Inaugurations too close to coronations, historian says

January 6, 10:31 PMDC Art Travel ExaminerMarsha Dubrow

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"Sometimes I've gotten the feeling that inaugurations are like crowning a king," Boller told me in an interview. "Inaugural ceremonies have become too elaborate over the years. I could live without all that, making it into such a magnificent ceremony."

But Boller, Professor Emeritus of History, Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth conceded, "Apparently, American people like it elaborate -- the poems, the singing, invocation, benediction, parades."

He added that he's "really looking forward to the Obama inauguration. That'll be something exceptional."

The historian praised Thomas Jefferson who talked of "'republican simplicity', and didn't want Presidents to be like Kings. I'm in that corner."

Boller noted, "The Constitution has meager instructions about inaugurations, and the oath of office is only a handful of words. Most of the inaugural ceremony is improvised." 

Such improvisations are among the fascinating anecdotes, ranging from George Washington to George W. Bush, in Boller's book "Presidential Inaugurations". 

George Washington's improvisation of adding "So help me God" and kissing the Bible have been followed by most Presidents, according to Boller (and also the Library of Congress, and the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies). The actions have become increasingly controversial, with a lawsuit pending in U.S. District Court to ban those words, and all religious aspects from the inauguration. 

But back to the first inauguration in 1789. Boller noted, "They had a hard time finding a Bible for Washington, but got one from St. John's Masonic Lodge No. 1 in New York City."

John Quincy Adams remains the only President who did not take the oath on a Bible -- instead, he used a collection of U.S. laws. "He wasn't anti-religion, but he wanted a secular ceremony" for his 1825 inauguration, Boller commented.

The Constitution allows affirming as well as swearing because some religions are opposed to swearing oaths, the historian said. Franklin Pierce was the only President to "affirm" the oath. Pierce never explained why, but only weeks before his 1853 inauguration, his 11-year-old son had been crushed to death in a train accident. The thought was that "Pierce felt God had punished him for something," Boller noted.

But all Presidents, including Jefferson, "made some reference to God or Almighty", Boller added. Still, inaugurations were "much more secular" before Franklin D. Roosevelt who had both a benediction and an invocation. Dwight Eisenhower had four religions represented: Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish, and Protestant -- "the most ever represented." 

At JFK's inauguration, Richard Cardinal Cushing of Boston "slowly droned on" with the longest inaugural prayer on record, Boller recounted. Cardinal Cushing explained later that he had noticed smoke rising from the lecturn, and thought it might be a smouldering bomb intended for Kennedy. "Cushing dragged out the prayer so that if there were an explosion, he, not Kennedy, would take the impact," Boller noted.

The longest speech on record belongs to "a very minor President, William Henry Harrison. The speech was two hours long, terrible. It was so cold, no one was listening. Then he went to all three balls. He was the oldest president (aged 68, only Reagan was older, age 69, when he became President), and wanted to show he was really strong. Well, he lasted only a month; died of pneumonia," Boller said. 

Probably the most modest inaugural speech was by John Quincy Adams who said, "Less possessed of your confidence in advance than any of my (five) predecessors, I am deeply conscious of the prospect that I shall stand more and oftener in need of your indulgence."  

Boller has read every inaugural speech. -- "I deserve a medal. Most are just formulaic. Only a few are outstanding."  

The ObamaInaugura may well deserve a medal for being outstanding.

Special Report: Inauguration Day 2009

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