History and Presidential Inaugurations

[Tom McAndrew]

As most of you know, my passion is history. This post is not political, and has nothing to do specifically with the individuals inaugurated today. Please do not bring any politics into this thread.

On a purely historical basis, I offer two items about Presidential inaugurations:

 

[The Spin Meister]

I heard that Truman and Eisenhower rode in the same car to the White House but didn’t say a single word to each other.

Jackson’s had such a rowdy crowd that they took over the White House and partied all night. Was so bad that Jackson had to leave, some say through a window.

First inauguration of Andrew Jackson - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Tom McAndrew]

I heard that Truman and Eisenhower rode in the same car to the White House but didn’t say a single word to each other.

that is a misconception that keeps getting repeated. In their respective memoirs, they each mentioned what was discussed on the ride, though they gave differing versions of what was discussed.

I think it stems from some bad blood that had built up between them. Truman had recruited Ike, as early as in 1945, to run for President in 1952 as a D. Ike didn't show much interest in running for President in the future, though in time his interest did increase. He was actually recruited by both parties, and eventually opted to run as a R, which greatly disappointed Truman. The 1952 campaign was not a pretty one, and Truman took offense to some of the things Ike said during the campaign. Things got so bad that before Inauguration Day, Ike had expressed to others a concern as to whether he could even stand sitting next to Truman.

On the day of Ike's inauguration, Ike and Mamie arrived at the White House before the swearing in. They declined to enter the White House to have tea or coffee with the Trumans, and even refused to get out of the car to greet the Trumans.

To show you how much things have changed since 1952, the Trumans took a train back to Missouri after the Inauguration. In addition, their Secret Service coverage ended when they left Washington.

 

[fairgambit]

I came of age politically during the 1960 election and, although I was not yet a teen, I remember the Kennedy Inauguration, and his brilliant speech, like it was yesterday.

 

[LionJim]

that is a misconception that keeps getting repeated. In their respective memoirs, they each mentioned what was discussed on the ride, though they gave differing versions of what was discussed.

I think it stems from some bad blood that had built up between them. Truman had recruited Ike, as early as in 1945, to run for President in 1952 as a D. Ike didn't show much interest in running for President in the future, though in time his interest did increase. He was actually recruited by both parties, and eventually opted to run as a R, which greatly disappointed Truman. The 1952 campaign was not a pretty one, and Truman took offense to some of the things Ike said during the campaign. Things got so bad that before Inauguration Day, Ike had expressed to others a concern as to whether he could even stand sitting next to Truman.

On the day of Ike's inauguration, Ike and Mamie arrived at the White House before the swearing in. They declined to enter the White House to have tea or coffee with the Trumans, and even refused to get out of the car to greet the Trumans.

To show you how much things have changed since 1952, the Trumans took a train back to Missouri after the Inauguration. In addition, their Secret Service coverage ended when they left Washington.

Having read the McCullough biography of Truman, I was familiar with this story. They spoke alone for an hour on the afternoon of JFK’s funeral. McCullough does not mention this, but I read elsewhere that apparently what broke the ice between them that afternoon was their seeing JFK, Jr salute his father’s coffin.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

One of the more exciting things about living in the metro DC area is events like this and all the partying that happens after; it’s such an interesting event and it sucks that the balls, parade, etc. had to be cancelled. We were lucky enough to get an invite to the Military Inauguration Ball in 2012 - try to get to one of you can.

Additionally Tom, the young poet laureate yesterday, Amanda Gorman, was brilliant. I will remember her poem for a long, long time.

Historian Heather Cox Wilson had some interesting historical perspective on the ceremony yesterday. Worth checking out if you get a chance.

A Historian On Where Biden's Inauguration Fits In History

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Heather Cox Richardson, an American historian at Boston College, about the historical significance of President Biden's inauguration.

wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu

 

[LionJim]

One of the more exciting things about living in the metro DC area is events like this and all the partying that happens after; it’s such an interesting event and it sucks that the balls, parade, etc. had to be cancelled. We were lucky enough to get an invite to the Military Inauguration Ball in 2012 - try to get to one of you can.

