Inauguration hits and misses
Inaugurations may be full of pomp and circumstance, but they can also set the tone for where a presidency is headed. Certainly much has been said about all of the preparations for Obama’s big day, but will it be a full-blown hit? We’ll defer to one of the first daughters, Malia, who advised her dad while discussing his upcoming speech: “First African American president — better be good.” So, until we know, here’s a list of hits and misses from inaugurations past.
Hit: Expanding the guest list
Many presidents have taken the whole “first” thing to heart. In 1865, Abraham Lincoln became the first to include African-Americans in his parade. Woodrow Wilson took a swipe at the glass ceiling by including women in his 1917 inaugural parade. In 1977, Jimmy Carter’s parade had solar heat … and the former peanut farmer got out of his limo and walked from the Capitol to the White House with his family.
George W. Bush got in on the action with his ball honoring America troops. The Washington Post reports:
For 2005, the inaugural committee put together a ‘Commander in Chief Ball’: Only men and women who had served or were signed up to serve could attend this ball, which was held at the National Building Museum.
