Transcript The Gift Outright

Presidential Inaugurations
George Washington
Federalists wanted him to:
•Wear a gold suit
•Wear a wreath of laurel leaves
•Ride a white horses
But Washington:
•Wore a brown, homespun suit
•Wore brass buttons
•Rode a cream colored horse
The U.S. Constitution
Before he enter on the Execution of
his Office, he shall take the following
Oath or Affirmation:-” I do solemly
swear (of affirm) that I will faithfully
execute the Office of President of the
United States, and will to the best of
my ability, preserve, protect and
defend the Constitution of the United
States
Article II, Section 1
George Washington- 1st
Inauguration
•Wanted the event to be held out
of doors so more people could
attend
•Added, “So help me God” to the
official Oath of office.
•Washington kissed the Bible.
•He used fireworks to celebrate his inauguration.
•He had an inaugural in May to celebrate his inauguration.
Inaugural Ceremonies and Souvenirs
Grover Cleveland- 1885
Andrew Jackson -1829
Jimmy Carter- 1977
Abraham Lincoln- 1865
James Buchanan- 1857
Thomas Jefferson-
1801
Handwritten copy of JFK’s
inaugural address.
John F. Kennedy- 1961
Theodore Roosevelt- 1901
Robert Frost’s poem,
The Gift Outright
John F. Kennedy- 1961
George W. Bush- 2000
How have inaugurations changed over time?
How has technology made citizen participation easier?
To what extent do the inaugural ceremonies reflect the style and
values of the administration?
Barack Obama- 2009
Websites with information regarding Presidential Inaugurations:
•www.obamainauguration2009.com- Official Inauguration website
•www.dc.about.com/od/specialevents/a/Inauguration.htm- Planned Events, etc.
•http://inaugural.senate.gov/index.cfm- Joint Congressional Committee on
Inaugural Ceremonies- Great links to history, an inaugural quiz, and events.
•http://www.presidential-inauguration.com- Great history links.
•http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/pihtml/pihome.html- Library of Congress
•www.presidentsusa.net/inauguration.html- Modern Inaugurations