on the Capitol grounds, waved a sign, and shouted a single political belief repeatedly for five hours within easy eyesight and earshot of the senior officials on the dais, without being pulled down or otherwise silenced and carted away. There will always be cynics, arm-chair critics, and pickers of nits when it comes to freedom of speech, but the annoying guy in the tree unintentionally proved a point and indirectly made me proud.

The day was rich with color, symbolism, pageantry, and very personal vignettes. Spectators cheered, sang, embraced, and waved what looked to me to be hundreds of thousands of flags. Both the array of dignitaries on the dais and the crowd of other citizens on the Mall reflected the vast, organic diversity of the American People.

Below are a few more of my favorite images of the day, some of which were inartfully captured with my trusty iPhone:

As I said, it was a great day. I look forward to returning in four years to witness again the grand Constitutional exercise as power is transferred smoothly, peacefully, and publicly from our 44th President to our 45th. If you happen to be in the U.S. on January 20, 2017, or can plan a trip at that time, I would encourage you to attend as well.

Dr. McWaine and I are in Washington today to join hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens and visitors from around the world to witness on the National Mall the grand transfer (or confirmation) of executive power that occurs when an American President-elect takes the oath of office. This is the second time we’ve attended an Inauguration. We were here four years ago when approximately 2 million people packed the Mall, the largest crowd ever to assemble in the capital city.

Quadrennial culmination and public celebration of our democratic processes, there is nothing else quite like Inauguration Day on the American civic calendar. The legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the Government assemble at the Capitol in full view of the American People. Our President-elect and Vice President-elect swear to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” And our new President lays out his vision for the Nation.

It’s just after dawn here in DC on January 21st, and we’ll be leaving the hotel shortly to navigate the Metro system to the Mall. I’ll be tweeting and posting to Facebook and Instagram throughout the day, so please check my feeds for photos and updates. For now, I’ll share a few notes of historical and personal interest about Inauguration Day assembled by my colleague Phil:

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Inauguration Day, by Phil McKenna

The Constitution says little about the process to inaugurate a President, only that the individual elected must take the oath specified in Article II, Section 1. So the Inauguration ceremony itself follows a path not set by law but well-worn by traditions — some of which date back to the very first inauguration of President George Washington in 1789, others of which have developed over the intervening years.

The 56 Inaugural Days since 1789 have seen many changes, from venue to format to dress code, but they have all had a common thread – they all take place very publicly, in front of the American people. The transfer is both literal and symbolic.

Since 1837, when Martin Van Buren and Andrew Jackson rode together in a carriage to the Capitol, the outgoing President has joined the President-elect for the swearing-in ceremonies. Their combined presence shows how the democratic process naturally institutionalizes peaceful and legitimate shifts in power, even when the two are vehement political adversaries.

The language a President uses during his inaugural address is also carefully chosen to reflect or enhance unity. An excellent example was Thomas Jefferson’s first address in 1801. After prevailing in a bitter political campaign against John Adams (who declined to attend Jefferson’s inauguration), he reminded his followers of the “sacred principle” that for the will of the majority to be rightful it “must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which … to violate would be oppression.”

In the face of civil war in 1861, Abraham Lincoln appealled to “the better angels of our nature.” First elected in the throes of the Great Depression, Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed that that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” In 1961, John F. Kennedy famously challenged Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

The 20th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1933, changed the legal commencement of a Presidential term from noon on March 4 to noon on January 20. This year, as has happened on the six previous occasions when Inaugural Day has fallen on a Sunday, President Obama and Vice President Biden were officially sworn in on Sunday at the White House and Naval Observatory, respectively. The oaths are then readministered in public on Monday.

I’ll describe briefly the traditional Inauguration Day events. First, though, I note that in 2009 and again this year, President Obama added a new element — a National Day of Service. The President asked Americans across the country to organize and participate in service projects in their communities on Saturday to celebrate the legacy of service of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The President, First Lady, Vice President and his wife, and members of the Cabinet participated in service projects in the Washington area.

Morning Worship Service. This follows a tradition dating back to March 4, 1933 when, prior to his swearing-in ceremony, President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor attended a church service at St. John’s Episcopal Church, next to the White House.

Procession to the Capitol. After the morning worship service, the President, Vice President and their spouses are escorted to the Capitol by members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC). Whenever there is a change of administration, the procession stops at the White house to pick up the outgoing President. As far as I’m aware, the only time in the past 200 years in which President-elect and outgoing President did not ride in procession together was when beleaguered President Andrew Johnson remained in the White House signing last-minute Reconstruction legislation, right up to the expiry of his term at noon.

