(NB&CL) It seems that everything related to the US presidential election and the head of state can become the focus of media attention. The inauguration of US presidents-elect is a prime example. Through multi-faceted analysis by the press, many interesting details about the inaugurations of US presidents have been revealed.
The inauguration date was set hundreds of years ago.
The day a new U.S. president is sworn into office, and also the day the incumbent president officially ends their term, usually falls on January 20th. However, not many people know that January 20th was only established in 1933.
American history records that the first inauguration ceremony was held on April 30, 1789, when President George Washington took the oath of office. Later, the date for the US presidential inauguration was chosen as March 4th – the anniversary of the first session of the US Congress . At the time, US lawmakers believed that early March was chosen because the period from November, when the election ended, to that point was sufficient for vote counting, addressing outstanding issues of the previous administration, and preparing the new cabinet.
However, after some time, the March date for the presidential inauguration became a subject of much debate. The majority argued that this "interval" was too long and unnecessary, as it necessitated waiting for a new president and administration. This debate led to the proposal in 1922 by Nebraska Senator George Norris to shorten the time between the election and the presidential inauguration to just over 70 days.
President John F. Kennedy with his outstanding inaugural address in 1961.
However, Norris's proposal was not officially passed by the US Congress until 1933 and subsequently approved by three-quarters of the US states. According to this, January 20th is the day the President takes the oath of office, unless that day falls on a Sunday. If January 20th is a Sunday, the inauguration will be postponed to January 21st. This has happened in 1957, 1985, and 2013, with the inauguration taking place on January 21st. President Franklin Roosevelt was the last US President to be sworn into office, taking the oath of office on March 4, 1933.
Besides the time, the location of the inauguration is also noteworthy. To this day, Capitol Hill – the political center of the United States, home to the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. – has been known as the venue for most presidential inaugurations since 1801 with the inauguration of President Thomas Jefferson. The choice of Capitol Hill is believed to emphasize the spirit of democracy, and that, regardless of who becomes president, power ultimately comes from the people, and their responsibility is to serve the national interest above all else.
Later, in addition to Capitol Hill, several other locations were chosen as venues for presidential inaugurations, such as Independence Hall in Philadelphia and the Old Brick Capitol in Washington. Notably, since Ronald Reagan's inauguration in 1981, the event has been held on the west side of the U.S. Capitol building to reduce preparation costs and provide more space for the audience.
Security and organization
According to updated information, approximately 25,000 law enforcement personnel and soldiers, 7,800 National Guard members, and 4,000 officers from various parts of the United States have been deployed to Washington to enhance security for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2025. In addition, at least 900 uniformed security personnel will be deployed to monitor public transportation throughout the inauguration.
Not only was there a massive security team, but a detailed security plan was also developed, even considering worst-case scenarios. Temporary flight restrictions were imposed over Washington on January 20th; drones were used to monitor security from the air; all of the hundreds of thousands expected to attend Donald Trump's inauguration in the capital were to be screened; laptops, water bottles, selfie sticks, and banners were banned from the ceremony grounds; and approximately 50 kilometers of anti-climbing barriers were erected…
President Donald Trump takes the oath of office upon becoming president in 2017.
American history, particularly regarding presidential inaugurations, shows that such meticulous security preparations are never excessive. The fact that President Abraham Lincoln narrowly escaped death when assassins ambushed him on his way to his inauguration on March 4, 1865, is an example of the potential dangers involved in such a significant event. Furthermore, following precedent, Donald Trump's inauguration this time saw him invite numerous world leaders to attend.
The inauguration of the 47th President of the United States is also predicted to be extremely extravagant, as according to American media, Donald Trump has raised more than $170 million for his inauguration. Accordingly, the inauguration events will last at least four days with many activities. Specifically, the events begin on January 17th and the swearing-in ceremony will take place on January 20th, 2024. On January 18th, Mr. Trump is expected to attend a reception and watch a fireworks display at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.
On January 19th, President-elect Trump will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, followed by a rally at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., which has a capacity of approximately 20,000 people. His inauguration on January 20th is expected to include a tea party at the White House with his predecessor, a swearing-in ceremony at Capitol Hill, a luncheon with members of Congress, a parade on Pennsylvania Avenue, and three gala dinners.
Four years ago, Biden's inauguration wasn't as grand because it took place amidst the complex Covid-19 pandemic situation in the US. The event was held with a limited number of invited guests and restricted public attendance.
The Bible and the oath
The U.S. Constitution doesn't require the use of any specific text during the inauguration ceremony, nor does it mandate the use of the Bible during the oath of office. However, most U.S. presidents have chosen the Bible as the symbolic book for their inauguration, placing their hand on it to take the oath. Specifically, according to tradition, during the inauguration ceremony, the president-elect will place their hand on the Bible and say the oath: "I swear to faithfully perform the duties of President of the United States and to the best of my ability to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. Help me, Lord."
Of course, there are presidents who didn't choose the Bible for their inauguration, like President Theodore Roosevelt, while some presidents, like Barack Obama, used an additional book in their inauguration ceremony.
A regular part of the inauguration ceremony that also attracts special attention is the new president's speech. Former U.S. President George Washington's speech on March 4, 1793, after his re-election, with 135 words, is considered the shortest inaugural address in American history. President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address on January 20, 1961, which included the quote: "Ask not what your country has done for you, but what you have done for your country," is considered one of the most inspiring inaugural addresses.
Ha Anh
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/chuyen-ve-le-nham-chuc-cua-tong-thong-my-post330643.html
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