United States presidential inauguration

==Other elements==
Over the years, various inauguration traditions have arisen that have expanded the event from a simple oath-taking ceremony to a day-long one, including parades, speeches, and balls. In fact, contemporary inaugural celebrations typically span 10 days, from five days before the inauguration to five days after. On some occasions however, either due to the preferences of the new president or to other constraining circumstances, they have been scaled back. Such was the case in 1945, because of [[Rationing in the United States|rationing]] in effect during [[World War II]]. More recently, in 1973, the celebrations marking Richard Nixon's second inauguration were altered because of the death of former president [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] two days after the ceremony. All pending events were cancelled so preparations for Johnson's [[State funerals in the United States|state funeral]] could begin. Because of the construction work on the center steps of the East Front, Johnson's casket was taken up the Senate wing steps of the Capitol when taken into the rotunda to [[lie in state]].<ref name=StateFuneral/> When it was brought out, it came out through the House wing steps of the Capitol.<ref name=StateFuneral>{{cite news|last=Foley|first=Thomas|title = Thousands in Washington Brave Cold to Say Goodbye to Johnson|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date = January 25, 1973 | page = A1 }}</ref> In 2021, due to the [[COVID-19]] pandemic, the festivities were scaled back.

===Congressional luncheon===
[[File:2009 Obama inauguration luncheon.jpg|thumb|Barack Obama's 2009 inaugural luncheon]]
Since 1953, the president and vice president have been guests of honor at a luncheon held by the leadership of the [[United States Congress]] immediately following the inaugural ceremony. The luncheon is held in [[National Statuary Hall|Statuary Hall]] and is organized by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, and attended by the leadership of both houses of Congress as well as guests of the president and vice president. By tradition, the outgoing president and vice president will not attend. In 2021, due to the ongoing [[COVID-19]] pandemic, the luncheon was replaced by a gift-giving ceremony.

===Inaugural parade===
[[File:Garfield inauguration.jpg|thumb|The Inaugural Parade on [[Pennsylvania Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Pennsylvania Avenue]] passes the presidential reviewing stand in front of the [[White House]] in March 1881.]]
[[File:President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush Lead the Inaugural Parade down Pennsylvania Avenue en Route the White House.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Second inauguration of George W. Bush|Inauguration Day, January 20, 2005]]:  President [[George W. Bush]] and First Lady [[Laura Bush]] lead the inaugural parade from the Capitol, down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House]]

Following the arrival of the presidential entourage to the [[White House]], it is customary for the president, vice-president, their respective families and leading members of the government and military to review an inaugural parade from an enclosed stand at the edge of the [[North Lawn (White House)|North Lawn]], a custom begun by [[James Garfield]] in 1881. The parade, which proceeds along {{convert|1.5|mi}} of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the stand and the Front Lawn in view of the presidential party, features both military and civilian participants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia; this parade largely evolved from the post-inaugural procession to the White House, and occurred as far back as [[second inauguration of Thomas Jefferson|Jefferson's second inauguration]] in 1805, when workers from the [[Washington Navy Yard]], accompanied by military music, marched with the president<ref name="MBhistory">{{cite web|url=http://www.marineband.marines.mil/Portals/175/Site%20Images/Inauguration/Marine%20Band%20Inauguration%20History_2017.pdf?ver=2017-01-11-113551-543|title=Marine Band Inauguration History|publisher=Marine Band Public Affairs Office|access-date=January 27, 2017}}</ref> on foot as he rode on horseback from the Capitol to the White House. By the time of [[William Henry Harrison]]'s inauguration in 1841, political clubs and marching societies would regularly travel to Washington for the parade. That year was also the first in which floats were part of the parade. It was at Lincoln's second inauguration, in 1865, that Native Americans and African Americans participated in the inaugural parade for the first time.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bendat |first=Jim |title=Democracy's Big Day: The Inauguration of Our President, 1789-2013 |publisher=iUniverse |year=2012 |pages=106–108 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bx6keVq2Fs0C&q=1885+inauguration+parade&pg=PA194 |isbn=978-1-935278-47-4}}</ref> Women were involved for the first time in 1917.<ref name="fromWtoT">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/01/19/washington-obama-inauguration-firsts/96728070/|title=From Washington to Trump: Inauguration firsts|last=Rossman|first=Sean|date=January 20, 2017|newspaper=USA Today|access-date=January 27, 2017}}</ref>

