[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 28, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S700-S702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE 1997 INAUGURAL CEREMONIES

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, on Monday, January 20, the U.S. Congress, 
through the auspices of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural 
Ceremonies, hosted the 53d Inauguration of the President and Vice 
President of the United States.
  In addition to the senior Senator from Virginia, who served as 
Chairman, the members of the committee included: Senator Wendell H. 
Ford, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, Speaker of the House of 
Representatives Newt Gingrich, House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, 
and House Majority Leader Richard Armey.
  With over one-quarter million people gathered on the west front of 
the U.S. Capitol and the Mall, and millions more watching on television 
and listening on radio--throughout the United States and around the 
world--William Jefferson Clinton reaffirmed the oath of office as the 
42d President, and Albert Gore, Jr. reaffirmed the oath of office as 
the 45th Vice President of the United States.
  This ceremony--at which the President and Vice President, standing 
before the people's elected representatives, are sworn to execute the 
will of the people as expressed by Congress--is central to America's 
governance, making the United States, the oldest, continuous, 
constitutional democratic republic in the World.
  The ceremony has grown by tradition and precedent since George 
Washington first took the constitutionally prescribed oath of office as 
the Nation's first President.
  It commemorates the peaceful transition of power and the continuity 
of leadership conceived by our Founding Fathers and reflected in both 
article II and the 20th amendment of the Constitution of the United 
States.

                         Article II, Section 1

       * * * Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the 
     Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal 
     to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which 
     the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or 
     Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or 
     Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an 
     Elector.
       The Electors Shall meet in their respective States, and 
     vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall 
     not be an Inhabitant of the Same State with themselves. And 
     they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of 
     the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and 
     certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of 
     the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. 
     The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the 
     Senate and House of Representatives, open all the 
     Certificates and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person 
     having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, * 
     * *
       Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall 
     take the following Oath or Affirmation:--``I do solemnly 
     swear (or 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.''

                              Amendment 20

       Section 1. The terms of the President and Vice President 
     shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms 
     of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3rd day of 
     January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if 
     this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their 
     successors shall then begin.

  Mr. President, the objective of the Joint Congressional Committee on 
Inaugural Ceremonies was to ensure that the swearing-in ceremony was 
conducted in a manner reflecting dignity on the Office of the 
President, the Congress, and the U.S. Supreme Court--the three coequal 
branches of our Government.
  To achieve this end, Congressional staff, military personnel, 
Executive Branch employees, and volunteers worked for more than 6 
months to plan and executive this ceremony inaugurating the President 
and Vice President.
  Viewing the ceremonies from the Capitol grounds or on television, it 
is difficult, if not impossible, to appreciate all the planning and 
effort that goes into an inaugural swearing-in ceremony and the 
luncheon that follows.
  Every possible detail from the precise words used to introduce the 
President and his escorts to the platform to the location of television 
cameras had to be considered, reviewed and agreed to by representatives 
from the Congress, the Office of the President, the media, and numerous 
security organizations.
  Particular commendation goes to the outstanding program participants 
whose lasting contributions of prayers, songs and poetry made this such 
a memorable, historic day in the continuing life of America.

[[Page S701]]

