[Deschler-Brown Precedents, Volume 17, Chapters 34 - 40]
[Ch. 36. Ceremonies and Awards]
[Â§25. Presidential Inaugurations]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 316-338]
 
                               CHAPTER 36
 
                         Ceremonies and Awards
 
Sec. 25. Presidential Inaugurations

    Inaugural ceremonies have evolved since George Washington gave his 
first inaugural address on Apr. 30, 1789, and his second on Mar. 4, 
1793.
    After Washington's first inauguration, the Mar. 4 date was used for 
subsequent Presidential inaugurations until 1933.(1) The 
ratification of the 20th Amendment in 1933 mandated that the 
Presidential term begin at noon on Jan. 20.(2)
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 1. The ratification of the 12th Amendment in 1804 mandated that the 
        Presidential term expire on Mar. 4. U.S. Const. amend. XII.
 2. U.S. Const. amend. XX. See also House Rules and Manual Sec. 150 
        (2007).
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    From the 1829 inauguration of Andrew Jackson through the 1977 
inauguration of Jimmy Carter, the primary Inauguration Day ceremony 
took place on the Capitol's East Portico.(3)
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 3. The fourth inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945 was a 
        notable exception. Because World War II was at its height, 
        Roosevelt had a simple inauguration ceremony at the White House 
        with no fanfare or formal celebration. See 91 Cong. Rec. 364, 
        365, 79th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 22, 1945.
            Ronald Reagan's second inaugural in 1985 was the coldest on 
        record, with an estimated noon temperature of seven degrees 
        Fahrenheit and wind chills well below zero. Because Jan. 20, 
        1985, fell on a Sunday, President Reagan was sworn in privately 
        on that date at the White House and had scheduled his public 
        inauguration ceremony for Monday, Jan. 21. The cold weather 
        forced the ceremony to be moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda, 
        and limited space dictated that it be a semi-private ceremony. 
        See 131 Cong. Rec. 630-633, 99th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 21, 
        1985. See also House Rules and Manual Sec. 159 (2007).

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[[Page 317]]

    Since the 1981 inauguration of Ronald Reagan, the ceremony has been 
held on a terrace on the Capitol's West Front.(4)
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 4. See 127 Cong. Rec. 540-543, 97th Cong. 1st Sess.
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    In preparation for the ceremonies, a joint committee is created 
months in advance of the event.(5) The committee is 
established by concurrent resolution in the preceding Congress and the 
authority continues in the following Congress by a continuing 
resolution.(6)
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 5. See Sec. 25.1, infra.
 6. See Sec. 25.4, infra.
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    On inauguration morning, the House proceeds to participate in the 
ceremonies and stands adjourned at the conclusion of the ceremony 
pursuant to an adjournment resolution.(7)
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 7. See Sec. 25.7, infra.
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    At the designated hour of the morning, the Senate and House leave 
their respective Halls each to attend the ceremonies.
    The House procession is traditionally headed by the Sergeant at 
Arms bearing the mace and led by the Speaker pro tempore (who is 
oftentimes the Dean of the House), followed by the House leadership, 
committee chairmen, ranking minority members, and other Members in 
order of seniority.(8) The officers of the House have 
participated in the procession as well.(9)
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 8. See, e.g., Sec. 25.8, infra.
 9. Ibid.
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    The Vice Presidential oath of office has been administered 
variously by the outgoing Vice President,(10) by a Senator 
from the Vice President's home state,(11) by the Senate 
Minority Leader,(12) by the Speaker of the 
House,(13) and by a Justice of the U.S. Supreme 
Court.(14)
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10. 91 Cong. Rec. 364, 365, 79th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 22, 1945 
        (retiring Vice President Henry A. Wallace); 87 Cong. Rec. 188-
        190, 77th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 29, 1941 (retiring Vice 
        President John N. Garner).
11. 103 Cong. Rec. 804-806, 85th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 21, 1957 (U.S. 
        Senator William F. Knowland); 99 Cong. Rec. 450-452, 83d Cong. 
        1st Sess., Jan. 20, 1953 (U.S. Senator William F. Knowland).
12. 115 Cong. Rec. 1288-92, 91st Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 20, 1969 (Senate 
        Minority Leader Everett M. Dirksen).
13. See 151 Cong. Rec. 295-298, 109th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 20, 2005 
        (Speaker Hastert); 123 Cong. Rec. 1861-63, 95th Cong. 1st 
        Sess., Jan. 20, 1977 (Speaker O'Neill); and 111 Cong. Rec. 984-
        986, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 20, 1965 (Speaker McCormack).
14. See, e.g., 147 Cong. Rec. 547-549, 107th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 22, 
        2001 (Chief Justice Rehnquist); 143 Cong. Rec. 470-473, 105th 
        Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 20, 1997 (Associate Justice Ginsburg); 
        and 119 Cong. Rec. 1658-61, 93d Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 20, 1973 
        (Chief Justice Burger).

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[[Page 318]]

    The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has administered the oath to 
the President at every regularly scheduled inauguration since Chief 
Justice Oliver Ellsworth swore in President John Adams in 1797.
    Following the swearing-in, the President makes an inaugural 
address.
    In the closing, a well-known American musical group or person may 
perform a patriotic musical or poetic selection.
    A benediction is pronounced and the ceremony comes to an 
end.                          -------------------

Joint Committee for Inaugural Ceremonies

Sec. 25.1 The House, by unanimous consent, considered and agreed to a 
    Senate concurrent resolution establishing a Joint Congressional 
    Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

    On Mar. 16, 2004,(1) the following proceedings occurred:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 150 Cong. Rec. 4380, 108th Cong. 2d Sess.
            For other examples, see 146 Cong. Rec. 2720, 2721, 106th 
        Cong. 2d Sess., Mar. 14, 2000 (S. Con. Res. 89); 142 Cong. Rec. 
        21405, 104th Cong. 2d Sess., Aug. 2, 1996 (S. Con. Res. 47); 
        138 Cong. Rec. 16712, 102d Cong. 2d Sess., June 29, 1992 (S. 
        Con. Res. 103).
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            ESTABLISHING JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON INAUGURAL 
                                   CEREMONIES

        Mr. [Robert W.] NEY [of Ohio]. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous 
    consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate concurrent 
    resolution (S. Con. Res. 94) establishing the Joint Congressional 
    Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, and ask for its immediate 
    consideration in the House.
        The Clerk read the title of the Senate concurrent resolution.
        The SPEAKER pro tempore.(2) Is there objection to 
    the request of the gentleman from Ohio?
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 2. Chris Chocola (IN).
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        There was no objection.
        The Clerk read the Senate concurrent resolution, as follows:

                                 S. Con Res. 94

            Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
        concurring),

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT COMMITTEE.

       There is established a Joint Congressional Committee on 
     Inaugural Ceremonies (in this resolution referred to as the 
     ``joint committee''), consisting of 3 Senators and 3 Members 
     of the House of Representatives appointed by the President of 
     the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     respectively. The joint committee is authorized to make the 
     necessary arrangements for the inauguration of the President-
     elect and the Vice President-elect of the United States.

     SEC. 2. SUPPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE.

           The joint committee--
       (1) is authorized to utilize appropriate equipment and the 
     services of appropriate

[[Page 319]]

     personnel of departments and agencies of the Federal 
     Government, under arrangements between the joint committee 
     and the heads of the departments and agencies, in connection 
     with the inaugural proceedings and ceremonies; and
       (2) may accept gifts and donations of goods and services to 
     carry out its responsibilities. . . .

        The Senate concurrent resolution was concurred in.
        A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.(3)
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 3. Parliamentarian's Note: The concurrent resolution has no effect 
        beyond a Congress in which it is agreed to. A new concurrent 
        resolution continuing the joint committee at the beginning of 
        the Congress must be adopted at the beginning of the next 
        Congress. See Sec. 25.4, infra.
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Appointments to Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies

Sec. 25.2 The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of members to 
    the Joint Committee on Inaugural Arrangements.

