[Deschler-Brown Precedents, Volume 17, Chapters 34 - 40]
[Ch. 36. Ceremonies and Awards]
[Â§26. Vice Presidential Swearing-in Ceremonies]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 338-341]
 
                               CHAPTER 36
 
                         Ceremonies and Awards
 
Sec. 26. Vice Presidential Swearing-in Ceremonies

    On Dec. 6, 1973, a joint meeting occurred in the House for the 
swearing-in of Gerald R. Ford as Vice President of the United 
States.(1) Ford was nominated pursuant to Sec. 2 of the 25th 
Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. Similarly, on Dec. 
19, 1974, the House was invited to the Senate Chamber for the swearing-
in of Nelson Rockefeller as Vice President of the United 
States.(2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. See Sec. 26.2, infra.
 2. See Sec. 26.3, infra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For a discussion on the process for Presidential nominations for 
Vice President, see Ch. 10, Sec. 4, 
supra.                          -------------------

Sec. 26.1 The Speaker announced that during the joint meeting for the 
    swearing-in of Gerald R. Ford as Vice President on the following 
    day, only certain doors would be open and only persons with floor 
    privileges would be permitted in the Chamber.

    On Dec. 5, 1973,(1) the following occurred:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 119 Cong. Rec. 39677, 93d Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The SPEAKER.(2) The Chair desires to make an 
    announcement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2. Carl Albert (OK).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        After communication with the majority and minority leaders, and 
    with their consent and approval, the Chair announces that on 
    tomorrow, December 6, during the joint meeting to be held in 
    connection with the swearing in of the Vice President, only the 
    doors immediately opposite the Speaker and those on his left and 
    right will be open.
        No one will be allowed on the floor of the House except those 
    persons having the privilege of the floor of the House.

[[Page 339]]

Sec. 26.2 Proceedings had during joint meeting for administration of 
    oath of office to Gerald R. Ford as Vice President of the United 
    States.

     On Dec. 6, 1973,(1) Speaker Carl Albert of Oklahoma 
presided over the Joint Meeting of the House and Senate for the 
swearing-in of Gerald R. Ford as Vice President:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 119 Cong. Rec. 39925-27, 93d Cong. 1st Sess. For the Dec. 3, 1973, 
        resignation letter of Gerald R. Ford from the House, see Ch. 
        37, infra. Upon the conclusion of the Joint Meeting for the 
        swearing-in, Vice President Ford called the Senate to order as 
        President of the body, see 119 Cong. Rec. 40104-05, 93d Cong. 
        1st Sess., Dec. 6, 1973.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The SPEAKER. Pursuant to a previous order of the House, the 
    Chair declares a recess until 5:45 p.m. today.
        Accordingly (at 4 o'clock and 44 minutes p.m.), the House stood 
    in recess until 5:45 
    p.m.                          -------------------

        JOINT MEETING OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE FOR SWEARING-IN OF GERALD 
           R. FORD OF MICHIGAN AS VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

        The Speaker of the House presided.
        The Doorkeeper (Honorable William M. Miller) announced the 
    President pro tempore and the Members of the U.S. Senate, who 
    entered the Hall of the House of Representatives, the President pro 
    tempore taking the chair at the left of the Speaker, and the 
    Members of the Senate the seats reserved for them.
        The SPEAKER. The Chair appoints on behalf of the House as 
    members of the committee to escort the President and Vice President 
    designate into the Chamber: the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. 
    [Thomas] O'Neill), the gentleman from California (Mr. [John] 
    McFall), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. [Peter] Rodino), the 
    gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. [Martha] Griffiths), the gentleman 
    from Illinois (Mr. [Leslie] Arends), the gentleman from Arizona 
    (Mr. [John] Rhodes), and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. [J. 
    Edward] Hutchinson).
        The PRESIDENT pro tempore.(2) On behalf of the 
    Senate, I appoint the following Senators to accompany the President 
    of the United States and the Vice President designate of the United 
    States into the Chamber: the Senator from Montana (Mr. [Michael] 
    Mansfield), the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Hugh Scott), the 
    Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Robert C. Byrd), the Senator from 
    Michigan (Mr. [Robert] Griffin), the Senator from Nevada (Mr. 
    [Howard] Cannon), and the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. [Marlow] 
    Cook).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2. James Eastland (MS).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mrs. Gerald R. Ford was brought into the Chamber through the 
    Speaker's Lobby, and took the seat provided for her in the well to 
    the right of the rostrum.
        The Doorkeeper announced the Ambassadors, Ministers, and 
    Charges d'Affaires of foreign governments.
        The Ambassadors, Ministers, and Charges d'Affaires of foreign 
    governments entered the Hall of the House of

[[Page 340]]