In 1829, following his first inaugural parade, [[Andrew Jackson]] held a public reception at the White House, during which 20,000 people created such a crush that Jackson had to escape through a window. Nevertheless, White House receptions continued until lengthy afternoon parades created scheduling problems. Reviving the idea in 1989, President [[George H. W. Bush]] invited the public to a "White House American Welcome" on the day after the inaugural.<ref name="new times">{{cite web|url=https://www.whitehousehistory.org/presidential-inaugurations-celebrate-new-times|title=Presidential Inaugurations: Celebrate New Times|publisher=The White House Historical Association|access-date=January 27, 2017}}</ref>

[[Grover Cleveland]]’s 1885 inaugural parade lasted three hours and showcased 25,000 marchers. Eighty years later, [[Lyndon Johnson]]’s parade included 52 select bands.<ref name="new times"/> [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]'s 1953 parade included about 22,000 service men and women and 5,000 civilians, which included 50 state and organization floats costing $100,000. There were also 65 musical units, 350 horses, 3 elephants, an Alaskan dog team, and the [[M65 atomic cannon|280-millimeter atomic cannon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/all_about_ike/presidential/1953_inauguration.html|title=1953 Presidential Inauguration|publisher=Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home|access-date=January 27, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401212417/https://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/all_about_ike/presidential/1953_inauguration.html|archive-date=April 1, 2015}}</ref>

In 1977, [[Jimmy Carter]] became the first president to set out by foot for more than a mile on the route to the White House. The walk has become a tradition that has been matched in ceremony if not in length by the presidents who followed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/19/us/trump-inaugural-parade-walk.html?_r=0|title=The Inaugural Parade, and the Presidents Who Walked It|last=Hauser|date=January 19, 2017|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=January 27, 2017}}</ref>

Twice during the 20th century, an inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue was not held. In 1945, at the height of [[World War II]], [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]'s fourth Inauguration was simple and austere with no fanfare or formal celebration following the event. There was no parade because of [[Rationing in the United States|gas rationing]] and a lumber shortage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inaugural.senate.gov/about/past-inaugural-ceremonies/40th-inaugural-ceremonies/|title=The 40th Presidential Inauguration Franklin D. Roosevelt January 20, 1945|publisher=The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies|access-date=January 31, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923110151/https://www.inaugural.senate.gov/about/past-inaugural-ceremonies/40th-inaugural-ceremonies/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1985, with the [[1985 North American cold wave|temperature near]] {{convert|7|F}},<ref name=rpwmdf>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7lhWAAAAIBAJ&pg=5602%2C2961416 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|agency=Associated Press|title=Reagan: Peace with mighty defense |date=January 22, 1985 |page=A1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://inaugural.senate.gov/history/chronology/rwreagan1985.cfm |title=Inauguration of President Ronald Wilson Reagan, 1985 |access-date=2018-03-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006180020/http://inaugural.senate.gov/history/chronology/rwreagan1985.cfm |archive-date=2012-10-06 }}</ref> all outdoor events for [[Ronald Reagan]]'s second inauguration were canceled or moved indoors.<ref name="MBhistory"/>

===Interfaith national prayer service===
[[File:P012213PS-0244 (8475772087).jpg|thumb|[[Barack Obama]], [[Michelle Obama]], [[Joe Biden]], and [[Jill Biden]] at the 2013 National Prayer Service]]
A tradition of an [[Interfaith dialogue|interfaith]] national prayer service, usually the day after the inauguration, dates back to [[George Washington]] and since [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]], the prayer service has been held at the [[Washington National Cathedral]].<ref name=OHFFDOTSC>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/us/politics/22obamacnd.html |title=On His First Full Day, Obama Tackles Sobering Challenges |access-date=January 28, 2009 |date=January 21, 2009|work=The New York Times |last=Knowlton |first=Brian}}</ref> This is not the same as the Inaugural Prayer, a tradition also begun by Washington, when on June 1, 1789, Methodist bishops Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke, Rev. John Dickins, the pastor of Old St. George's (America's oldest Methodist Church) and Major Thomas Morrell, one of President Washington's former aides-de-camp called upon Washington in New York City.<ref>I The Journal and Letters of Francis Asbury Chap. 18.</ref> This tradition resumed in 1985 with President Reagan and continues under the auspices of a Presidential Inaugural Prayer Committee based at Old St. George's.