    On Mar. 16, 2004,(1) the Chair announced the Speaker's 
appointments to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural 
Ceremonies:
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 1. 150 Cong. Rec. 4381, 108th Cong. 2d Sess.
            For other examples, see 146 Cong. Rec. 7055, 106th Cong. 2d 
        Sess., May 8, 2000; and 142 Cong. Rec. 22372, 104th Cong. 2d 
        Sess., Sept. 10, 1996.
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          APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON 
                              INAUGURAL CEREMONIES

        The SPEAKER pro tempore.(2) Pursuant to Senate 
    Concurrent Resolution 94, 108th Congress, and the order of the 
    House of December 8, 2003, the Chair announces the Speaker's 
    appointment of the following Members of the House to the Joint 
    Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies:
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 2. Chris Chocola (IN).
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        Mr. Hastert, Illinois;
        Mr. DeLay, Texas;
        Ms. Pelosi, California.

    On Jan. 4, 2005,(3) the Members of the Joint Committee 
were reappointed, as follows:(4)
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 3. 151 Cong. Rec. 68, 69, 109th Cong. 1st Sess.
 4. For another example, see 139 Cong. Rec. 104, 103d Cong. 1st Sess., 
        Jan. 5, 1993.
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         REAPPOINTMENT AS MEMBERS OF JOINT COMMITTEE TO MAKE NECESSARY 
              ARRANGEMENT FOR THE INAUGURATION ON JANUARY 20, 2005

        The SPEAKER pro tempore.(5) Pursuant to Senate 
    Concurrent Resolution 2, 109th Congress, the Chair announces the 
    Speaker's reappointment as members of the joint committee to make 
    the necessary arrangements for the inauguration of the President-
    elect and the Vice President-elect of the United States on the 20th 
    day of January, 2005, the following Members of the House:
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 5. Ray LaHood (IL).
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        Mr. Hastert of Illinois,

[[Page 320]]

        Mr. DeLay of Texas,
        Ms. Pelosi of California.

Use of the Rotunda by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural 
    Ceremonies

Sec. 25.3 The House, by unanimous consent, considered and agreed to a 
    Senate concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the Capitol 
    Rotunda and other Federal resources in connection with Presidential 
    inaugural ceremonies on Jan. 20, 2005.

    Several months before the inauguration, the House considered and 
agreed to a concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the Capitol 
Rotunda in connection with the Presidential inaugural ceremonies as a 
predicate on which to plan and to prepare for logistics and security.
    On Mar. 16, 2004,(1) the following proceedings took 
place:
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 1. 150 Cong. Rec. 4380, 108th Cong. 2d Sess. See Sec. 25.4, infra, for 
        the continuing resolution related to this concurrent 
        resolution.
            For other examples, see 146 Cong. Rec. 2721, 106th Cong. 2d 
        Sess., Mar. 14, 2000 (S. Con. Res. 90); 142 Cong. Rec. 21405, 
        104th Cong. 2d. Sess., Aug. 2, 1996 (S. Con. Res. 48; 138 Cong. 
        Rec. 16712, 102d Cong. 2d Sess., June 29, 1992 (S. Con. Res. 
        103).
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           AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL ROTUNDA BY JOINT CONGRESSIONAL 
                       COMMITTEE ON INAUGURAL CEREMONIES

        Mr. [Robert W.] NEY [of Indiana]. Madam Speaker, I ask 
    unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate 
    concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 93) authorizing the use of the 
    rotunda of the Capitol by the Joint Congressional Committee on 
    Inaugural Ceremonies, and ask for its immediate consideration in 
    the House.
        The Clerk read the title of the Senate concurrent resolution.
        The SPEAKER pro tempore.(2) Is there objection to 
    the request of the gentleman from Ohio?
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 2. Chris Chocola (IN).
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        There was no objection.
        The Clerk read the Senate concurrent resolution, as follows:

                                S. Con. Res. 93

            Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
        concurring),

     SECTION 1. USE OF THE ROTUNDA OF THE CAPITOL BY THE JOINT 
                   CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON INAUGURAL 
                   CEREMONIES.

       The rotunda of the United States Capitol is authorized to 
     be used on January 20, 2005, by the Joint Congressional 
     Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies in connection with the 
     proceedings and ceremonies conducted for the inauguration of 
     the President-elect and the Vice President-elect of the 
     United States.

  Mr. [John B.] LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I support S. Con. 
Res. 93, which authorizes planning for the use of the Capitol Rotunda 
on January 20, 2005, for the proceedings and ceremonies conducted for 
the inauguration of the President and Vice President of the United 
States. We traditionally pass this measure to begin the period of 
security planning and rehearsal for the inaugural, since the Rotunda is 
routinely used for ceremonial purposes during the inauguration and 
could host the event itself, depending on the weather at that time.

[[Page 321]]

  The 108th Congress does not formally authorize use of the Rotunda 
through this measure, since it will expire on January 3, 2005, like all 
concurrent resolutions which are not made part of permanent law and 
must be renewed in the 109th Congress. However, it initiates the period 
of pre-event planning necessary to bring one of our democracy's most 
memorable and historic ceremonies to fruition smoothly and safely. I 
urge its adoption.

        The Senate concurrent resolution was concurred in.
        A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Sec. 25.4 The House considered and agreed to a privileged Senate 
    concurrent resolution continuing the authority of the Joint 
    Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and the authority to use the 
    Capitol Rotunda for such ceremonies.

    On Jan. 4, 2005,(1) the following proceedings took 
place:
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 1. 151 Cong. Rec. 7, 109th Cong. 1st Sess. See also Sec. Sec. 25.1, 
        25.3, supra.
            For other examples of similar continuing resolutions, see 
        147 Cong. Rec. 37, 38, 107th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 3, 2001 (S. 
        Con. Res. 2); 143 Cong. Rec. 143, 105th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 
        7, 1997 (S. Con. Res. 2); 139 Cong. Rec. 100, 103d Cong. 1st 
        Sess., Jan. 5, 1993 (S. Con. Res. 2); 135 Cong. Rec. 84, 101st 
        Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 3, 1989 (S. Con. Res. 2).
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                            MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

        A message from the Senate by Mr. Monahan, one of its clerks, 
    announced that the Senate has passed bills of the following titles 
    in which the concurrence of the House is requested: . . .

            S. Con. Res. 2. Concurrent resolution to extend the life of 
        the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and 
        the provisions of S. Con. Res. 93 and S. Con. Res. 94 of the 
        One Hundred Eighth Congress . . 
        .                          -------------------

             PROVIDING FOR CONTINUATION OF JOINT COMMITTEE TO MAKE 
                           INAUGURATION ARRANGEMENTS

        The SPEAKER pro tempore(2) laid before the House the 
    following privileged(3) Senate concurrent resolution (S. 
    Con. Res. 2) to extend the life of the Joint Congressional 
    Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and the provision of S. Con. Res. 
    93 and S. Con. Res. 94 of the One Hundred Eighth Congress.
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 2. Ray LaHood (IL).
 3. Parliamentarian's Note: The concurrent resolution for the 
        continuation of the joint committee is privileged as essential 
        to the role of Congress in the inauguration.
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        The Clerk read the Senate concurrent resolution, as follows:

                                 S. Con. Res. 2

            Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
        concurring), That effective from January 3, 2005, the joint 
        committee created by Senate Concurrent Resolution 94 (108th 
        Congress), to make the necessary arrangements for the 
        inauguration, is hereby continued with the same power and 
        authority provided for in that resolution.
            Sec. 2. Effective from January 4, 2005, the provisions of 
        Senate Concurrent Resolution 93 (108th Congress), to authorize 
        the rotunda of the United States Capitol to be used in 
        connection with the proceedings

[[Page 322]]

        and ceremonies for the inauguration of the President-elect and 
        the Vice President-elect of the United States, are continued 
        with the same power and authority provided for in that 
        resolution.