  To put the many thousands who came to the Capitol in a proper spirit, 
the morning began with a sing-along of patriotic music led by the U.S. 
Marine Band. So far as we can determine, this was a first.
  The sing-along was followed by musical presentations by the choir 
from the College of William and Mary from Williamsburg, VA, and the 
choir from Hampton University from Hampton, VA.
  The Rev. Billy Graham and the Rev. Gardner C. Taylor offered prayers. 
Jessye Norman, the Children of the Gospel Mass from the Washington 
Performing Arts Society, the Immanuel Baptist Church Choir and 
Orchestra of Little Rock, Santita Jackson, and the Resurrection Choir 
lifted our spirits with song. The scholar Miller Williams presented an 
original poem written specifically for this occasion.
  And for the first time, which I find astonishing, the Pledge of 
Allegiance was recited at the inaugural swearing-in ceremony.
  Eagle Scout David Morales, a junior at James Madison High School in 
Vienna, VA, was selected to lead the Pledge. His performance was a 
tribute to the scouting movement and to the youth of our great Nation.
  The Architect of the Capitol was tasked with the substantial 
logistical responsibilities of building the platform, arranging the 
seating, installing security fences, and maintaining the grounds.
  The Capitol Police, the U.S. Secret Service, the Metropolitan Police 
Department, and the National Park Service had to consider every 
movement of the President and Vice President, how to afford security 
and, at the same time, provide the viewing public and other 
participants maximum opportunity to view their national leaders.
  Everyone involved in carrying out this enormous task can take great 
pride in the high degree of professionalism with which they performed 
their duties.
  The timing of all aspects of the ceremony, beginning with the 
departure of the traditional congressional escort committee going to 
the White House, meeting the President and bringing him to the Capitol, 
and ending with the President's departure from the Capitol following 
lunch required intense cooperation and coordination between the Office 
of the President and the Congress. Both were given in full measure on 
this challenge and all others.
  A very special commendation goes to Terry McAuliffe and Ann Jordan, 
the co-chairmen of the President's Inaugural Committee. Their 
directions were well and carefully carried out by Tim Keating.
  The traditional congressional luncheon honoring the President and 
Mrs. Clinton, and the Vice President and Mrs. Gore--from the brief 
speeches to the beggars pudding--was judged a success. Grayson 
Winterling, Ginny Sandahl, and Dot Svendsen deserve special recognition 
for their astute and sensitive planning and execution of every luncheon 
detail.
  Beginning 100 years ago, with the inauguration of William McKinley in 
1897, Congress has hosted a luncheon for the President and Vice 
President. This year our luncheon theme was the inauguration of John 
Adams and Thomas Jefferson in 1797.
  The menu for the luncheon was based on foods Adams and Jefferson 
might have enjoyed in their time, and the memento provided each guest 
was a magnifier glass similar to ones used in that era.
  As the chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural 
Ceremonies, and on behalf of the committee and the entire Congress, the 
senior Senator from Virginia extends a grateful thanks to all who 
helped make this historic swearing-in ceremony possible, including:
  The staff of the Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies: Susan 
Aheron Magill, executive director; John Chambers, deputy director; Jack 
Hoggard, Bobbie Kilberg, M.L. Faunce, Robert Paxton, Amelia Fields, 
Janel Ellison, Eric Ruff, Ned Monroe, John Campbell, Bill Sweeney, Eric 
Peterson, and Jennifer Joy Wilson.
  The staff of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration: 
Grayson Winterling, staff director; Kennie Gill, Chris Shunk, Bruce 
Kasold, Ginny Sandahl, and Sherry Little.
  The representatives of Joint Congressional Committee Members: Eileen 
Mandell, Doriene Steeves--Senator Warner; Allison Berger--Senator Ford; 
Susan Wells, Julie Morrison, Hardy Lott--Senator Lott; Martha 
Morrison--Speaker Gingrich; Sharon Daniels, Karen Brooke--
Representative Gephardt; and Leah Levy, Representative Armey.
  The Armed Forces Inaugural Committee: Chaired by Maj. Gen. Tom Foley, 