Additionally Tom, the young poet laureate yesterday, Amanda Gorman, was brilliant. I will remember her poem for a long, long time.

Historian Heather Cox Wilson had some interesting historical perspective on the ceremony yesterday. Worth checking out if you get a chance.

A Historian On Where Biden's Inauguration Fits In History

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Heather Cox Richardson, an American historian at Boston College, about the historical significance of President Biden's inauguration.

wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu

Yeah, I’ve attended two inaugurations, and it’s a trip.

I am a fourth-generation Washingtonian and the aerial shots of the city were something I really appreciated. I haven’t been downtown in a year.

My grandfather was a civil engineer and it was always nice to be able to see the National Cathedral from my office window, knowing that he did work on the roof.

 

[PSU Mike]

I moved to DC for my first post grad school job in August 1992, and lived in the NE part of Capitol Hill (700 block of 3rd Street). It was an amazingly simple stroll to get to Clinton’s ceremony, something that was not lost on me at the time. I miss the days of lunchtime runs in the Mall and around the monuments.

 

[BBrown]

As most of you know, my passion is history. This post is not political, and has nothing to do specifically with the individuals inaugurated today. Please do not bring any politics into this thread.

On a purely historical basis, I offer two items about Presidential inaugurations:

View embedded media

View embedded media

So glad you started this...
Holy crap Blade just gave Biden's Inauguration benediction.

That is one bad ass looking preacher... LOL.

 

[BBrown]

Yeah, I’ve attended two inaugurations, and it’s a trip.

I am a fourth-generation Washingtonian and the aerial shots of the city were something I really appreciated. I haven’t been downtown in a year.

My grandfather was a civil engineer and it was always nice to be able to see the National Cathedral from my office window, knowing that he did work on the roof.

I thought the views of the monuments the night before with the lights and the sunset were spectacular.

 

[SUPERTODD]

that is a misconception that keeps getting repeated. In their respective memoirs, they each mentioned what was discussed on the ride, though they gave differing versions of what was discussed.

I think it stems from some bad blood that had built up between them. Truman had recruited Ike, as early as in 1945, to run for President in 1952 as a D. Ike didn't show much interest in running for President in the future, though in time his interest did increase. He was actually recruited by both parties, and eventually opted to run as a R, which greatly disappointed Truman. The 1952 campaign was not a pretty one, and Truman took offense to some of the things Ike said during the campaign. Things got so bad that before Inauguration Day, Ike had expressed to others a concern as to whether he could even stand sitting next to Truman.

On the day of Ike's inauguration, Ike and Mamie arrived at the White House before the swearing in. They declined to enter the White House to have tea or coffee with the Trumans, and even refused to get out of the car to greet the Trumans.

To show you how much things have changed since 1952, the Trumans took a train back to Missouri after the Inauguration. In addition, their Secret Service coverage ended when they left Washington.

I would recommend Presidents of War by Michael Beschloss if you have not already read it. The campaign comments Ike made about the mishandling of the Korean War made Truman very angry. Particularly his October 24 "I Shall Go to Korea" speech. Truman did not want Eisenhower to visit Korea in December, but he reluctantly agreed because he thought public opinion would be negative regarding the choice and it would hurt Democratic chances in the upcoming elections. Truman comes off as petty and thin-skinned regarding any criticism of his policies. Eisenhower did exactly what he said he would regarding ending the war.

 

[SUPERTODD]

Having read the McCullough biography of Truman, I was familiar with this story. They spoke alone for an hour on the afternoon of JFK’s funeral. McCullough does not mention this, but I read elsewhere that apparently what broke the ice between them that afternoon was their seeing JFK, Jr salute his father’s coffin.