        The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the Senate 
    concurrent resolution is concurred in.
        There was no objection.
        A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Vice Presidential Inauguration Included

Sec. 25.5 Ceremonies for the inauguration of both the President and the 
    Vice President are now held on the steps of the 
    Capitol.(1)
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 1. The Vice President was inaugurated in the Senate Chamber until Jan. 
        20, 1937.
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    On Feb. 3, 1956,(2) the concurrent resolution providing 
for the joint inaugural planning committee was amended in the Senate to 
provide for the inclusion of the Vice President-elect:
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 2. 102 Cong. Rec. 1958, 84th Cong. 2d Sess.
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         JOINT COMMITTEE TO ARRANGE FOR INAUGURATION OF THE PRESIDENT-
                                     ELECT

        The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 64) providing for a 
    joint committee to arrange for the inauguration of the President-
    elect of the United States, January 20, 1957, was announced as next 
    in order. . . .
        Mr. [William H.] KNOWLAND [of California]. Mr. President, I 
    should like to offer an amendment on line 6, after the word 
    ``President-elect'', to add the words ``and Vice President-elect.''
        Originally, the Vice President of the United States was 
    inaugurated in the Senate Chamber, but in recent years the 
    inaugural ceremonies for both the President-elect and the Vice 
    President-elect have been held on the steps of the Capitol 
    building. . . .
        Mr. KNOWLAND. Mr. President, I conferred with the ranking 
    Republican member of the Committee on Rules and Administration.
        The PRESIDING OFFICER.(3) The clerk will state the 
    amendment offered by the Senator from California.
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 3. Frederick G. Payne (ME).
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        The Legislative Clerk. It is proposed to insert in line 6, 
    after the word ``President-elect'', the words ``and Vice President-
    elect.''
        The amendment was agreed to.
        The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 64), as amended, was 
    agreed to, as follows:

            Resolved, etc., That a joint committee consisting of 3 
        Senators and 3 Representatives, to be appointed by the 
        President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives, respectively, is authorized to make the 
        necessary arrangements for the inauguration of the President-
        elect and the Vice President-elect of the United States on the 
        25th day of January 1957.

Sunday Inauguration Date

Sec. 25.6 Debate occurred in the Senate concerning Inauguration Day 
    1957 falling on a

[[Page 323]]

    Sunday for the fifth time in history.(1)
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 1. See House Rules and Manual Sec. 150 (2007). See also 3 Hinds' 
        Precedents Sec. 1996; and 6 Cannon's Precedents Sec. 449.
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    On Feb. 16, 1956,(2) Senate Concurrent Resolution 64 was 
called up by unanimous consent, and the Presiding Officer laid before 
the Senate the House amendment thereto. The proceedings were as 
follows:
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 2. 102 Cong. Rec. 2668, 2669, 84th Cong. 2d Sess.
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         JOINT COMMITTEE TO ARRANGE FOR INAUGURATION OF THE PRESIDENT-
                                     ELECT

        Mr. [Theodore F.] GREEN [of Rhode Island]. Mr. President, I 
    desire to have Senate Concurrent Resolution 64 called up.
        The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Bible(3) in the chair). 
    The unfinished business is Senate Resolution 168, Calendar 1408.
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 3. Alan H. Bible (NV).
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        Mr. [Earle C.] CLEMENTS [of Kentucky]. Mr. President, I ask 
    unanimous consent that the unfinished business be temporarily laid 
    aside, so that Senate Concurrent Resolution 64 may be considered, 
    in accordance with the wish of the Senator from Rhode Island.
        The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the amendment of 
    the House of Representatives to the concurrent resolution (S. Con. 
    Res. 64) providing for a joint committee to arrange for the 
    inauguration of the President-elect of the United States, January 
    20, 1957, which was in line 7, to strike out ``twentieth'' and 
    insert ``twenty-first''.
        Mr. GREEN. Mr. President, let me say that Senate Concurrent 
    Resolution 64 has been agreed to by both the Senate and the House 
    of Representatives, and amendments to the concurrent resolution 
    have been adopted by both bodies.
        The concurrent resolution as submitted by me, and passed as 
    agreed to by the Senate on February 3, 1956, provided for a joint 
    committee to arrange for the inauguration of the President-elect of 
    the United States, on January 20, 1957. On that day I was absent 
    from the Senate, having been excused in order to attend the 
    inauguration of the new President of Brazil. In my absence, Senate 
    Concurrent Resolution 64 was amended to include the Vice-President-
    elect.
        Senate Concurrent Resolution 64, as amended by the Senate, was 
    agreed to by the House of Representatives on February 7, 1956, 
    after it was further amended by the House to change the date in the 
    text of the resolution from ``January 20, 1957'' to ``January 21, 
    1957.'' The concurrent resolution is now back before the Senate for 
    consideration of the House amendment.
        I have no objection to either the Senate amendment, which added 
    the Vice-President-elect, or to the House amendment, which changed 
    the date from January 20, 1957, to January 21, 1957. I believe, 
    however, that a statement in clarification of my position and of 
    proposed further amendments, which I am about to offer, is in 
    order.
        As my colleagues in the Congress well know, under the 
    Constitution, as

[[Page 324]]

    amended, the terms of the President and the Vice President end at 
    noon on the 20th day of January 1957, and the terms of the 
    President-elect and the Vice-President-elect begin at the same 
    instant--Constitution of the United States, amendment XX, effective 
    October 15, 1933; 62d United States Statutes at Large, page 672; 
    title 3, United States Code, section 101. Accordingly, although I 
    was well aware when I submitted Senate Concurrent Resolution 64 
    that the 20th day of January, in the year 1957, would fall on a 
    Sunday. I employed that date in my resolution because it was fixed 
    by the established law.
        In 1957, for the first time since the ratification of the 20th 
    amendment, January 20 will fall on a Sunday in an inaugural year. 
    Under the old law, when Presidents of the United States were 
    inaugurated on March 4, there wee four occasions on which March 4 
    fell on a Sunday in an inaugural year. The former occasions were: 
    In 1971, Woodrow Wilson's second term; in 1877, Rutherford B. 
    Hayes' first term; in 1849, Zachary Taylor's first term; and in 
    1821, the beginning of James Monroe's second term.
        In 1916, a Senate concurrent resolution was adopted by the 
    Congress providing for a committee to arrange for the inauguration 
    of the President elect, which carried in its text the date ``March 
    5, 1917.'' I refer to Senate Concurrent Resolution 27 of the 64th 
    Congress. President Wilson actually took his oath of office as 
    President, however, at the Capitol, on Sunday morning, March 4, 
    1917. Present at the occasion were his Cabinet and a few friends. 
    On the next day, Monday, March 5, 1917, the inaugural ceremony was 
    repeated in public for the benefit of the crowd which assembled at 
    the east front of the Capitol.
        On the three prior occasions in our history when March 4 fell 
    on a Sunday in an inaugural year, there were no similar concurrent 
    resolutions. In 1877, President Hayes took the oath of office on 
    Saturday, March 3. Chief Justice Waite administered the oath in the 
    red room of the White House. On the following Monday, March 5, the 
    Chief Justice again swore President Hayes in at the formal ceremony 
    on the occasion of the President's Inaugural Address.
        In 1849, President Taylor did not take his oath of office until 
    Monday, March 5, at 12 noon. It took place at the public 
    inauguration ceremonies in front of the great portico. This 
    occasion gave rise to a claim, apparently never completely 
    resolved, that Senator David R. Atchison, President pro tempore of 
    the Senate, was, under the Succession Act of 1792, actually 
    President of the United States for 1 day, beginning at noon on 
    March 4, 1849.
        In 1821, President Monroe took the oath of office on March 5.
        Today, the ending and beginning of a Presidential and Vice 
    Presidential term is clearly defined in the 20th amendment to the 
    Constitution which provides:

            The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at 
        noon on the 20th day of January * * * and the terms of their 
        successors shall then begin.