Commander, Military District of Washington, the Armed Forces Inaugural 
Committee was responsible for more than 10,000 military troops who 
provided invaluable manpower to carry out the day-long inaugural 
festivities.
  General Foley was assisted by Tom Groppel, Military District of 
Washington, who has directed the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee in 
six previous inaugural ceremonies.
  In addition, other key military personnel included Maj. Gen. Robert 
F. Foley, Lt. Col. Craig Benedict, Sgt. Maj. Boyd Sarratt, Maj. Don 
Holmes, USMC, and Maj. Dave Lapan, USMC.
  U.S. Capitol Police: Chief Gary Abrecht, Deputy Chief Jim Rohan, 
Assistant Chief Bobby Howe, Capt. Michael Preloh, Capt. Greg Parman, 
Diane Marie Schmidt, Lt. Connors, John Caulfield, and Sgt. Dan Nichols.
  Architect of the Capitol: William Ensign, Acting Architect of the 
Capitol; Alan Hantman, Architect of the Capitol Designee; Jim Ellison, 
Bruce Arthur, Roberto Miranda, Jim Wells, Dan Hanlon, Stuart Pregnall, 
Peggy Lambert, Ben Wimberly, and Matthew Evans.
  Senate Sergeant at Arms: Greg Casey, Sergeant at Arms; Patty NcNally, 
and Loretta Symms.
  House Sergeant at Arms: Bill Livingood, Sergeant at Arms; Jim Varey, 
and Tom Keating.
  Secretary of the Senate: Gary Sisco, Secretary; and Jon Lynn 
Kerchner.
  Senate Historian: Dick Baker, Historian; and Don Ritchie.
  Senate Curator: Diane Skvarla.
  Congressional Media Galleries: Larry Janezich, Senate Radio-TV 
Gallery; Bob Peterson, Senate Press Gallery; Maurice Johnson and Jeff 
Kent, Senate Press Photo Gallery; Jim Talbert, Senate Periodical 
Gallery; Tina Tate, House Radio-TV Gallery; Thayer Illsley, House Press 
Gallery; and David Holmes, House Periodical Gallery.
  Senate Recording and Photographic Studio: Jim Granhe, Director; and 
Steve Benza, Senate Photographer.
  Senate Telecommunications: Duane Ravenberg, Director.
  Television Pool: Bill Headline, CNN; Margie Lehrman, NBC; and David 
Futrowsky.
  Attending Physician: Adm. John F. Eisold, M.D.; and Robert J. Burg.
  Supreme Court of the United States: Jim Duff, Administrative 
Assistant to the Chief Justice; Venessa Yarnall, Sharon DuBose, Jackie 
Johnson, Julia A. Radcliff, and Dale E. Bosley.
  Government Printing Office: Charlie Cook, Jerry Hammond, and John 
Sapp.
  Department of the Interior, U.S. Park Service: Stan Lock, Deputy 
Director; Maj. J.J. McLaughlin, Park Police; and Jim Novak, National 
Park Service, White House Liaison.
  U.S. Secret Service: Eljay B. Bowron, Director; Bill Pickle, 
Katherine Crowly, Rachel Klay, Bob Campbell, and Patrick Sullivan.
  White House Liaison: Tim Keating.
  Presidential Inaugural Committee: Ann Jordan and Terry McAuliffe, Co-
Chair Persons; Harold Ickes, Harry Thomason, Tom Baer, Page Reefes, 
Jason McIntosh, Debbie Wilhite, Andrew Ballard, and Bob Bean.
  Finally, the hundreds of volunteers who handled the tough, sensitive 
problem of distributing many invitations, who served as ushers and 
escorts, and especially the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts who greeted each 
guest as they arrived on the Capitol Grounds and distributed copies of 
the ceremony's program.
  All joined in putting forward the very best of themselves, the 
Congress, the Nation's Capital, and our country. For this the Congress 
expresses its heartfelt thanks for a job well done.
  I thank the Chair, and I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

[[Page S702]]

  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce two bills. The 
first bill is the National Beverage Container Reuse and Recycling Act 
of 1997.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont is recognized.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. Jeffords pertaining to the introduction of S. 215 
are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. JEFFORDS. The second bill I will be introducing today with 
Senator Frist. This bill is IDEA. Then, after that, I will briefly talk 
on low-income fuel assistance and put in the Record a letter which 
myself and 49 Senators have participated in.
  For now, I will go ahead and discuss and send to the desk the bill 
IDEA, for introduction.
  (The remarks of Mr. Jeffords and Mr. Frist pertaining to the 
introduction of S. 216 are located in today's Record under ``Statements 
on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')

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