Sunday Thoughts - Presidential Inaugurations

Tomorrow is the Inauguration of our 47th President Donald J. Trump, and it's going to be a cold winter day.

Yes, ice dripping from trees and shrubs, but the ceremony has been moved inside the Capitol Rotunda to the relief of everyone I'm sure.

Presidential Inaugurations are special occasions in our country, but I realized I didn't know a lot about them beyond the obvious.

For instance, did you know that he presidential oath of office is written into the U.S.  Constitution? It's in Article II, Section I.

Here are some facts I learned about this prestigious ceremony.

INAUGURATION FIRSTS

1. The first inauguration to be photographed was that of James Buchanan, March 4, 1857.

2. The first to be filmed was William McKinley in 1897.

3. The first to use loudspeakers was Warren Harding in 1921.

4. The first to be broadcast on radio was Calvin Coolidge in 1925.

5. The first to be broadcast on television was Harry Truman in 1949.

6. The first to be broadcast in color was John F. Kennedy in 1961.

7. The first to be streamed online was Bill Clinton in 1997.

WHIMSICAL FACTS

1. John F. Kennedy was the last President to wear a top hat to his inauguration.

2. Nothing in the U.S. Constitution requires the Chief Justice to swear in a president. The practice was established by Chief Justice John Marshall, the longest serving chief justice in our history, who administered the Oath of Office 9 times. The first was to Thomas Jefferson in 1801, and the last to Andrew Jacson in 1833.

3. Lyndon Johnson was the first President to have his wife hold the Bible upon which he placed his hand to swear his oath.

4. The coldest Inauguration Day was Ronald Reagan’s second one on January 21, 1985, when the temperature in Washington at noon was 7° F. (-14° C.).

Reagan took the oath of office indoors at the U.S. Capitol, just as President Trump will be doing.

5. Presidents were always inaugurated in March until Franklin Roosevelt's second term.

He was inaugurated on January 20, 1937, which thereafter became the official date.

6. The first inaugural ball was held for James Madison the day after his March 4, 1809 inauguration. Tickets to the ball were sold for $4.00.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Regardless of your political opinions, tomorrow is a day to celebrate and honor our democratic process of transitioning from one President to another without violence.

That's something worthy of respect.