Imperial Valley press., 1945-02-01
! Rise to
Rem ark
BY Congressman John Philips

The bocy OF precedentS Whlcn
make up the Inauguration arrange
ments began TO accumulate, as GUS
toms and traditions do, with the
first Inauguration of Washington.
At that time the capitol was in New
York, so on April 80, 1888, Wash
ington took the oath Of office in
the senate chamber of Federal Hall,
New York City.
Before the second inauguration,
March 4, 1893, ana for the third,
March 4, 1897 John AdamS) the
capitol had been noveG to Phila-
oelphia, and the oath was taken in
the "Cld State House"
From the fourth, March 1901, to
the Inauguration of Tyler in 1841,
all presidents took the oath in the
capitol at washington. Tyler, who
followed Harrison, was vice-presi-
dent taking office on the death of
president, anG the oath in such
cases has always been given immed-
lately and at the most convenient
place. Tyler took it in Browns
hotel, Washington; Johnson, on the
death of Lincoln, took the oath of
office at the Washington hotel; Ar
thur, following Garfield, took it at
his residence in New York City;
Theodore Roosevelt, after the as
saSsination of Mckinley, took the
oath at the home of Ansley Wilcox
in Buffalo; Calvin Coolidge took
the oath of office by lamplight in
the little family home in Plymouth,
Vermont, where his father was JUS
tice of the peace.
TO THE CAPITOL
The presidents-elect always have
come to the capitol. When the cate,
March 4, fell on Sunday, the cere-
mony has been held the following
day. After the Hayes -ilden cam
paign, there was bitterness and
some loose talk about mot letting
Hayes take office" so, since the
4th fell on Sunday, Grant invited
Hayes to the White House on Sat-
urday the 3rd, where he privately
] j,
he came to the capitol and took it
again, following custom, and in con-
nection with the formal ceremonies.
At Wilson's second Inauguration,
the 4th again fell cn Sunday, and
it is interesting to see what he did
! He took the oath of office on Sat-
urday the 3rd, but he came to the
capital and took it in what is called
| the Presidents Room" adjoining
the senate chamber; then on Mon
day the 5th he again came to the
capitol, took the oath publicly and
reviewed the inaugural parade.
The custom of taking the OATH
/ and reviewing the parade from the
east portico of the capitol started
with James Monroe in 1877, but it
was skipped for two inaugurals,
1921 and 1925, because of bad
weather, condition which those of
us row in Washington will under
stand. From Andrew Jackson in
1929 to Roosevelt in 1914, in spite
of the weather, it had been held at
the capitol, il the presence CT all
who wished to attend.
This year, for the fourth inaugu-
ration Of the present President, the
ceremony was held at the White
House on the south portico. Those
who saw the ceremony came by in
vitation only. The lawn south of the
White House had been divided into
] in, I,a n
the guests. The section directly un-
der the porch, reserved for the
members Of congress, had thought
fully been covered with green tar
paulins, avoiding what otherwise
would have been slushy and sll5Sy
ground underfoot.
SMALL RECEPTION
Immediately following the inau-
.guration, there was White House
reception, tc "family-sized group
of about 2000. The President did not
appear; Mrs. Roosevelt and Mrs.
! Truman shook hands with all the
guests.
Mrs Phillips and I went to the
I Inauguration and the reception. We
had a good time and the handling
of the crowd was excellent. We may
have had certain mental reserva-
items as to how many times this
particular oath of office should be
taken by the same person in a re-
public, and possibly smaller reser-
vation on the propriety of taking it
"at home" or at what is technically
the seat of the peoples government,
but it was an exceptional occasion
and these are exceptional times. 1t
was impress i've and we were glad
we went to it and had the opportu-
nitv tO see il