Q.When was the first presidential inauguration?
A. In 1789, the country's first presidential inauguration took place in New York City when George Washington took the oath of office. The first inauguration held in Washington, D.C. took place 200 years ago for the swearing in of Thomas Jefferson in 1801. The inaugurations began as a simple indoor event but by the turn of the 20th century, the ceremonies had turned into a grand public celebration of American democracy. The Senate served as the official planner of the events until 1901, when the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies was formed to plan and conduct the inaugural activities at the Capitol, including: the swearing-in ceremony and the luncheon honoring the President and Vice President.
Q. When will the 43rd president of the United States take the oath of office?
A.The Constitution provides that Congress shall determine when the president-elect takes the oath of office. In 1933, the 20th amendment was adopted to the Constitution which said the president's four-year term shall end at noon on Jan. 20. At the nation's 63rdth presidential inauguration this year, George W. Bush will take the oath of office administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and become the nation's 43rd chief executive. With the exception of Ronald Reagan's second inaugural, which was held indoors due to bitterly cold temperatures, the West Front of the Capitol has served as the traditional location for the last twenty years. This allows for greater public participation and less expense to taxpayers for the preparation involved. In 1997, the second inauguration for Bill Clinton became the first to be broadcast live via the Internet. This followed other presidential inaugural firsts, including the first national radio broadcast in 1925 for Calvin Coolidge's and the first televised ceremony in 1949 for Harry Truman's inaugural. Again this year, Americans can experience the ceremony on-line at http://inaugural.senate.gov. For more information, check the Presidential Inaugural Committee's website at http://www.inaugural-2001.com.