The east side of the US Capitol in the early morning.
| Photo Credit: Dwight Nadig/Getty Images
The inauguration ceremony welcoming the new President to office is a grand undertaking beginning with the morning worship service and tea. The actual swearing-in follows, then the Inauguration luncheon with orchestral and celebrity performances. Extravagant balls mark the end of the big day.
Also Read:Donald Trump’s inauguration: Schedule and other key details
Ever since the first American president, George Washington, took oath in 1789, the ceremony officiating the new President as chief-in-command has changed with the times. This year, for instance, Argentina’s President Javier Milei will attend the ceremony. Traditionally, heads of state do not attend presidential inaugurations. In another example of a break from the past, this year’s is an indoor event – 40 years after the last one.
Indoor ceremony
Over 2,00,000 people bought tickets to view President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in person in front of the iconic Capitol building on January 20. However, almost all of them will now have to make do with watching it on television due to a change of plans triggered by cold weather.
This year’s inauguration is forecast to see one of the coldest temperatures since 1789. The lowest temperature in recent times on Inauguration Day was around -13°C when President Ronald Reagan took oath for the second time.
The forecast for this year is around -7 °C. The normal temperature (1991 – 2020) for the date is around -1 °C, according to National Weather Service.
Inclement weather has disrupted a couple inaugurations in the past. Of note is that of 1853 (Franklin Pierce), when heavy snow forced the crowd to disperse and the inaugural parade to be cancelled. Pierce’s wife and First Lady contracted pneumonia and died shortly after. In 1841, former President Harrison died of pneumonia, too, after giving an inaugural address without adequate clothing. His death was attributed in part to cold exposure.
Snowfall during President Taft’s inauguration forced the ceremony indoors. Photo shows him returning with his wife to the White House.
Inaugural Parade
The Inaugural Parade is one of the most important parts of the ceremony. It began as impromptu parades of people as they escorted the newly sworn-in President to the White House. Now, the affair is organised by a separate committee responsible for raising funds and making extensive preparations for a smooth Parade.
Here are some selected firsts in the evolution of the Inaugural Parade.
This year’s parade is expected to be a modified indoor one held at Capital One Arena, which can seat around 2,000 people. Originally, around 7,500 people were to participate in the Parade. This included first responders, veteran groups, high school and university marching bands, along with the usual contingents of the country’s Armed Forces.
Transition letters
A relatively new inaugural tradition is for the outgoing President to write a congratulatory note to the incoming President. The latter will find the handwritten letter in the Oval office after inauguration. The tradition began when President Ronald Reagan wrote a short, friendly note to his successor and former Vice President George H.W. Bush. Successive Presidents have continued the practice, including Donald Trump writing a letter to Biden despite alleging the election was stolen from him. That letter has not been made public.
The letters are a symbol of each President passing the baton over to the next. In the case of Obama writing to Trump, it stands as a symbol of the outgoing President’s hopes for the new Republican President’s term. The graphic below shows what each President wrote.
This year also marks the first time that a former President (Mr. Biden) is writing to and has received a Transition letter from the same person (Mr. Trump).
Published – January 19, 2025 09:32 am IST
