Did you know that the president traditionally receives a new bed on inauguration day? Or that the vice president must secretly signal to the Senate when he approves of his new colleague? These and other fascinating facts about presidential inaugurations have been revealed throughout history. Inauguration day is usually one of pomp, circumstance, and formalities. However, there are some less publicized traditions behind this important event. There are also some interesting details regarding where the ceremony takes place, who performs specific roles, and what presidents receive as gifts after the swearing-in. Read on to get ready for tomorrow’s big event with these fun facts about past—and future— inaugurations.
Does The New President Get A New Bed?
No, the new president doesn’t get a new bed. When a president leaves office, they take the bed with them. This is because the bed is presidential property. The furniture in the White House is also presidential property and stays with the White House when a new president takes office. For this reason, presidents usually have their own property to stay on in Washington D.C.
Did You Know The President Gets A New Bed On Inauguration Day?
- While the oath of office is an important tradition, the formalities of inauguration day often lead to some surprising facts. One of these is that the president receives a new bed. This is because the bed in the White House is deemed too old and used to be replaced when inaugurations took place.
- When this rule began is unclear, but the last time a bed was given was in 2013 when President Obama was inaugurated for his second term. The first president to actually occupy the White House was John Adams. Upon moving in, he and his wife Abigail found that the rooms had not been cleaned and were full of mice and insects. After having the place thoroughly fumigated, the couple began furnishing the house. The first item purchased was a bed.
- The first president to receive a new bed was George Washington, who stayed at Mount Vernon while he was in office. During his first term, Washington didn’t have the funds to purchase a new bed. However, when his second term ended and he was elected to a third term, there was no longer any question about what he would get. His friends thought it would be a good idea to buy him one. The new bed cost $846, which is equivalent to $12,928 today.
- The first vice president to receive a new bed was John Adams. He received his new bed on the same day, January 20th, that Washington did. The bed cost $3,400 (about $4,000 today).
The VP Must Secretly Signal Whether Or Not He Approves Of The President
- Another odd detail about presidential inaugurations is that the vice president must signal his approval of the President. This is undertaken by the VP standing next to the president during their swearing-in ceremony.
- If the VP raises their right hand, they are approving of the new president. If they raise their left hand, then they are signaling that they do not approve of the new president.
- The reasons for this are unclear. However, some speculate that the vice president may wish to avoid the awkward situation of having to refuse the president’s request to “swear to uphold the constitution”.
- Given the fact that the inauguration is a very public event and the VP might be pressured to explain their actions, it may be easier to use an alternative method of signaling.
Where And When Is The Presidential Inauguration Held?
- The inauguration of the new president takes place on the west side of the Capitol Building in Washington DC. This is the same place as the swearing-in ceremony. This is because the president must be inaugurated on the steps of the Capitol.
- It is here that the president is officially given his powers and becomes the head of state. When the inauguration takes place depends on the date of the presidential election.
- It must be on the day that marks the end of the previous president’s term and the beginning of the new president’s term. This means that it must take place on January 20th or 21st, depending on the year.
Who Performs Roles During The Inauguration Ceremony?
- The roles played during the inauguration ceremony are incredibly important. They include the following: The Chief Justice of the United States (chief justice) leads the proceedings. The vice president and other dignitaries are in attendance. The US Army band plays during the ceremony. A military guard is present to protect the president and vice president.
- A flag bearer carries a flag, which is usually a large American flag, above his head while he walks slowly down Pennsylvania Avenue in front of thousands of spectators. The crowd sings “Hail to the Chief” as he passes by, and then he returns to his place next to the president. This repeats until all of the people have been seen by one another, at which time they salute him with a standing ovation.
- The roles during the inauguration ceremony are usually undertaken by the President-elect and other government officials. The person taking the role of president is known as the “President-elect” until the ceremony is completed. During the inauguration ceremony, the President-elect stands in the place of the President. Although he is not yet the President, he must act as though he is. This is to symbolize the fact that he will take on this position. Th
- The Chief Justice of the United States administers the oath of office to the President-elect. This is the same person who administers the oath of office to the President at the start of their term. The Chief Justice stands on the platform to the right of the President-elect, who stands in the place of the President. The oath is the same for every president. It is: “I 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.”
What Gifts Does The New President Receive?
- The President receives a number of gifts during his inauguration. The most expensive gift that has ever been given to a newly sworn-in president is the presidential chair that was gifted to George Washington.
- It was made from the skins of over 100,000 deer and cost $1,625 (about $7,000 today). Other gifts include a gold snuff box ($10–$20 today), silver-handled knives, forks, and spoons ($12), a silver-plated punch bowl and silver-plated coffee pot ($30–$50), an elegant pair of gold scissors ($4) and an elegant pair of gold scissors ($4).
- The Most expensive gift that has ever been given to a newly sworn-in president is the presidential chair that was gifted to George Washington. It was made from the skins of over 100,000 deer and cost $1,625 (about $7,000 today). Other gifts include a gold snuff box ($10–$20 today), silver-handled knives, forks, and spoons ($12), a silver-plated punch bowl and silver-plated coffee pot ($30–$50), an elegant pair of gold scissors ($4) and an elegant pair of gold scissors ($4).
- The president receives a number of gifts from a variety of people on inauguration day. Traditionally, the president receives a set of gold pens. This is in recognition of the fact that the president must sign so many papers during his time in office. The president also receives a wool coat from the National Wool Growers Association. This is particularly useful, given that the ceremony takes place in winter.
- Finally, the president also receives a bag of coal. This is a reference to the term “bowling alone” coined by historian Robert Putnam. Putnam observed a decrease in social capital in America, which he referred to as “bowling alone”. The bag of coal is given to symbolize the president’s duty to “rebuild the social capital”.
Conclusion
The inauguration of a new president is a day of great significance. It is a day that marks the start of an important new term of office. It is also a day that marks the formation of a new presidential administration. The presidential inauguration is a day of pomp and circumstance. It is a day of great significance and celebration. The inauguration of a new president is also a significant day for historians. It is a day that marks the formation of a new historical event. It is a day that marks the formation of a new historical administration.
