The Inauguration is the peaceful transfer of power. I love this! This Constitutional tradition has been in place in The United States of America since John Adams took the Presidential Oath of Office in 1797. George Washington's inauguration was on the heels of the Revolutionary War, so I can't say it was exactly a peaceful transfer of power when he took the oath.
And, wow! Look at how great photography was back then! Kidding. This is from the awesome John Adams HBO mini-series. I especially love how the "dudes" behind Adams and Washington are looking like they've already been into the celebratory keg of grog, or whatever they imbibed in those days. Oh, and George Washington gave the shortest speech at only 135 words! Yay, George!
In 1917 President Woodrow Wilson was the first to include women in his inaugural parade!
Hmmm. Do you see any women in there? I see a lot snow, which we won't be getting today in any measurable amounts at least.
In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was the first to include African-Americans in his inaugural parade.
To be honest, I can't tell much from this photo, other than Lincoln who is clearly the tallest guy present. You all know that President Obama will use Lincoln's Bible today for his swearing in.
President Warren G. Harding was the first do the inauguration parade in a car. That was in 1921.
That's Harding, second from the right, and Woodrow Wilson is the first from the right. Dig the hats. I wonder if they stashed their lunch in there? They look like they're freezing!
Here is what President Obama will ride in:
Smooth. Very Smooth. You think they got a DVD player in there?
The first inaugural ball was hosted by President James Madison in 1809. You KNOW his wife, Dolley Madison "The Hostess With The Mostess" wanted to do the Martha Stewart thing, and said to him, "Honey, you're President now, and I wanna give a party!"
I think the decorations are pretty cool, and the dresses are HUGE!
And here's your last inauguration fun fact (yay!)...
In 1857, President James Buchanan's inauguration was the first to be photographed. Really. Here's proof...
A lot of people couldn't stand still for the photograph. Can you imagine the photographer with this fairly new technology, shouting, "Hey YOU! Yeah you. Guy in the lower middle with hands behind back and top hat, can you stand still for about an hour while I take this photograph?"
So, enjoy the ceremonies today. Celebrate our country's peaceful transfer of power, and I know that today will offer many firsts. And you may not know Barack Obama will be the first President who...
..."can leap tall buildings in a single bound". But perhaps you already knew that.~~~XXOO, Beth