        In my humble opinion, if the President-elect of the United 
    States does not take his oath of office until noon on Monday, 
    January 21, 1957, then, pursuant to the provisions of Public Law

[[Page 325]]

    199 of the 80th Congress, the Speaker of the House of 
    Representatives will actually be the President of the United States 
    from noon on January 20, 1957, until noon on the following day. Of 
    course, I have no objection to having the Honorable Sam Rayburn 
    occupy the White House and only regret that his term of office, 
    under those circumstances, would be so short lived. To those who 
    are opposed to Sam Rayburn's elevation to this high office, I can 
    only say that they will have to use irresistible persuasion on the 
    next President-elect to make him take his oath of office at noon on 
    Sunday, January 20, 1957.
        Because the people of the State of Rhode Island, the smallest 
    State in the Union, have no aversion to a citizen of the largest 
    State taking possession of the White House, and because I feel that 
    Senate Concurrent Resolution 64 provides for a committee to make 
    arrangements for the public ceremonies attendant upon the 
    assumption of office by a new President, I now suggest that the 
    Senate agree to the amendment adopted by the House. In order to 
    avoid any misunderstanding or any possible interpretation of Senate 
    Concurrent Resolution 64 which would affect the law on Presidential 
    succession, however, I offer an amendment to the resolution, as 
    follows: On page 1, line 6, before the word ``inauguration'', 
    insert the word ``public.''
        In addition, I offer a further amendment, as follows: In the 
    title of Senate Concurrent Resolution 64, before the word 
    ``inauguration'' insert the word ``public''; after the words 
    ``President-elect'', insert the words ``and Vice President-elect''; 
    and, after the word ``January'', strike the date ``20'', and insert 
    instead the date ``21.''
        I ask unanimous consent that my amendments to Senate Concurrent 
    Resolution 64 be now considered and approved; and that Senate 
    Concurrent Resolution 64, as amended, be agreed to, by the Senate.
        Mr. [William F.] KNOWLAND [of California]. Mr. President, will 
    the Senator yield?
        Mr. GREEN. I yield.
        Mr. KNOWLAND. I was wondering if the Senator would care to 
    amplify the reasons for inserting the word ``public,'' rather than, 
    in the original language, merely referring to the ``inauguration.'' 
    As the Senator will recall, at the fourth inaugural of President 
    Franklin D. Roosevelt, he determined to have the ceremony at the 
    White House, since it was a case of reelection to the office. No 
    one knows who the next President of the United States may be. He 
    may be a reelected President or a new President.
        Mr. GREEN. The idea is that with these four amendments--two of 
    which have already been adopted, and the two I now offer--it will 
    be possible to distinguish between the public inauguration and 
    privately taking the oath in the White House or anywhere else the 
    President-elect might choose. Of course, we would not want to do 
    away with the public inauguration. Otherwise, as I have tried to 
    make clear, this ambiguity might make it possible for the claim to 
    be made that someone else than the elected President was President 
    during that one day.
        Mr. KNOWLAND. All I wish to do is clarify the legislative 
    history. Let us assume, for the moment, that President Eisenhower 
    were reelected, and that he might choose, as President

[[Page 326]]

    Franklin D. Roosevelt did, to have an inaugural ceremony at the 
    White House instead of at the Capitol. Would the language suggested 
    by the Senator foreclose the joint committee from such 
    arrangements?
        Mr. GREEN. No. As I understand, he could take the oath 
    privately in the White House on Sunday, January 20, and later a 
    public inauguration could be held, the next day. We might 
    distinguish between the two ceremonies, and call one the 
    inauguration and the other the affirmation, or celebration of the 
    inauguration.
        Mr. KNOWLAND. I understand that. However, because of the fact 
    that January 20 falls on Sunday, the President-elect might 
    privately take the oath of office on Sunday, and have the public or 
    formal ceremonies the following day.
        Mr. GREEN. We might call that the installation.
        Mr. KNOWLAND. But suppose the present President should be 
    reelected, as occurred during the Franklin D. Roosevelt 
    administration, and that he should choose to have the ceremony at 
    the White House. Would that be foreclosed under the language 
    suggested by the Senator?
        Mr. GREEN. No; it would not be foreclosed. He might forego the 
    public inauguration if he so desired.
        Mr. [Leverett] SALTONSTALL [of Massachusetts]. Mr. President, 
    will the Senator yield?
        Mr. GREEN. I yield.
        Mr. SALTONSTALL. I think the Senator from Rhode Island has made 
    it clear, but in order to make the Record still clearer, let me ask 
    one or two questions.
        The President would take his oath on Sunday and become the 
    President of the United States, whether he were a reelected 
    President or a new President.
        Mr. GREEN. That is correct.
        Mr. SALTONSTALL. In connection with the public inauguration on 
    Monday, is it the Senator's idea that the President-elect should 
    again take the oath, or would the ceremonies on Monday be 
    ceremonies of celebration, when he should make his speech and go 
    through with all the other ceremonies?
        Mr. GREEN. I think the public would like to see him take the 
    oath over again. However, I do not think it is necessary legally.
        Mr. [Herbert H.] LEHMAN [of New York]. Mr. President, will the 
    Senator yield?
        Mr. GREEN. I yield.
        Mr. LEHMAN. We have had some experience with matters of this 
    kind in the State of New York.
        The Constitution of the State of New York provides that the 
    term of a governor shall end at midnight on December 31. However, 
    he is not inaugurated until noon of the following day. Invariably 
    the Governor, whether he be a new governor or a governor who has 
    held office previously, has taken his oath of office at the 
    executive mansion at 1 minute after 12 o'clock midnight December 
    31, and has been publicly inaugurated the following day.
        The PRESIDING OFFICER. The first amendment offered by the 
    Senator from Rhode Island will be stated.
        The Legislative Clerk. On page 1, line 6 before the word 
    ``inauguration'' it is proposed to insert the word ``public.''
        The PRESIDING OFFICER. The amendment is not in order, because

[[Page 327]]

    the Senate cannot amend its own concurrent resolution after it has 
    been agreed to by the House.
        Mr. GREEN. Mr. President, may I ask unanimous consent that the 
    amendment be held to be in order, if a point of order is raised?
        Mr. CLEMENTS. Will the Chair state the parliamentary situation?
        The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair has held that the amendment 
    offered by the Senator from Rhode Island [Green] adding the word 
    ``public'' is not in order.
        Mr. KNOWLAND. Mr. President, a parliamentary inquiry.
        The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator will state it.
        Mr. KNOWLAND. If the Senate does not concur in the House 
    amendment and requests a conference with the House, would it be 
    possible for the conferees to make the change?
        The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair is advised that the conferees 
    would not have any authority to take into consideration any 
    amendments which were not in disagreement.
        Mr. CLEMENTS. Mr. President, will the Chair state the procedure 
    that should be followed in connection with this matter?
        The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair is advised that all that the 
    Senate may consider is the amendment of the House of 
    Representatives, which is before it.
        Mr. GREEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I may 
    withdraw my amendment, and merely move that the Senate concur in 
    the House amendment.
        The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? The Chair hears 
    none, and it is so ordered.
        Mr. GREEN. I believe the understanding is perfectly clear on 
    the Record without the use of the word ``public.'' I move that the 
    Senate concur in the amendment of the House of Representatives.
        The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the 
    motion of the Senator from Rhode Island.
        The motion was agreed to.