===Inaugural balls===
{{Main|United States presidential inaugural balls}}

The first Inaugural Ball was held on the night of [[James Madison]]'s first inauguration in 1809. Tickets were $4 and it took place at Long's Hotel.<ref name="fromWtoT"/>

===Security===
[[File:170117-SAFE-Boat-Patrol-GF-573 (32224875122).jpg|thumb|A [[U.S. Customs and Border Protection]] boat patrolling the waterways around Washington, D.C. prior to the inauguration of Donald Trump]]
The security for the inaugural celebrations is a complex matter, involving the [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]], [[Department of Homeland Security]], [[Federal Protective Service (United States)|Federal Protective Service]] (DHS-FPS), all five branches of the [[Armed Forces of the United States|Armed Forces]], the [[United States Capitol Police|Capitol Police]], the [[United States Park Police]] (USPP), and the [[Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia]] (MPDC). Federal law enforcement agencies also sometimes request assistance from various other state and local law-enforcement agencies throughout the United States.

===Presidential medals===
[[File:Presidential Medals 019.jpg|thumb|A presidential medal from the inauguration of [[Theodore Roosevelt]] in 1905]]
Beginning with George Washington, there has been a traditional association with Inauguration festivities and the production of a [[Presidential Inaugural Medals|presidential medal]]. With the District of Columbia attracting thousands of attendees for inauguration, presidential medals were an inexpensive souvenir for the tourists to remember the occasion. However, the once-simple trinket turned into an official presidential election memento. In 1901, the first Inauguration Committee<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://president-inauguration-2017.blogspot.com/2017/01/presidential-inaugural-committee-2017.html|title=Presidential Inaugural Committee Announces Inaugural Parade Participant Lineup|access-date=January 12, 2017}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=February 2021}} on Medals and Badges was established as part of the official Inauguration Committee for the re-election of President McKinley. The Committee saw official medals as a way to raise funding for the festivities. Gold medals were to be produced as gifts for the president, vice president, and committee chair; silver medals were to be created and distributed among Inauguration Committee members, and bronze medals would be for sale for public consumption. McKinley's medal was simple with his portrait on one side and writing on the other side.<ref>MacNeil, Neil. ''The President's medal, 1789–1977''. New York: Published in association with the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, by C. N. Potter, 1977.</ref>

Unlike his predecessor, when Theodore Roosevelt took his oath of office in 1905, he found the previous presidential medal unacceptable. As an art lover and admirer of the ancient Greek high-relief coins, Roosevelt wanted more than a simple medal—he wanted a work of art. To achieve this goal, the president hired [[Augustus Saint-Gaudens]], a famous American sculptor, to design and create his inauguration medal. Saint-Gaudens' obsession with perfection resulted in a forestalled release and the medals were distributed after the actual inauguration. Nonetheless, President Roosevelt was very pleased with the result. Saint-Gaudens' design, executed by [[Adolph A. Weinman]], was cast by [[Tiffany & Co.|Tiffany & Company]] and was proclaimed an artistic triumph.<ref name="histIM">{{cite web|url=http://www.loriferber.com/research/inaugural-facts-statistics/history-of-the-inaugural-medal.html|title=History of the Official Inaugural Medal|last=Levine|first=H. Joseph|publisher=Lori Ferber Collectibles|access-date=January 27, 2017}}</ref> Saint-Gaudens' practice of creating a portrait sculpture of the newly elected president is still used today in presidential medal creation. After the president sits for the sculptor, the resulting clay sketch is turned into a life mask and plaster model. Finishing touches are added and the epoxy cast that is created is used to produce the die cuts. The die cuts are then used to strike the president's portrait on each medal.<ref>Levine, H. Joseph. ''Collectors Guide to Presidential Medals and Memorabilia''. Danbury, Conn.: Johnson & Jensen, 1981.</ref>

From 1929 through 1949, the official medal was struck by the [[United States Mint|U.S. Mint]]. This changed in 1953 when the [[Medallic Art Company]] was chosen to strike [[Walker Hancock]]'s portrait of President Eisenhower. The official medals have been struck by private mints ever since.<ref name="histIM"/> [[The Smithsonian Institution]] and [[The George Washington University]] hold the two most complete collections of presidential medals in the United States.

[[Gerald Ford]]'s unscheduled inauguration also had a medal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/gerald-r-ford-presidential-inaugural-medal-87045|title=Gerald R. Ford Presidential Inaugural Medal |website=Smithsonian American Art Museum}}</ref>