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From George Washington to Donald Trump – what traditions are associated with the inauguration of the US president?

From George Washington to Donald Trump – what traditions are associated with the inauguration of the US president?

The inauguration of the newly elected US president, Donald Trump, will take place in Washington on January 20. This tradition began with the first US president, George Washington, in 1789.

The inauguration of a modern American president is an event that lasts several days. In addition to the swearing-in of the new US leader, parades and many balls are held throughout Washington.

235 years ago, when George Washington became the first president, the inauguration was held in New York City before a small crowd. By comparison, at least 20 people are expected to gather in the US capital on January 22, including those who have secured tickets from members of Congress.


Also, tickets are being sold for the inauguration, with seats near the US Congress costing at least $4950, while those further away cost $1950.

In addition to the official ceremony, citizens and visitors can attend the parade and other activities. Another tradition is the musical program. At the first inauguration, the “Presidential March” by Philip Phile was played.

Trump has prepared a diverse program. Carrie Underwood will perform "America the Beautiful," while tenor Christopher Macchio will sing the national anthem. Other artists include Lee Greenwood with "God Bless the USA," Jason Aldean, Gavin DeGraw, and the bands Rascal Flatts and the Village People.

William Harrison

One tradition that has remained unchanged is the text of the oath, which is part of the US Constitution. From George Washington to Trump, all presidents have pronounced the same text.

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States of America, and that I will, to the best of my ability, protect, preserve, and support the Constitution of the United States of America," the text of the oath states.

It is interesting to note the use of the Bible during the oath-taking. Several presidents, such as Thomas Jefferson, Calvin Coolidge, Theodore Roosevelt, and John Quincy Adams, have chosen other books for the oath-taking. Adams, for example, used a law book to emphasize his commitment to the Constitution.

Trump is expected to use Bibles for his oath-taking, and in fact, he will swear on two of them, as previous presidents such as Barack Obama and Harry Truman have done.

After being sworn in, the new president delivers his inaugural address, a tradition that began with George Washington. His inaugural address was 1431 words long, while Joe Biden's was 2514 words long. The shortest was George Washington's in his second term, at just 135 words, while the longest was William Henry Harrison's at 8460 words.

Another inauguration tradition is the production of presidential medals, which began with Washington. In the early 20th century, when the government could not afford the costs of grand inaugurations, the citizens of Washington contributed financially, with a portion of the funds being provided by the sale of presidential medals.

Being a showman figure, Trump is expected to turn this event into a grand spectacle, opening a four-year term full of surprises. /Telegraph/