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The inaugural top hat tradition
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President Kennedy was the last to keep with tradition
“Barack Obama, I'm on my way, and I've got your hat,” says Josh Shayne, a recent graduate of NYU's film school on a self-proclaimed mission to bring back the inaugural hat.
What is the inaugural hat? According to Anya Strzemien of the Huffington Post, “Once upon a time, when men were elected to the highest office in the land, they marked their first day in that office, otherwise known as the Inauguration, by wearing the most formal accessory in the land: the top hat.” But in 1961, John F. Kennedy was the last President to wear a top hat, and he actually spent most of the day holding it in his hand waiting to shed it as soon as he was able. After him, the ritual was shed as well.
President George W. Bush declared in advance that he would not be reviving the top hat tradition, so all of Washington waits to see if Obama will bring back the brim. Josh Shayne wants to be the one to personally deliver that hat to the ‘head’ of our country.
He has followed President-elect Obama from Philadelphia, hat in hand, with a two-fold mission. In addition to renewing the custom of the inaugural hat, Shayne has partnered with hat manufacturer Stetson to sell hats through the website hatforobama.com. For every hat sold through the website, Stetson will donate a portion of the proceeds (up to $50,000) to Hats Off For Cancer, a foundation providing headwear for children who have lost their hair as a result of cancer treatment.
Could it be a Bucket, Bowler, Beanie or Beret? Porkpie or a Panama? On January 20th we’ll see if Shayne can bring back the top hat for a top cause.
690,000 brand new hats to hospitals, camps,
and individuals worldwide since 1996.
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