Inauguration Day 2009

You've heard a lot about the historical significance of Barack Obama's Inauguration as President. And certainly this is a significant moment in the country's history. But Inaugurals, with their promise of new beginnings, have built in drama and historical "moment". As such, it seems like an appropriate "moment" to take a look at this piece of national theater.

The Inauguration Today

Barack Obama's inauguration may be one of the most carefully orchestrated events in history. The Presidential Inauguration Committee coordinates all of the events with exception of those overseen by the Joint Congressional Committee. Its web site a newsroom with press releases, a blog that includes lots of pictures and links, and a store. Want to check in over the course of the day today? Check the Flickr Inauguration site. The Inauguration also has an official YouTube site as well. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugurations handles the actual swearing in ceremony. Its web site provides a good overview of the history of the Inaugural, including video of Ronald Reagan's, Bill Clinton's, John F. Kennedy's and Dwight Eisenhower's ceremonies and information about the physical platform that must be constructed (which must hold 1600 people and blend architecturally with Capitol behind it) including video of the nail-driving ceremony that initiated its construction.

Inaugural Address

Once Barack Obama makes his Inaugural address, it becomes part of the national archives public documentary records. You can access the Inaugural addresses of all of the previous Presidents who gave such speeches (and you'll see in a moment that not all did). Want to see the speeches rather than read them? Check out Hulu's Inaugural Speeches collection. Obviously this is more limited than the other, but it is fun nevertheless. You can get additional audio and video at The American Presidency Project, a site that includes an impressive archive of speeches, data on elections, special topics like the 2000 election and links to other important Presidential sites such as the various Presidential libraries. Another wonderful site of Inaugural material is the American Memory Project's site at the Library of Congress. It includes, in addition to the texts of the addresses, etc. that you would expect the Library to preserve, diary excerpts of attendees, facts and precedents about the event, and a selection of Bibles and scriptural passages selected by the Presidents. Do you know what Bible Barack Obama has selected to use for his swearing in ceremony? The same one that Abraham Lincoln used.

Not Inaugurated

Not every President is inaugurated. Every President takes the oath of office, but they don't all go through an inaugural ceremony. Over the course of the country's history, five Presidents have not had an official inaugural for one reason or another.

Not Just the President

Of course the Inaugural isn't just about the President. The event formally introduces the new First Lady as well, and that means, like it or not, a new fashion statement. PBS's Online NewsHour did this piece exploring the history of Inaugural fashion, from the raves to the gaffes. No first lady since Jackie Kennedy has been as likely to set national style trends as Michelle Obama, and the decision by Women's Wear Daily to solicit designers' ideas on her behalf signals that role.

Inaugural Trivia

The Smithsonian has gathered together some inaugural trivia, including my favorite fact, that John F. Kennedy was the last President to attend the event wearing the traditional stovepipe hat.

Test yourself on your knowledge of inaugural trivia.
1. First inauguration presided over by the reigning Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was that of: a) George Washington b) John Adams c) Thomas Jefferson d) Andrew Jackson
2. Longest inaugural address delivered by: a) Bill Clinton b) William Harrison c) Franklin Pierce d) Herbert Hoover
3. Only time a woman administered the oath of office was to: a) Lyndon Johnson b) Calvin Coolidge c) Gerald Ford d) Richard Nixon
4. First inaugural recorded by motion picture camera a) Woodrow Wilson b) Theodore Roosevelt c) Warren Harding d) William McKinley
5. First inaugural in which African-Americans participated (in the parade) a) Ulysses S. Grant b) Harry S. Truman c) Abraham Lincoln d) Dwight D. Eisenhower

Answers:

1. b. 2. b. (Some contended it contributed to the illness that subsequently killed him in office.) 3. a. U.S. District Judge Sarah T. Hughes swore in Johnson on Air Force One. 4. d. 5. c.