Inaugural Procedures Reviewed

Sec. 25.7 The House considered and adopted a privileged resolution 
    providing that at a designated time on Inauguration Day the House 
    shall proceed to the West Front of the Capitol to attend the 
    ceremony, and that at the conclusion of the ceremony the House 
    shall stand adjourned until a day and time certain pursuant to an 
    adjournment resolution.

    On Jan. 4, 2005,(1) the House considered and adopted a 
privileged resolution providing that at a designated time on 
Inauguration Day the House shall proceed to the West Front of the 
Capitol to attend the ceremony, and that at the conclusion of the 
ceremony the House shall stand adjourned until

[[Page 328]]

a day and time certain pursuant to an adjournment 
resolution:(2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 151 Cong. Rec. 69, 109th Cong. 1st Sess.
 2. Parliamentarian's Note: In an improvement over prior years' 
        resolutions, this one acknowledged the role of a concurrent 
        resolution of adjournment in providing for the House to stand 
        adjourned for more than three constitutional days (as opposed 
        to appearing itself to grant such permission). For 
        illustrations of the previous practice, see 147 Cong. Rec. 38, 
        107th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 3, 2001 (H. Res. 10, providing that 
        the House shall stand adjourned to a day certain ``or pursuant 
        to such other concurrent resolution of adjournment as may then 
        apply''); 143 Cong. Rec. 143, 105th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 7, 
        1997 (H. Res. 8, providing for adjournment until a date and 
        time certain without reference to an adjournment resolution); 
        139 Cong. Rec. 104, 103d Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 5, 1993 (H. Res. 
        10, providing for procession to the West Front for the 
        inauguration but not adjournment); 135 Cong. Rec. 244, 101st 
        Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 19, 1989 (H. Res. 40, providing for 
        adjournment until a date and time certain without reference to 
        an adjournment resolution); and 131 Cong. Rec. 418, 99th Cong. 
        1st Sess., Jan. 3, 1985 (H. Res. 10, providing for adjournment 
        until a date and time certain without reference to an 
        adjournment resolution).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        PROVIDING FOR ATTENDANCE AT INAUGURAL CEREMONIES ON JANUARY 20, 
                                      2005

        Mr. [Tom] DeLAY [of Texas]. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged 
    resolution (H. Res. 9) and ask for its immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                                   H. Res. 9

            Resolved, That at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 20, 2005, 
        the House shall proceed to the West Front of the Capitol for 
        the purpose of attending the inaugural ceremonies of the 
        President and Vice President of the United States; and that 
        upon the conclusion of the ceremonies the House stands 
        adjourned until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 25, 2005, pursuant 
        to such concurrent resolution of adjournment as may so permit.

        The resolution was agreed to.
        A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

    On that same day,(3) the House adopted a privileged 
concurrent resolution providing for the adjournment of the House for 
more than three days until Inauguration Day, and then from Inauguration 
Day to a date certain more than three days hence:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3. 151 Cong. Rec. 69, 109th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 4, 2005.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

            PROVIDING FOR AN ADJOURNMENT OR RECESS OF THE TWO HOUSES

        Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged concurrent 
    resolution (H. Con. Res. 2) and ask for its immediate 
    consideration.
        The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                                 H. Con. Res. 2

            Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
        concurring),

[[Page 329]]

        That when the House adjourns on the legislative day of 
        Thursday, January 6, 2005, on a motion offered pursuant to this 
        concurrent resolution by its Majority Leader or his designee, 
        it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 20, 2005, 
        or until the time of any reassembly pursuant to section 2 of 
        this concurrent resolution, whichever occurs first; that when 
        the House adjourns on the legislative day of Thursday, January 
        20, 2005, it stand adjourned until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 
        25, 2005, or until the time of any reassembly pursuant to 
        section 2 of this concurrent resolution, whichever occurs 
        first; and that when the Senate recesses or adjourns on 
        Thursday, January 6, 2005, or Friday, January 7, 2005, on a 
        motion offered pursuant to this concurrent resolution by its 
        Majority Leader or his designee, it stand recessed or adjourned 
        until noon on Thursday, January 20, 2005, or at such other time 
        on that day as may be specified by its Majority Leader or his 
        designee in the motion to recess or adjourn, or until the time 
        of any reassembly pursuant to section 2 of this concurrent 
        resolution, whichever occurs first.
            Sec. 2. The Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of 
        the Senate, or their respective designees, acting jointly after 
        consultation with the Minority Leader of the House and the 
        Minority Leader of the Senate, shall notify the Members of the 
        House and the Senate, respectively, to reassemble at such place 
        and time as they may designate whenever, in their opinion, the 
        public interest shall warrant it.

        The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
        A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Sec. 25.8 The Chair announced the policy for the seating of Members 
    (and former Members) for the inaugural ceremonies.

    On Jan. 20, 2005,(1) the Chair made an announcement 
regarding the assembling and attendance of the House at the inaugural 
ceremonies on the East Front of the Capitol.(2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 151 Cong. Rec. 267, 109th Cong. 1st Sess.
 2. For other illustrations, see 147 Cong. Rec. 163, 107th Cong. 1st 
        Sess., Jan. 20, 2001; 143 Cong. Rec. 381, 105th Cong. 1st 
        Sess., Jan. 20, 1997; 139 Cong. Rec. 381, 103d Cong. 1st Sess., 
        Jan. 20, 1993; 135 Cong. Rec. 324, 325, 101st Cong. 1st Sess., 
        Jan. 20, 1989; and 131 Cong. Rec. 690, 99th Cong. 1st Sess., 
        Jan. 21, 1985.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The SPEAKER pro tempore.(3) The Chair announces that 
    sitting Members are being delivered their official pins in order to 
    be seated on the platform. There are no extra seats available, so 
    former Members cannot join the procession. The same holds true for 
    children. They can neither go with the procession nor be seated on 
    the platform.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3. Michael K. Simpson (ID).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The area where Members of the House are to be seated is not 
    covered. Members should keep this fact in mind in deciding whether 
    to wear overcoats and hats.
        The Sergeant-at-Arms will precede the procession bearing the 
    mace. The Clerk will escort the Members to the west front of the 
    Capitol. The procession will be led by the dean of the

[[Page 330]]

    House, followed by the House leadership, committee chairmen, 
    ranking minority members, and then other Members in order of 
    seniority.
        The House leadership, committee chairmen, and ranking minority 
    members shall retire to the holding room upon leaving the Chamber.
        The Chair would encourage Members, as they gather in order of 
    seniority, to congregate by ``classes'' in the well.
        Pursuant to House Resolution 9, the Members of the House will 
    now proceed to the west front to attend the inaugural ceremonies 
    for the President and the Vice President of the United States.
        Upon completion of the ceremony, pursuant to House Resolution 
    9, 109th Congress, the House will stand adjourned.
        Pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution 2, 109th Congress, that 
    adjournment will be until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 25, 2005.
        Thereupon, at 10 o'clock and 22 minutes a.m., the Members of 
    the House, preceded by the Sergeant-at-Arms and the Speaker, 
    proceeded to the west front of the Capitol.

Appointment of Speaker Pro Tempore

Sec. 25.9 The Speaker has designated the Dean of the House as Speaker 
    pro tempore to lead the House procession to the inauguration of the 
    President and the Vice President.

