Evening star., 1961-01-20

ng in the Florida Keys.-AI
volunteers had worked through
out the night to prepare the
way for the new President.
Taft Braved Blizzard
Not since 1909 when william
Howard Taft rode down Penn
sylvaRia avenue in a bowling
blizzard had the Capital ex-
perienced such an inaugura-
ton.
Edward H. Foley, the In
augural Committee chairman,
said "the routes are clear and
everything is going off on
schedule"
IT got hold Of Secretary
Gates (of the Defense Depart
ment) last night and he
brought in reserves from Fort
Belvoir. The cars along the
parade route were hauled away
and now the main streets are
clear"
] Mr.. Foley said this inaugura-
ton will be "the finest ever"
In contrast to the great
crowds which traditionally had
gathered early for an inaugu-
ration, this morning found
few-if any-spectators at the
Capitol or on Pennsylvania
avenue.
Two Are First to Arrive
Two men from Richmond,
Va, took UP posts at the Capt.
tol at 2:05 O'Clock this morn
ing. They spent the remaining
hours before the ceremony on
the grounds.
William Ledbetter, 30. and
Albert Wilkerson, 81, said they
! were the first to arrive at the
Capitol four years ago for Mr.
Eisenhower's second Inaugural
ton. They wanted to be first
again-and were.
Mr.. Kennedy. after spending
most of the night and part oi
the early hours Of the morning
at inaugural events and parties
/ arrived at his old red brick
/ Georgetown home on N stree
2 at 3:45 O'Clock this morning.
: At 8 o'clock he left his home
and attended mass at the Holy
l Trinity Catholic Church two
1 blocks away. He then returned
S home.
Mr.. Kennedy, the fourth
= Democratic President in thi
century, left his home for tn
: last time as a private citizel
: at 1885 am. for the drive II
e the White House.
n At the White House he wa
): greeted by Mr.. Eisenhower. o.
q hand were the outgoing an,
n the new Vice Presidents.
y Mr.. Kennedy and Mr.. Eisen
u hover then drove together t.
the Capitol for the inaugura
= ton, which began at noon.
Some time after 5 o'clock h
o will enter the White House.
: On the eve of his inaugura
: ton, Mr.. Kennedy smiled ant
It joked as he made the round O
events held in his honor.
d At 7:45 pm. he left his hom
ii to go to the Inaugural Concer
.e in Constitution Hall. MI
h Kennedy and his pretty wifi
W Jacqueline were given an ova
Ie ton from the sparse crow
which had struggled throug
massive traffic jams to attend
y Attend Gala at Arm0ry
l. Later, the Kennedys attendc
Is the Democratic Gala in tn
1t Armory. Mr.. Kennedy stage
l. throughout the performanc
and then went to downtow
10 restaurant for a party. MI
r Kennedy left about / am. an
1T was escorted home by Secrt
IL Service men.
N No matter how brave a far
I'd inaugural officials wore toda,
the snowstorm marred month
v Of planning for what was to
E. the largest celebration WASH
I'd ington had seen.
s. Planes, trains and buses wei
- - curtailed, leaving thousane
of heading for Washingto
A. stranded.
e. One plane, carrying form'
President Herbert Hoove
70 circled for more than an no,
es over the city and then turnt
he back to Miami.
Id For sheer beauty, the Capt.
never looked finer that it d
b. today. Snow draped the NOM
in ments throughout the city ar
covered the trees and field
he For a time last night. at Il
ne height of the storm, an almo
he dead silence hung over the cit
When Mr.. Kennedy stood {
g. the platform at Los Angel
ok last summer and accepted Il
lg, Democratic Party's nominate
Iat to sound the call for a ne
ed frontier, no one could fores
that at his Inauguration Wasl
he ington would resemble an ou
ar. post rather than the bustlil
nd capital of the world.