Inauguration – A New Start

Hello All,

I love inaugurations. By the time inauguration day occurs, it doesn’t matter who is inaugurated – I have usually gotten over being happy or sad by the end of the previous November! What is so special to me is that this is so uniquely American. It is majestic and soothing. It is a day that is hopeful and prayerful. It is a day that is both full of reflection and forward-focused. It is a day where I am so proud to be an American. (And I usually cry!)

It is also a day steeped in history. Presidents have been inaugurated starting with George Washington. And like everything else in life, the ceremony has changed and evolved.

The basic and most important part is when the new president takes a 35-word oath on a date prescribed by our 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 Constitution of the United States.”

Thirty-five words that are both simple and profound.

Being an inauguration geek means I love the fun facts about the evolution and history of this important event:

George Washington was the only president inaugurated in two different cities – in New York in 1789 and Philadelphia in 1793.

Dolly Madison was the first “first lady” to attend the inauguration of her husband.

John Quincy Adams was the first president to wear long pants.

It was so cold at Ulysses S. Grant’s inauguration that the champagne and the canaries in their gilded cages froze!

Franklin Pierce was the first who changed the word “swear” to “affirm”.

Lyndon B. Johnson was the only president to be inaugurated in a plane. AND it was the first time a woman – Judge Sarah T. Hughes of the Northern District of Texas  – administered the oath of office.

Warren Harding was the first to arrive in an automobile.

After Warren Harding died in office, Calvin Coolidge was sworn into office at 2:47 a.m. by his dad, who was a notary public. It is reported that the new president went right back to bed!

Harry S. Truman was the first president to have his inauguration televised.

The first walk down Pennsylvania occurred when Jimmy Carter startled his security detail by getting out of his limousine to walk and be with the people.

Bill Clinton’s inauguration was the first to be live-streamed.

Joe Biden’s was the first to be virtual.

Inauguration day hasn’t always been in January. George Washington’s first inauguration was in April. In the 19th century the inauguration day was in March. In 1933 the ratification of the 20th Amendment established noon on January 20th as the day, which means Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first to be inaugurated on that day.

John F. Kennedy was the first president to add a poet to his inaugural event. Which leads me to my favorite part of this year’s inaugural event! Lady Gaga’s singing of our national anthem was masterful. Jennifer Lopez did a beautiful job with her medley of songs (Let’s Get Loud”). Garth Brooks sang my favorite hymn “Amazing Grace” with his whole heart.

Who stole the show for me, the person who brought to me tears with her incredible poetry and heart, was 22-year old Amanda Gorman, National Youth Poet Laurate and the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history. With poise beyond her years, with passion for her craft and her country, she delivered her “The Hill We Climb” with grace and authenticity. The whole poem was powerful – and demonstrated the strength and importance of our democracy. There are three passages that just soared for me. I am going to write them in three blocks, only because it makes this blog a little less long:

“And, yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine. But that doesn’t mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect. We are striving to forge a union with purpose. To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man.”

“And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us. We close the divide because we know, to put our future first, we must put our differences aside. We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another.”

“The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.”

Be brave. Be the light.

Phyl