    On Jan. 19, 1989,(1) the Speaker designated the Dean of 
the House to act as Speaker pro tempore when the House convened just 
prior to the inaugural ceremonies, as follows:(2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 135 Cong. Rec. 244, 101st Cong. 1st Sess.
 2. For other examples, see 131 Cong. Rec. 420, 99th Cong. 1st Sess., 
        Jan. 3, 1985 (designating Jamie L. Whitten [MS] as Speaker pro 
        tempore on Inauguration Day); 127 Cong. Rec. 405, 97th Cong. 
        1st Sess., Jan. 19, 1981 (designating Jamie L. Whitten [MS] as 
        Speaker pro tempore on Inauguration Day); 119 Cong. Rec. 1555, 
        93d Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 18, 1973 (designating Wright Patman 
        [TX] as Speaker pro tempore on Inauguration Day); and 115 Cong. 
        Rec. 1184, 91st Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 17, 1969 (designating 
        Emanuel Celler [NY] as Speaker pro tempore on Inauguration 
        Day).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE TO LEAD HOUSE ``PROCESSION'' 
                            IN INAUGURATION CEREMONY

        The SPEAKER.(3) The Chair designates the Honorable 
    Jamie L. Whitten, of Mississippi, dean of the House, to act as 
    Speaker pro tempore on Friday, January 20, 1989, to lead the House 
    procession to the Inauguration of the President of the United 
    States.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3. James C. Wright, Jr. (TX).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clerk Authorized to Receive Messages

Sec. 25.10 The Clerk is authorized to receive messages from the

[[Page 331]]

    President and the Senate, notwithstanding adjournment of the House, 
    prior to Inauguration Day.

    Prior to the existence of such authority in the standing 
rules,(1) the Clerk was routinely authorized to receive 
message by unanimous consent. For example, on Jan. 17, 
1969,(2) the Speaker(3) recognized Mr. Carl 
Albert, of Oklahoma, who asked unanimous consent that the Clerk be 
authorized to receive certain messages:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. See Rule II clause 2(h), House Rules and Manual Sec. 652 (2007).
 2. 115 Cong. Rec. 1184, 91st Cong. 1st Sess.
 3. John W. McCormack (MA).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        MR. ALBERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
    notwithstanding the adjournment of the House until Monday, January 
    20, 1969, the Clerk be authorized to receive messages from the 
    President and the Senate.
        THE SPEAKER. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman 
    from Oklahoma?
        There was no objection.

 Inaugural Ceremonies

Sec. 25.11 Ceremonies for the inauguration of the President and Vice 
    President.(1)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. For other examples of inauguration programs, see 151 Cong. Rec. 
        295-298, 109th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 20, 2005 (second inaugural 
        of President Bush); 143 Cong. Rec. 470-473, 105th Cong. 1st 
        Sess., Jan. 21, 1997 (second inaugural of President Clinton); 
        139 Cong. Rec. 383-386, 103d Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 20, 1993 
        (first inaugural of President Clinton); 135 Cong. Rec. 303-306, 
        101st Cong., 1st Sess., Jan. 20, 1989 (inaugural of President 
        George H.W. Bush); 131 Cong. Rec. 630-633, 99th Cong. 1st 
        Sess., Jan. 21, 1985 (second inaugural of President Reagan); 
        127 Cong. Rec. 540-543, 97th Cong, 1st Sess., Jan. 20, 1981 
        (first inaugural of President Reagan); 123 Cong. Rec. 1861-63, 
        95th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 20, 1977 (inaugural of President 
        Carter); 119 Cong. Rec. 1658-61, 93d Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 20, 
        1973 (second inaugural of President Nixon); 115 Cong. Rec. 
        1289-92, 91st Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 20, 1969 (first inaugural 
        of President Nixon); 111 Cong. Rec. 984-986, 89th Cong. 1st 
        Sess., Jan. 20, 1965 (inaugural of President Johnson); and 107 
        Cong. Rec. 1010-1013, 87th Cong. 1st Sess., Jan. 20, 1961 
        (inaugural of President Kennedy).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On Jan. 22, 2001,(2) the following proceedings took 
place in the Senate:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2. 147 Cong. Rec. 547-549, 107th Cong. 1st Sess.
            Parliamentarian's Note: The Senate portion of the 
        Congressional Record carried the inaugural proceedings even 
        though the Senate was not in session during those proceedings. 
        The House customarily has not printed the proceedings, even 
        though it customarily remains in session for their duration.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 332]]

                               INAUGURAL CEREMONY

        Mrs. [Kay Bailey] HUTCHISON [of Texas]. Mr. President, I ask 
    unanimous consent that the proceedings of Saturday's Inaugural 
    Ceremony be printed in today's Record.
        There being no objection, the proceedings of the Inaugural 
    Ceremony were ordered to be printed in the Record, as 
    follows:                          -------------------

         Inauguration Ceremony, Saturday, January 20, 2001, 11:47 a.m.

            Members of the House of Representatives, Members of the 
        Senate, Justices of the Supreme Court, nominees to the Cabinet, 
        the Governors of the States, and the Mayor of the District of 
        Columbia, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other distinguished 
        guests assembled on the West Front.
            Mr. Martin Paone, Senate Secretary for the Majority, 
        escorted Senator Clinton and Mrs. Gore, accompanied by Mrs. 
        Clegg Dodd, Mrs. Gephardt, and Mrs. Daschle, to the President's 
        platform.
            Mrs. Elizabeth Letchworth, Senate Secretary for the 
        Minority, escorted Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Cheney, accompanied by 
        Mrs. McConnell (Elaine Chao), Mrs. Lott, Mrs. Hastert, and Mrs. 
        Armey, to the President's platform.
            Mr. Jay Eagen, House CAO, Mr. Gary Sisco, Secretary of the 
        Senate, and Mr. Jeff Trandahl, Clerk of the House, escorted 
        President Clinton and Vice President Gore, accompanied by 
        Senator Dodd, Representative Gephardt, and Senator Daschle, to 
        the President's platform.
            Ms. Lani Gerst, Executive Director, JCCIC, Mrs. Loretta 
        Symms, Senate Deputy Sergeant at Arms, and Ms. Kerri Hanley, 
        House Deputy Sergeant at Arms, escorted Vice President-elect 
        Cheney, accompanied by Senator Lott and Representative Armey, 
        to the President's platform.
            Ms. Tamara Somerville, Chief of Staff, JCCIC, Mr. Jim 
        Ziglar, Senate Sergeant at Arms, and Mr. Bill Livingood, House 
        Sergeant at Arms, escorted President-elect Bush, accompanied by 
        Senator McConnell, Senator Dodd, Speaker Hastert, and Senator 
        Lott, to the President's platform.
            Mr. [Mitch] McCONNELL [of Kentucky]. Everyone, please be 
        seated so we can begin.
            Welcome to the 54th inauguration of the President and the 
        Vice President of the United States of America. Today we honor 
        the past in commemorating two centuries of inaugurations in 
        Washington, DC. As well, we embrace the future, this day 
        marking the first inauguration of the 21st century and the new 
        millennium.
            America has now spanned four centuries, her promise still 
        shining bright--beginning and present--linked by timeless 
        ideals and faith. The enduring strength of our Constitution, 
        which brings us to the West Front of the Capitol today, attests 
        to the wisdom of America's founders and the heroism of 
        generations of Americans who fought wars and toiled in peace to 
        preserve this legacy of liberty. In becoming the 43rd President 
        of the United States, George W. Bush will assume the sacred 
        trust as guardian of our Constitution. Dick Cheney will be 
        sworn in as our new Vice President. Witnessed by the Congress, 
        Supreme Court, Governors, and Presidents past, the current 
        President will stand by as the new President peacefully takes 
        office. This is a triumph of our democratic Republic, a 
        ceremony befitting a great nation.
            In his father's stead, the Rev. Franklin Graham is with us 
        today to lead the Nation in prayer. Please stand for the 
        invocation.
            Reverend Graham.

