The presidential inaugural is the Super Bowl of politics. And yet few people, including political junkies, understand the event beyond the bland statement that it’s when the new president, or the second-term president, is sworn in.
I understand the inaugural because I produced the event twice on behalf of the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC). I was an adviser on subsequent inaugurals.
I am confining myself here to the events at the Capitol on January 20. In common understanding, the inaugural also includes the dinners, concerts, balls and parties around Washington celebrating the winner of the election. It is these that are financed by the many contributions from corporations and individuals by which the contributors curry favor with the new or returning administration without contributing to the winning campaign.
The swearing-in is run, and payed for, by the Congress through the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC). The chair of JCCIC is always the chair of the Senate Rules Committee, this year Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D.Minn.) The congress designs, approves and pays for the inaugural platform, and Sen. Klobuchar will preside. Contributions from the public are neither sought or accepted.
Since 1789, the inaugural has been a session of the Senate, the only body of Congress that has continuity. The Senate Sergeant at Arms, carrying the Senate mace, leads Senate members to their seats on the inaugural platform.
The new or returning president’s PIC “suggests” the program to JCCIC, including invocation, benediction, poet and singers (if any) and is never turned down.
Until Ronald Reagan’s inaugural, the platform was built on the Capitol’s east front, facing the Supreme Court, leaving little room for large crowds. Reagan moved the inaugural to the west front, facing a large expanse of space, including the Washington Monument and the mall and allowing large numbers of viewers.
The swearing-in does not have to be outdoors. Regan’s second inaugural outdoor ceremony on January 20, 1985 was omitted because of 8 degree F. weather. He was sworn in that night in the White House. The ceremony was repeated the next day in the Capitol rotunda before visitors, press and TV. There, Reagan delivered his inaugural address.
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This year’a inaugural presents unusual dangers. There is violence everywhere (Butler, New Orleans, New York, Las Vegas). Our security apparatus is ill-equipped in experience or manpower as illustrated by the fact that the Secret Service’s lead in Butler, where Donald Trump was shot, was an inexperienced first-timer.
Other than precedent and a deserved vanity, this year’s inaugural should not be held outdoors on the inaugural platform. The platform has seating for all our leaders, including Democrats and all the nominated Cabinet members and the returning President’s staff. They are sitting ducks for the many malcontents and crazies who want to kill them and to induce chaos. It is a fair comment to say, as one of my readers has told me, it is simply untenable that a great republic can bow to fear and eliminate this vital ceremony.
It was untenable to have rationing during World War Two. It is untenable today that children have to rehearse their response to school shooters.
Accommodations to the dangers we face are acts of courage. Move it indoors!