The Day After Tomorrow, These Are The Facts Of The Series Of Traditions Of The Inauguration Of US Presidents And Vice Presidents

Illustration of the inauguration of US Presidents and Vice Presidents on Capitol Hill. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - If there are no obstacles, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. or Joe Biden and Kamala Devi Harris, will be sworn in and sworn in as US President and Vice President on Capitol Hill, Washington DC on Wednesday January 20.

The situation this time may be a little different than usual, considering that it was carried out in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the escalation of US internal security which escalated after the riots on Capitol Hill last January 6.

Launching inaugural.senate.gov, this activity was organized by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC). There are a number of activities that will be carried out by the elected President and Vice President on the day of taking their oaths and inauguration. Here's the series;

Head for Capitol Hill

Traditionally, JCCIC members will accompany the elected President and Vice President and their respective spouses to the White House. This began in 1877 at the inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes.

Illustration of the inauguration of the US President. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

After a brief meeting, the President and Vice President elected together with the old President, will head together on Capitol Hill for the oath-taking. This tradition has been going on for hundreds of years. Also participating in this group are the families of the elected President and Vice President and members of the cabinet.

This year, Donald Trump stated in advance that he would not attend the inauguration of the elected President and Vice President. Trump is not the first, there have previously been a number of presidents who did not attend the inauguration of their successor. Among others, Andrew Johnson in 1869 who did not follow the process to Capitol Hill and inauguration.

Vice President's Oath

The Vice President-elect will first take the oath under the guidance of the United States Chief Justice. However, in its history hundreds of years ago, this oath-taking could also be led by others.

Joe Biden is sworn in as US Vice President. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Some are chaired by the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, the President of the US Senate, and the Vice President who will be replaced. The location of the oath has changed several times.

While oath-taking was currently taking place on the west wing of Capitol Hill, until 1937 the oath-taking was held in the US Senate courtroom. From 1937 oath-taking took place on the east wing of Capitol Hill. Only in 1981 was transferred to the west wing.

Presidential Oath

The first swearing-in by George Washington took place at the Federal Hall of New York in 1789. In the second year, Washington took the oath in Philadelphia which became the seat of the provisional government in 1793.

Barack Obama is sworn in as US President. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The first swearing-in on Capitol Hill took place on March 4, 1801. The elected president was Thomas Jefferson. The oath-taking takes place in the Senate room.

Andrew Jackson's inauguration on March 4, 1829, was the first to be held on the east wing of Capitol Hill. Since then the oath has been the same, except for William Howard Taft's inauguration which was held in the Senate due to a snowstorm in 1909.

In 1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt chose to take a simple oath on the southern porch of the White House, bearing in mind the atmosphere of World War II. In 1949, Harry S. Truman restored the oath-taking tradition on the east wing of Capitol Hill.

Since Ronald Reagan's swearing-in in 1981, swearing-in has taken place on the west wing of Capitol Hill, except for the second period in 1985 which was carried out inside the Capitol Rotunda due to extreme weather raids. The rest, always done on the west wing of Capitol Hill. The President of the United States takes an oath chaired by the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court.

First speech

This has been a tradition since George Washington was appointed the first President of the United States in 1789. Washington became president with the shortest speech, only 135 words. Meanwhile, William Henry Harrison is the longest with 8,445 words.

Barack Obama delivers his first speech. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Prior to 1829 at the time of Andrew Jackson's inauguration, the President's speech was always made in the US House of Representatives or the US Senate. Jackson himself gave a speech on the east wing of Capitol Hill. Only in 1981 until now has it been done on the abrat wing of Capitol Hill.

Presidential release

After taking the oath on Capitol Hill, the President and Vice President elected and their respective partners, will release the old President and Vice President in a tradition that has lasted hundreds of years.

Barack Obama and current wife leave Capitol Hill. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Passing through the ranks of honor from the military, the old President and Vice President will be released to the vehicle that will take them. Especially for the old President and former First Lady, something was different. They will use the force helicopter, Marine One to leave Capitol Hill. It was started by Gerald Ford in 1977.

After escorting the old President and Vice President, the new President and Vice President returned to Capitol Hill to attend the inaugural state lunch held by JCCIC.

The signing ceremony

The first thing the President does after being inaugurated is signing state documents for the first time. The location is in the President Room, not far from the Senate Chamber on Capitol Hill. This tradition was started by President Ronald Reagan in 1981.

Barack Obama illustration. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The documents to be signed include, among other things, a nomination, statement or executive order. Prior to 1981, nominations were submitted to the Senate on the day of the inauguration without ceremony.

State lunch

This post-inauguration state lunch tradition began in 1953, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower attended a lunch hosted by JCCIC. This activity was held at the Statuary Hall on Capitol Hill.

Barack Obama at lunch after the inauguration. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Previously, from the middle of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, the newly appointed President would head to the White House for lunch prepared by the future President.

Apart from being attended by the elected Vice President and their families, this event was also attended by the leadership of the US Senate, JCCIC members and invited guests. Filled with speeches, giving gifts, to toast together for the new government.

Inauguration parade

This is the last agenda in a series of traditions of the inauguration of the US President and Vice President. After the inaugural state lunch, the President and Vice President along with his wife and US military leaders, will head to the east wing of Capitol Hill to take part in a military defile as a tribute to the President and Vice President who was just inaugurated.

US military forces defile. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

This tradition was started in 1801 for President Thomas Jefferson. However, a more organized and more formal parade began with the inauguration of President James Madison in 1809.

This activity is usually followed by an inauguration parade attended by the military, representatives of community organizations and a marching band. The President and Vice President-elect and their spouses and families will be at the front of the parade, walking from Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, greeting the people of the United States. Upon arrival at the White House, the President along with the Vice President and his wife as well as a number of other officials, will witness the parade from the Presidential Reviewing Stand.