[[Page 333]]

            Reverend GRAHAM. Let us pray:
            Blessed are You, O Lord our God. Yours, O God, is the 
        greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the 
        splendor, for everything in heaven and Earth is Yours. Yours, O 
        Lord, is the kingdom. You are exalted as head over all. Wealth 
        and honor come from You. You are the ruler of all things. In 
        Your hands are strength and power to exalt and to give strength 
        to all.
            As President Lincoln once said, we have been the recipients 
        of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved 
        these many years in peace and prosperity. We have grown in 
        numbers, wealth, and power, as no other nation has ever grown, 
        but we have forgotten God. It behooves us then to humble 
        ourselves before the offended powers, to confess our national 
        sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.
            O Lord, as we come together on this historic and solemn 
        occasion to inaugurate once again a President and Vice 
        President, teach us afresh that power, wisdom, and salvation 
        come only from Your hand.
            We pray, O Lord, for President-elect George W. Bush and 
        Vice President-elect Richard B. Cheney to whom You have 
        entrusted leadership of this Nation at this moment in history. 
        We pray that You will help them bring our country together so 
        that we may rise above partisan politics and seek the larger 
        vision of Your will for our Nation. Use them to bring 
        reconciliation between the races, healing to political wounds, 
        that we may truly become one nation under God.
            Give our new President, and all who advise him, calmness in 
        the face of storms, encouragement in the face of frustration, 
        and humility in the face of success. Give them the wisdom to 
        know and to do what is right and the courage to say no to all 
        that is contrary to Your statutes and holy law.
            Lord, we pray for their families, and especially their 
        wives, Laura Bush and Lynne Cheney, that they may sense Your 
        presence and know Your love.
            Today we entrust to You President and Senator Clinton and 
        Vice President and Mrs. Gore. Lead them as they journey through 
        new doors of opportunity to serve others.
            Now, O Lord, we dedicate this Presidential inaugural 
        ceremony to You. May this be the beginning of a new dawn for 
        America as we humble ourselves before You and acknowledge You 
        alone as our Lord, our Saviour, and our Redeemer.
            We pray this in the name of the Father and of the Son, the 
        Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
            Mr. McCONNELL. Thank you, Reverend Graham.
            It is my distinct pleasure to introduce the Dupont Manual 
        Choir of Louisville, KY.
            (Performance by the Dupont Manual Choir of Louisville, KY.)
            Mr. McCONNELL. I now call on Senator Christopher J. Dodd of 
        Connecticut to introduce the Chief Justice of the United 
        States.
            Mr. DODD. Thank you, Senator McConnell.
            President and Senator Clinton, Vice President and Mrs. 
        Gore, President-elect and Mrs. Bush, and fellow citizens, the 
        Vice President-elect will now take the oath of office. His 
        wife, Lynne, and their daughters, Elizabeth Cheney Perry and 
        Mary Cheney, will hold the family Bible. I have the honor and 
        privilege to now present the Chief Justice of the United States 
        Supreme Court, the Hon. William Hobbs Rehnquist, to administer 
        the oath of office to the Vice President-elect, Richard Bruce 
        Cheney.
            (Applause.)

[[Page 334]]

            Mr. Chief Justice REHNQUIST. Mr. Cheney, are you ready to 
        take the oath? -
            Vice President-elect CHENEY. I am.
            Mr. Chief Justice Rehnquist. Please raise your right hand 
        and repeat after me.
            The Chief Justice of the United States, William Hobbs 
        Rehnquist, administered to the Vice President-elect the oath of 
        office prescribed by the Constitution, which he repeated, as 
        follows:
            ``I, Richard Bruce Cheney, do solemnly swear that I will 
        support and defend the Constitution of the United States 
        against all enemies foreign and domestic; that I will bear true 
        faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation 
        freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, 
        and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the 
        office of which I am about to enter. So help me God.''
            Mr. Chief Justice REHNQUIST. Congratulations.
            (The Marine Band performed ``Hail Columbia.'')
            (Applause.)
            Mr. McCONNELL. Ladies and gentlemen, Staff Sergeant Alec T. 
        Maly of the United States Army Band will now perform an 
        American medley.
            (Staff Sergeant Alec T. Maly sang a medley of American 
        music.)
            Mr. McCONNELL. It is now my high honor to again present the 
        Chief Justice of the United States who will administer the 
        Presidential oath of office. Everyone, please stand.
            (Applause.)
            Mr. Chief Justice REHNQUIST. Governor Bush, are you ready 
        to take the oath?
            President-elect BUSH. Yes, sir.
            Mr. Chief Justice REHNQUIST. Please raise your right hand 
        and repeat after me.
            The Chief Justice of the United States, William Hobbs 
        Rehnquist, administered to the President-elect the oath of 
        office prescribed by the Constitution, which he repeated, as 
        follows:
            ``I, George Walker Bush, do solemnly swear 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. So help me God.''
            Mr. Chief Justice Rehnquist. Congratulations.
            (Applause.)
            Mr. McCONNELL. Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the 
        United States, George W. Bush.
            (Applause.)
            (Herald Trumpets play ``Ruffles and Flourishes'' and ``Hail 
        to the Chief,'' and 21-gun salute.)
            President BUSH. Thank you all.
            Chief Justice Rehnquist, President Carter, President Bush--
        --
            (Laughter, applause.)
            President Clinton, distinguished guests, and my fellow 
        citizens:
            This peaceful transfer of authority is rare in history, yet 
        common in our country. With a simple oath, we affirm old 
        traditions and make new beginnings.
            As I begin, I thank President Clinton for his service to 
        our Nation. -
            (Applause.)
            And I thank Vice President Gore for a contest conducted 
        with spirit and ended with grace.
            (Applause.)
            I am honored and humbled to stand here, where so many of 
        America's leaders have come before me and so many will follow.
            We have a place, all of us, in a long story; a story we 
        continue, but whose end we will not see. It is the story of a 
        new world that became a friend and liberator of the old, the 
        story of a slave-holding society that became a servant of 
        freedom, the

[[Page 335]]

        story of a power that went into the world to protect but not 
        possess, to defend but not to conquer. It is the American 
        story; a story of flawed and fallible people, united across the 
        generations by grand and enduring ideals.
            The grandest of these ideals is an unfolding American 
        promise: that everyone belongs, that everyone deserves a 
        chance, that no insignificant person was ever born.
            Americans are called to enact this promise in our lives and 
        in our laws. And though our Nation has sometimes halted, and 
        sometimes delayed, we must follow no other course.
            Through much of the last century, America's faith in 
        freedom and democracy was a rock in a raging sea. Now it is a 
        seed upon the wind, taking root in many nations.
            Our democratic faith is more than the creed of our country, 
        it is the inborn hope of our humanity; an ideal we carry but do 
        not own, a trust we bear and pass along. And even after nearly 
        225 years, we have a long way yet to travel.
            While many of our citizens prosper, others doubt the 
        promise--even the justice--of our own country. The ambitions of 
        some Americans are limited by failing schools, and hidden 
        prejudice, and the circumstances of their birth. And sometimes 
        our differences run so deep, it seems we share a continent, but 
        not a country.
            We do not accept this, and we will not allow it. Our unity, 
        our union, is the serious work of leaders and citizens in every 
        generation. And this is my solemn pledge: I will work to build 
        a single nation of justice and opportunity.
            (Applause.)
            I know this is within our reach, because we are guided by a 
        power larger than ourselves who creates us equal in His image.
            And we are confident in principles that unite and lead us 
        onward.
            America has never been united by blood or birth or soil. We 
        are bound by ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift 
        us above our interests, and teach us what it means to be 
        citizens. Every child must be taught these principles. Every 
        citizen must uphold them. And every immigrant, by embracing 
        these ideals, makes our country more, not less, American.
            (Applause.)
            Today we affirm a new commitment to live out our Nation's 
        promise through civility, courage, compassion, and character.
            America, at its best, matches a commitment to principle 
        with a concern for civility.
            A civil society demands from each of us good will and 
        respect, fair dealing and forgiveness.
            Some seem to believe that our politics can afford to be 
        petty because, in a time of peace, the stakes of our debates 
        appear small. But the stakes, for America, are never small. If 
        our country does not lead the cause of freedom, it will not be 
        led. If we do not turn the hearts of children toward knowledge 
        and character, we will lose their gifts and undermine their 
        idealism. If we permit our economy to drift and decline, the 
        vulnerable will suffer most.
            We must live up to the calling we share. Civility is not a 
        tactic or a sentiment. It is the determined choice of trust 
        over cynicism, of community over chaos. And this commitment, if 
        we keep it, is a way to shared accomplishment.
            America, at its best, is also courageous.
            Our national courage has been clear in times of depression 
        and war, when defeating common dangers defined our common good. 
        Now we must choose if the example of our fathers and mothers 
        will inspire us or condemn us. We must show courage in a time 
        of blessing by confronting

