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The presidential inauguration is about a peaceful transfer of power
Presidential inaugurations show the world the orderliness of America, peaceful transfer of powerwhich is a trademark of the American system of government.
Because the United States was born after a bloody revolution, the presidential inauguration ceremony is a tangible, visible image of a government based on representation rather than royalty. In 1776, Americans said goodbye to “God Save the King” in favor of “We the People of the United States.”
Ronald Reagan1981: “In the eyes of many in the world, this quadrennial ceremony that we accept as normal is nothing short of a miracle.”
Donald Trump with Melania Trump as he is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States at the US Capitol on January 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
A presidential inauguration shows respect for God
To signal that they cannot perform the duties of president alone, presidents often show reverence for God in their inaugural addresses. At his swearing-in, George Washington emphasized his commitment by placing his left hand on a Bible open to Genesis 49-50, which depicts the transition of power after Jacob’s death. Washington raised his right hand and recited the oath. After he finished, he kissed the Bible and bowed.
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George Washington1789: “No nation can be bound to acknowledge and worship an invisible hand, which directs the affairs of men more than the people of the United States.”
Franklin Roosevelt, 1933: “In this dedication to the nation we humbly ask God’s blessing.”
President George Washington delivers his inaugural address in the Old Federal Hall of the Senate in New York on April 30, 1789. (AP)
The presidential inauguration is an act of unity
A presidential inauguration is literally a gathering of the three branches of government. The President is sworn in before the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on the steps of the Capitol, where Congress is located.
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At one point, three branches of government – executive, judicial and legislative – are shown, united under The US Constitution. Presidents often call for unity, to bring the “united” back to the United States after a contentious campaign.
Abraham Lincoln, 1861: “We are not enemies, but friends. . . . The mystic chords of memory . . . will only heighten the chorus of Union, when touched again . . . by the better angels of our nature.”
President Abraham Lincoln speaks at his second inauguration, March 4, 1865. (Photosearch/Getty Images)
John F. Kennedy, 1961: “Today we observe not a party victory, but a celebration of freedom.”
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A presidential inauguration is often reminiscent of a nation’s past
Presidents typically use their inaugural address to remind Americans of the nation’s past, particularly the nation’s founding and the more recent past leading up to their inauguration.
Bill Clinton1993: “When George Washington first took the oath I just took, the news traveled slowly across the land on horseback and across the ocean by ship. Now the sights and sounds of this ceremony are being broadcast instantly to billions around the world.”
With first lady Nancy Reagan by his side, President Ronald Reagan takes the oath of office during a ceremony in the Rotunda beneath the Capitol dome in Washington on January 21, 1985. The ceremony was closed due to record cold weather. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
George W. Bush, 2005: “From the day of our founding, we have declared that every man and woman on this earth has rights, dignity, and incomparable worth, because they bear the image of the Creator of heaven and earth.”
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The presidential inauguration points to a hopeful future
The new president is using his inaugural address to point Americans to the future. In contrast to the noisy nature of a campaign event, the president will paint a big picture in broad strokes to explain the policies he plans to implement. He uses memorable, poetic rhetoric to inspire Americans and give them hope for the days ahead under his administration.
John F. Kennedy1961: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
President John F. Kennedy delivers his inaugural address, January 20, 1961. (Associated Press)