The more I read about Truman the less esteem I hold for McCullough's work. He seems to almost fall in love with his subjects at time and it impairs his judgement in my opinion. For example, it strains credulity to believe Truman had nothing to do with the corruption endemic within the Pendergast machine in Kansas City. McCullough provided very little evidence that Truman was the "one honest man" in the machine other than vague, anecdotes. His treatment of public criticism of his daughter's singing performances was odd as well. A President writing a letter to a private citizen threatening him with violence is a serious matter. There is no excuse for it. And, in my mind, it is representative of a pattern in Truman's behavior of self-righteous adherence to his own rules. That is not a positive attribute in a President. It is behavior more fitting of a tyrant. His nationalization of the steel industry was done in the same fashion. A President does not have the authority to simply seize something because he deems it an emergency. Truman was well aware that his legal standing to do so was nearly non-existent, but did it anyway. He set a terribly dangerous precedent.

 

[harbest]

I heard that Truman and Eisenhower rode in the same car to the White House but didn’t say a single word to each other.

Jackson’s had such a rowdy crowd that they took over the White House and partied all night. Was so bad that Jackson had to leave, some say through a window.

First inauguration of Andrew Jackson - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I have also read that Inauguration Day in 1953 was cold in more ways than one.


On inauguration day, Dwight D. Eisenhower skipped coffee with Truman — and refused to greet him before the ceremony. Once again, it was a campaign issue: They had worked together successfully before, but their relationship had grown cold.

By the end of the campaign, Eisenhower was said to have regarded Truman as "inept" and "undignified" – surrounded by political yes-men. He openly criticized Truman's foreign policy and vowed to fix it himself. Truman was, himself, angry at Eisenhower's criticism insofar as he believed that Eisenhower had been on his side before the presidential campaigning.

Those weren't the only ways in which Eisenhower's inauguration broke from tradition. He also refused to kiss the Bible and presided over a large inaugural parade, eventually being lassoed by a cowboy and trick roper – with the permission of the Secret Service. One might find it hard to imagine such antics taking place today.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, after the inauguration, Truman would be met with apologies from reporters, stating that they hadn't meant a word of the onslaught they'd sent his way for the past eight years. Nevertheless, the news media would continue to have a persistent role in the perception of presidential candidates.

 

[OhioLion]

I remember when all of those Capitol buildings were completely open. There was security but you didn't have to sign in, no metal detectors or searches or anything.

I rode the basement train from one side of capitol to the other. Senator Ted Kennedy with a big cigar was in the car next to us.
You are correct, times have changed. Doubt John Q Public is riding that train anymore.

OL

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

I rode the basement train from one side of capitol to the other. Senator Ted Kennedy with a big cigar was in the car next to us.
You are correct, times have changed. Doubt John Q Public is riding that train anymore.

OL

Nope - but I did last year on a tour with my interns (arranged by a friend who worked for a member). Cool experience.

 

[Obliviax]

I won a contest to be my high school's representative to something they called "A Presidential Classroom for Young Americans". I met Admiral Zumwalt and sat in the VP's office with no supervision. I have, somewhere, a photo of me with my feet up on the VP's desk. At the time, Ford was the VP and it was in his office in the Senate office building. In the window sat a Laugh-In TV show "Fickle Finger of Fate" award that was given to Spiro Agnew.

One day, we (two of us, me and the female rep from my school) were sent to meet our Congressmen and Senators but both were away. So we hung out around the subway and shook hands with a dozen or so senators. We just walked up to them and said hello.

The highlight, and this was the mid-70s, was we were taken to a presentation by the director of the CIA. A kid asked if it was true that the CIA could bounce a light off of a window and then catch it. Then measure the changes to coordinate with the words that were said in the room as a way of listening to the conversation. The director nervously laughed then evaded the question. Later, the kid that asked the question was ushered to a side room over dinner. Several people in the CIA wanted to know where he had gotten that information.

Point is, it was a great time to be in a free democracy. Or, maybe we just didn't know any better.