    Representatives and took the seats reserved for them.
        The Doorkeeper announced the Chief Justice of the United States 
    and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court.
        The Chief Justice of the United States and the Associate 
    Justices of the Supreme Court entered the Hall of the House of 
    Representatives and the Chief Justice took the seat provided for 
    him in the well to the right of the rostrum, next to Mrs. Gerald R. 
    Ford.
        The Associate Justices took the seats reserved for them in 
    front of the Speaker's rostrum.
        The Doorkeeper announced the Cabinet of the President of the 
    United States.
        The members of the Cabinet of the President of the United 
    States entered the Hall of the House of Representatives and took 
    the seats reserved for them in front of the Speaker's rostrum.
        At 6 o'clock and 5 minutes p.m., the Doorkeeper announced the 
    President of the United States and the Vice President designate of 
    the United States. The President of the United States and the Vice 
    President designate of the United States, escorted by the committee 
    of Senators and Representatives, entered into the Hall of the House 
    of Representatives, and stood at the Clerk's desk.
        [Applause, the Members rising.]
        Mrs. Gerald R. Ford, followed by the Chief Justice, was 
    escorted to the Clerk's desk with the Chief Justice to the right of 
    Mrs. Ford.
        The SPEAKER. The Senate, by a vote of 92 yeas to 3 nays on 
    November 27, 1973, having confirmed the nomination of Gerald R. 
    Ford of the State of Michigan, to be Vice President of the United 
    States, and the House of Representatives by a vote of 387 yeas to 
    35 nays on today having confirmed the nomination of Gerald R. Ford, 
    of the State of Michigan, to be Vice President of the United 
    States, the proceedings required by section 2 of the 25th amendment 
    to the U.S. Constitution have been complied with.
        The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Gerald R. Ford) has advised 
    the Chair that he has transmitted his letter of resignation as a 
    Representative of the Fifth District of the State of Michigan to 
    the Governor and the Secretary of State of Michigan as required by 
    the law of that State.
        The Chair now requests the Chief Justice of the United States 
    to administer the oath of office to the Vice President.
        The oath of office was administered by the Chief Justice of the 
    United States to the Vice President, Gerald R. Ford, his right hand 
    raised and his left hand on the Bible held by Mrs. Ford.
        [Applause, the Members rising.]
        The SPEAKER. Mr. President, Members of the Congress, and 
    distinguished guests, I have the high personal honor of presenting 
    to you a dear friend and former colleague whom we shall all miss, 
    but whom we all congratulate--the Vice President of the United 
    States.
        [Applause, the Members 
    rising.]                          -------------------

               ADDRESS OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

        The VICE PRESIDENT. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, Mr. 
    President

[[Page 341]]

    pro tempore, distinguished guests, and friends:
        Together we have made history here today. For the first time we 
    have carried out the command of the 25th amendment. In exactly 8 
    weeks, we have demonstrated to the world that our great republic 
    stands solid, stands strong upon the bedrock of the Constitution.
        I am a Ford, not a Lincoln. My addresses will never be as 
    eloquent as Mr. Lincoln's. . . .
        At 6 o'clock and 21 minutes p.m., the President, accompanied by 
    the committee of escort, retired from the Hall of the House of 
    Representatives.
        The Doorkeeper--Hon. William D. Miller--escorted the invited 
    guests from the Chamber in the following order:
        The Members of the President's Cabinet.
        The Chief Justice of the United States and the Associate 
    Justices of the Supreme Court.
        The Ambassadors, Ministers, and Charges d'Affaires of foreign 
    governments.                          -------------------

                            JOINT MEETING DISSOLVED

        The SPEAKER. The Chair declares the joint meeting of the two 
    Houses now dissolved.
        Accordingly at 6 o'clock and 23 minutes p.m. the joint meeting 
    of the two Houses was dissolved.
        The Members of the Senate, together with the Vice President, 
    retired to their 
    Chamber.                          -------------------

                                  AFTER RECESS

        The recess having expired at 6 o'clock and 28 minutes p.m., the 
    House was called to order by the Speaker.

                   printing of proceedings had during recess

        Mr. O'NEILL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the 
    proceedings had during the recess of the House to be printed in the 
    Record.
        The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman 
    from Massachusetts?
        There was no objection.

Sec. 26.3 The Speaker announced that all Members had been invited to 
    attend the Senate session for the swearing-in of Vice President 
    Rockefeller in the Senate Chamber.

    On Dec. 19, 1974,(1) Speaker Carl Albert of Oklahoma 
announced the following:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 120 Cong. Rec. 41570, 93d Cong. 2d Sess. For the recess 
        declaration, see Ch. 39, Sec. 3.9, infra.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CHAIR

        The SPEAKER. The Chair desires to announce that all Members of 
    the House have been invited to attend the swearing in of Vice 
    President designate Nelson A. Rockefeller, be held in the Senate 
    Chamber tonight.
                   DESCHLER-BROWN-JOHNSON PRECEDENTS
Ch. 36 

[[Page 343]]