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        problems instead of passing them onto future generations.
            (Applause.)
            Together we will reclaim America's schools, before 
        ignorance and apathy claim more young lives. We will reform 
        Social Security and Medicare, sparing our children from 
        struggles we have the power to prevent. And we will reduce 
        taxes, to recover the momentum of our economy and reward the 
        efforts and enterprise of working Americans.
            (Applause.)
            We will build our defenses beyond challenge, lest weakness 
        invite challenge.
            (Applause.)
            We will confront weapons of mass destruction, so that a new 
        century is spared new horrors.
            The enemies of liberty and our country should make no 
        mistake, America remains engaged in the world, by history and 
        by choice, shaping a balance of power that favors freedom. We 
        will defend our allies and our interests. We will show purpose 
        without arrogance. We will meet aggression and bad faith with 
        resolve and strength. And to all nations, we will speak for the 
        values that gave our Nation birth.
            (Applause.)
            America, at its best, is compassionate.
            In the quiet of American conscience, we know that deep, 
        persistent poverty is unworthy of our Nation's promise. And 
        whatever our views of its cause, we can agree that children at 
        risk are not at fault. Abandonment and abuse are not acts of 
        God; they are failures of love.
            (Applause.)
            And the proliferation of prisons, however necessary, is no 
        substitute for hope and order in our souls.
            Where there is suffering, there is duty. Americans in need 
        are not strangers, they are citizens; not problems, but 
        priorities. And all of us are diminished when any are hopeless.
            (Applause.)
            Government has great responsibilities, for public safety 
        and public health, for civil rights and common schools. Yet 
        compassion is the work of a nation, not just a government. And 
        some needs and hurts are so deep, they will only respond to a 
        mentor's touch or a pastor's prayer. Church and charity, 
        synagogue and mosque lend our communities their humanity, and 
        they will have an honored place in our plans and in our laws.
            (Applause.)
            Many in our country do not know the pain of poverty. But we 
        can listen to those who do. And I can pledge our Nation to a 
        goal. When we see that wounded traveler on the road to Jericho, 
        we will not pass to the other side.
            (Applause.)
            America, at its best, is a place where personal 
        responsibility is valued and expected.
            Encouraging responsibility is not a search for scapegoats; 
        it is a call to conscience. And though it requires sacrifice, 
        it brings a deeper fulfillment. We find the fullness of life, 
        not only in options, but in commitments. And we find that 
        children and community are the commitments that set us free.
            Our public interest depends on private character; on civic 
        duty and family bonds and basic fairness; on uncounted, 
        unhonored acts of decency which give direction to our freedom. 
        Sometimes in life we are called to do great things. But as a 
        saint of our times has said, every day we are called to do 
        small things with great love. The most important tasks of a 
        democracy are done by everyone.
            I will live and lead by these principles: to advance my 
        convictions with civility; to pursue the public interest with 
        courage; to speak for

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        greater justice and compassion; to call for responsibility, and 
        try to live it as well. In all these ways, I will bring the 
        values of our history to the care of our times.
            What you do is as important as anything government does. I 
        ask you to seek a common good beyond your comfort; to defend 
        needed reforms against easy attacks; to serve your Nation, 
        beginning with your neighbor. I ask you to be citizens--
        citizens, not spectators; citizens, not subjects; responsible 
        citizens building communities of service and a nation of 
        character.
            (Applause.)
            Americans are generous and strong and decent, not because 
        we believe in ourselves, but because we hold beliefs beyond 
        ourselves. When this spirit of citizenship is missing, no 
        government program can replace it. When this spirit is present, 
        no wrong can stand against it.
            (Applause.)
            After the Declaration of Independence was signed, Virginia 
        statesman John Page wrote to Thomas Jefferson:
            We know the race is not to the swift nor the Battle to the 
        Strong. Do you not think an Angel rides in the Whirlwind and 
        directs this Storm?
            Much time has passed since Jefferson arrived for his 
        inauguration. The years and changes accumulate, but the themes 
        of this day he would know: our Nation's grand story of courage 
        and its simple dream of dignity. We are not the story's author, 
        who fills time and eternity with His purpose. Yet His purpose 
        is achieved in our duty; and our duty is fulfilled in service 
        to one another.
            Never tiring, never yielding, never finishing, we renew 
        that purpose today: to make our country more just and generous; 
        to affirm the dignity of our lives and every life.
            This work continues. This story goes on. And an angel still 
        rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm.
            God bless you all, and God bless America.
            (Applause.)
            Mr. McCONNELL. Please stand now as Pastor Kribyjon H. 
        Caldwell will now deliver the benediction, and afterward, 
        please remain standing for the singing of our National Anthem, 
        after which the ceremony will be concluded. I call upon Senator 
        Dodd to organize the Presidential party after the ceremony has 
        ended to depart the platform.
            Pastor Caldwell.
            Pastor CALDWELL. Thank you, Senator McConnell.
            Let us pray, please:
            Almighty God, the supply and supplier of peace, prudent 
        policy, and nonpartisanship, we bless Your holy and righteous 
        name. Thank You, O God, for blessing us with forgiveness, with 
        faith, and with favor. Forgive us for choosing pride over 
        purpose. Forgive us for choosing popularity over principles. 
        And forgive us for choosing materialism over morals. Deliver us 
        from these and all other evils, and cast our sins into Your sea 
        of forgetfulness to be remembered no more. And Lord, not only 
        do we thank You for our forgiveness, we thank You for faith, 
        faith to believe that every child can learn and no child will 
        be left behind and no youth will be left out.
            Thank You for blessing us with the faith to believe that 
        all of Your leaders can sit down and reason with one another so 
        that each American is blessed.
            Thank You for blessing us with the faith to believe that 
        the walls of inequity can be torn down and the gaps between the 
        rich and the poor, the haves and the have-nots, the uneducated 
        and the educated, can and will be closed.

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            And, Lord, lastly, we thank You for favor. We thank You for 
        Your divine favor. Let Your favor be upon President Clinton and 
        the outgoing administration. May they go forth in spiritual 
        grace and civic greatness. And, of course, O Lord, let Your 
        divine favor be upon President George W. Bush and First Lady 
        Laura Welch Bush and their family. We decree and declare that 
        no weapon formed against them shall prosper. Let Your divine 
        favor be upon the Bush team and all Americans with the rising 
        of the Sun and the going down of the same. May we grow in our 
        willingness and ability to bless You and bless one another.
            We respectfully submit this humble prayer in the name that 
        is above all other names, Jesus the Christ. Let all who agree 
        say ``Amen.''
            (Staff Sergeant Maly performed the National Anthem with 
        accompaniment.)
            (Applause.)
            The inaugural ceremonies were concluded at 12:24 p.m.