Imperial Valley press., 1937-01-10
BY Eta May. Smith

THE secoLd Inauguration of Franklin D.
Roosevelt will be the first to take place on
January 2Oth the new inaugural date, as pre-
scribed by the Goth ('Lame DuckD Constitu-
tonal Amendment. Roosevelts Inauguration will
follow in general form the first Inauguration in
the United States that of George Washington
in 1889. Although Presidential inaugurations for
past 14s years have been similar in form, each
has been changed in some manner to suit the
particular needs of the occasion, and most in
augural days have brought forth something new
different, unusual during the various cere-
monies Another innovation will be the route of
the inaugural procession, which will pass down
Constitution Avenue instead of Pennsylvania,
as heretofore.
While the first Presidential Inauguration was
held in New York City, the second and third
were held in Philadelphia. Beginning with the
fourth inauguration, that of Thomas Jefferson,
they have been held in Washington, D. C.
George Washington, Andrew Jackson, and
most early Presidents proceeded to the nations
capital for their Inauguration by carriage, stage,
boat or horseback. Later Presidents have used
the trains Abraham Lincoln spent two weeks
en- route by train from his home in Illinois to
Washington, the major part of the time having
been used for speech making to the thousands
of admiring citizens who greeted him every day.
No President has yet travelled to his Inaugural
ton by airplane
Inaugural visitors watched Washington and
most Presidents up to and including Wilson
ride in the inaugural procession from their place
of residence to the capitol building in a
rage. Thomas Jefferson walked to the capitol
because bad storms and ice in the rivers pre-
vented the delivery of his horses and carriage.
President William H. Harrison rode horse in
his inaugural procession The automobile made
its first appearance as the Presidents inaugural
vehicle in 1921, when President Harding rode
in touring model After 1872 years of carriages
this unprecedented event.
From the time of the first inauguration up
to and including the inauguration of Woodrow
Wilson, only few people close to the inaugural
stand could actually hear the Presidents voice
during the ceremonies. In 1921 loud speaker
was installed for President Harding's use and
his voice reached a greater number. Calvin
Coolidge was of the most quiet Presidents.
vet the number of people reached by his voice
broke all previous records, as his words were
heard throughout America by means of the first
inaugural radio broadcast The fourth inaugu-
raj broadcast will be heard in the homes
throughout the nation on January 20th, when
President Roosevelts inaugural speech will be
sent over the air.
-HE matter of political feelings and weather
| affect the routine of inaugural day. If
the retiring President and the President-elect
are friendly, then good time is had by all. but
If they are not on the best of terms, there may
The fret Inauguration was the only one that
was ever late postponed, except when the
4th of March has occurred Sunday the Presi-
dent has taken the oath of Office that day. and
the public ceremonies have been held March
5th.
The first inaugural ceremonies were set for
March A. i789 but because Congressman were
late in convening to count the electoral ballots.
returns of the election were not announced until
April 9th. Then it eight-day journey
from New York, the government headquarters,
to Mount Vernon to notify George Washington
of his newly elected Office. Since it required
more than 4 week for the President-elect to
reach New York the Inauguration could not be
held before April 3eth.
Washington's journey to New York was vir-
tually one long procession Everywhere people
met him. cheered and made merry. Flowers
were strewn in his path, wreaths were placed
over his shoulders, pretty girls sang and recited
poetry in his honor.
Arriving at the Hudson River, Washington
crossed to New York City in a barge beautifully
decorated in red and blue, the oarsmen being
dressed in white. Other vessels in the harbor
were eayly adorned with flags and bright colors
Even though the first inaugural was eight
weeks late it was colorful, exciting and inn
nressiye. It was perfect spring day. The cere-
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