Vice President’s Swearing-In. The Vice President traditionally takes the oath first. In the early years of the Republic, the Vice President, who acts as president of the Senate, was sworn-in by Senators in a separate ceremony inside the Senate on the final day of the congressional session. Given the throng of family members and friends of outgoing and incoming elected officials, the Senate doorkeeper occasionally had to push the clock hands back to fulfill Congress’s legal noon adjournment requirement.

President’s Swearing-In. The Presidential oath of office, per Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, is: “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 Constitution of the United States.” The option to affirm was offered in case a person’s religious beliefs prohibited swearing. Only one president, Franklin Pierce in 1853, has chosen to affirm rather than swear his oath.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court traditionally administers the oath to the President. John Quincy Adams took his 1825 oath on a law book. All other Presidents have taken the oath on one or more Bibles. In 2009, President Obama used the same Bible used by President Abraham Lincoln. Today, President Obama will use two Bibles – that same Lincoln Bible and a Bible used by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

President’s Inaugural Address. After taking the oath of office, the President delivers an inaugural address. Fifty-four such addresses have been given by thirty-seven Presidents. Only four Presidents, all of whom were Vice Presidents who succeeded a President who died in office and then were not elected in the subsequent election — John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, Chester Arthur — gave no inaugural address. George Washington’s second address was the shortest in history (only 135 words).

Other Elements of the Ceremony. Beginning with President-elect Kennedy’s selection of Robert Frost, a poet reads a poem written for the day. This year’s Inauguration Day poet will be Cuban-American Richard Blanco. There are invocation and benediction prayers.  This year the invocation will be delivered by Mrs. Myrlie Evers-Williams, former chair of the NCAAP and widowm of civil rights martyr Medgar Evers. And there are musical selections, this year from the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Clarkson, and James Taylor.

Inaugural Luncheon. Beginning in 1953, the newly sworn President is escorted to Statuary Hall in the Capitol Building for an Inaugural luncheon hosted by the JCCIC, often featuring cuisine reflecting the home states of the President and Vice President. This year will be pan-American, with Steamed Lobster with New England Chowder, Hickory Grilled Bison with Wild Huckleberries, Red Potato Horseradish Cake, Hudson Valley Apple Pie, Sour Cream Ice Cream, Aged Cheese, and Honey.

Inaugural Parade. The tradition of an Inaugural parade dates back to the very first Inauguration, when George Washington took the oath of office on April 30, 1789, in New York City. As he traveled to the ceremony from his home in Virginia, local militias and groups of citizens joyfully joined him.

Since then, Presidents and Vice Presidents have traveled from the Capitol to the White after the ceremony, leading a procession of citizens’ groups, marching bands, ceremonial military regiments, and floats that reflect the diversity of the American People. President Jimmy Carter set a precedent in 1977 by walking the parade route from the Capitol to the White House with his wife Rosalynn. All subsequent Presidents have walked at least part of the route.

Inaugural Ball. The tradition of the Inaugural Ball, a grand party the evening of Inauguration Day, began with President James Madison in 1809.

Organizers of Dwight Eisenhower’s 1953 Inaugural Ball split the event into two simultaneous parties due to demand.

Since then the number of official Balls has expanded significantly. President Kennedy attended five in 1961.  President Clinton attended 14 in 1997, an all-time high of fourteen.

This year there will be two official events – a very large  Inaugural Ball (with affordable admission tickets available by lot) and a Commander-In-Chief’s Ball (for selected members of the U.S. military).

As has has become traditional, there will also be many unofficial Balls organized by various citizens groups.

The rich traditions and uplifting ceremonies of Inauguration Day make it a happy occasion, but history shows that there can also be risk for a President. On March 4, 1841, William Henry Harrison refused to move the ceremonies indoors despite frigid temperatures and a snow storm. He delivered the longest inaugural address in history (8,445 words, or about 2 hours long) without coat, scarf, or hat.

Shortly thereafter, President Harrison came down with pneumonia. On April 4, 1841, only  31 days later, he died after spending most of his short Presidency bed-ridden. The first American President to die in office, he still holds the record for serving the shortest term.

This year the weather forecast is for clear skies, temperatures well above freezing, and no risk of rain or snow, so it should be a great day.

- PM

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In closing, I’d like to share that short inaugural address by George Washington that Phil mentioned. It’s one of my favorite because of what it reveals about the character and approach of our iconic founding President:

“Fellow Citizens:

“I am again called upon by the voice of my country to execute the functions of its Chief Magistrate. When the occasion proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavor to express the high sense I entertain of this distinguished honor, and of the confidence which has been reposed in me by the people of united America.

“Previous to the execution of any official act of the President the Constitution requires an oath of office. This oath I am now about to take, and in your presence: That if it shall be found during my administration of the Government I have in any instance violated willingly or knowingly the injunctions thereof, I may (besides incurring constitutional punishment) be subject to the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony.”