[Cannon's Precedents, Volume 6]
[Chapter 192 - Election and Inauguratoin of President]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
ELECTION AND INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT.
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1. Participation of House in inaugurations. Sections 447-453.
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447. Participation of the House in the inaugural ceremonies in 1909.
An instance wherein, owing to inclemency of the weather, the
President elect took the oath and delivered his inaugural address in
the Senate Chamber.
On March 4, 1909,\2\ at 11 o'clock and 43 minutes a.m., in the
Senate, the ambassadors and ministers of foreign countries were
announced and occupied seats assigned to them on the floor of the
Senate. They were followed by the Chief Justice and Associate Justices
of the Supreme Court, who were escorted to seats provided for them, and
last by the Members of the House of Representatives, preceded by the
Speaker, accompanied by the Clerk and Sergeant at Arms. The Speaker was
given a seat on the left of the Vice President, the Clerk and Sergeant
at Arms occupied seats at the Secretary's desk, and the Members of the
House took seats reserved for them in the body of the Chamber.
The heads of executive departments, the Chief of Staff of the Army
and his aid, the Admiral of the Navy and his aid, governors of States,
and other invited guests occupied designated seats on the floor.
The Vice President elect, James S. Sherman, was announced and was
seated at the right of the Vice President.
The President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, and the
President elect, William H. Taft, were announced and escorted to seats
in the space in front of the Secretary's desk, the members of the joint
committee on arrangements of the two Houses occupying seats on either
side of them.
The Vice President, Charles W. Fairbanks, administered the oath to
the Vice President elect, and at 12 m., declared the Senate adjourned
without day.
Whereupon the Vice President, James S. Sherman,\3\ took the chair and
called the Senate to order in the special session convened by
proclamation of the President.
The Chaplain having offered prayer, the Vice President addressed the
Senate. At the conclusion of his address the proclamation of the
President convening the special session of the Senate was read, and the
Senators elect were sworn in.
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\1\ Supplementary to Chapter LXII.
\2\ Second session Sixtieth Congress, Record, p. 3824.
\3\ First session Sixty-first Congress, Senate Journal, p. 1.
Sec. 448
Immediately thereafter the President elect was escorted to the Vice
President's chair by a Member of the Senate, and the Chief Justice
administered to him the oath of office.
The President delivered his inaugural address from the Vice
President's desk.
The President then retired from the Chamber, followed by the guests
of the Senate in the following order:
The Sergeant at Arms of the Senate and the Sergeant at Arms of the
House of Representatives.
The marshal of the Supreme Court.
The Chief Justice, Associate Justices, clerk, and reporter of the
Supreme Court.
The ex-President of the United States, the committee of arrangements,
and the President of the United States.
Ambassadors to the United States and ministers plenipotentiary.
Ex-members of the Cabinet.
The ex-President.
The Vice President and the Secretary of the Senate.
The Speaker and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Retiring Members, Members elect, and officers of the House of
Representatives.
Heads of the executive departments.
Governors of States and Territories.
The Chief of Staff of the Army and his aid.
The Admiral of the Navy and his aid.
And then, at 1 o'clock and 45 minutes p.m., the Senate adjourned.
448. The inaugural ceremonies of 1913.
The inauguration ceremonies in 1913 were without incident and took
place in the usual form with unimportant variations of minor character.
On March 4, 1913,\1\ the Members of the House of Representatives,
Diplomatic Corps, and justices of the Supreme Court appeared in the
Senate in the order named. President elect Woodrow Wilson was
accompanied by the retiring President, William H. Taft.
President pro tempore Jacob H. Gallinger administered the oath to
Vice President elect Thomas R. Marshall and declared the Senate
adjourned sine die. The Vice President \2\ called the Senate to order
and after prayer addressed the Senate.
The inaugural procession proceeded, in the usual order, to the
platform on the central portico at the east front of the Capitol where
the President elect took the oath of office and delivered his inaugural
address.
449. When the inaugural date falls on Sunday the inauguration of the
President of the United States occurs at noon, the following day.
On Sunday, March 4, 1917 \3\ (legislative day of March 2) the Senate
had been in continuous session since 10 o'clock a.m. the previous
Friday. Prolonged obstruc-
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\1\ Third session Sixty-second Congress, Record, p. 4842.
\2\ First session Sixty-third Congress, Record, p. 1.
\3\ Second session Sixty-fourth Congress, Record, p. 5020.
Sec. 450
tion in the consideration of the bill (H. R. 21052) to arm merchant
ships continued until the hour of 12 m. on Sunday, March 4, when the
President pro tempore, interrupting debate, declared the Senate
adjourned sine die.
On Monday, March 5, at 12 m.\1\ the Senate was called to order by the
President pro tempore.
The Members of the House of Representatives, the Diplomatic Corps,
the Justices of the Supreme Court, and the Chief of Staff of the Army
and Admiral of the Navy were announced and seated in customary form.
President Woodrow Wilson was escorted to the Chamber by the committee
on arrangements and was seated with them and the members of his Cabinet
in the area in front of the Vice President's desk.
After prayer by the Chaplain, the President pro tempore caused the
proclamation of the President convening the Senate in extra session to
be read and administered the oath of the Vice President elect, Thomas
R. Marshall.
The Vice President addressed the Senate and administered the oath to
the Senators elect.
The inaugural procession then proceeded to the platform at the east
front of the Capitol in the usual order of precedence and the President
elect took the oath of office and delivered his inaugural address.
450. Procedure at the inauguration of the President in 1921.
On December 13, 1920 \2\ pursuant to concurrent resolution previously
adopted by the two Houses, the Speaker announced:
The Chair will announce as the House members of the inaugural
committee Mr. Cannon, Mr. Reavis, and Mr. Rucker.
In the Senate the Vice President announced:
Pursuant to the provision of the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res.
34) providing for the appointment of a committee to make the necessary
arrangements for the inauguration of the President elect of the United
States on the 4th day of March next, the Chair appoints Mr. Knox, Mr.
Nelson, and Mr. Overman members of the committee on the part of the
Senate.
On March 4, 1921,\3\ at 11 o'clock and 45 minutes a.m., the
Doorkeeper of the Senate announced the Speaker and the Members of the
House of Representatives. The Speaker was escorted to a seat at the
left of the Vice President, and the Members of the House occupied seats
reserved for them on the left of the Vice President, in the body of the
Chamber.
They were followed by the ambassadors and ministers of foreign
countries, the General of the Army and his aid, the Chief of Naval
Operations and his aid, the Chief Justice and the associate justices of
the Supreme Court, who were in turn escorted to seats provided for them
on the floor of the Senate.
The Vice President elect (Calvin Coolidge, of Massachusetts) entered
the Chamber accompanied by members of the joint committee on
arrangements and was conducted to a seat on the right of the Vice
President.
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\1\ First session Sixty-fifth Congress, Senate Journal, p. 1; Record,
p. 1.
\2\ Third session Sixty-sixth Congress, Record, pp. 304, 308.
\3\ Record, p. 4532.
Sec. 451
Several minutes before noon the Sergeant at Arms announced Warren G.
Harding, of Ohio, President elect of the United States, accompanied by
the chairman and members of the committee on arrangements. The
President elect was seated in the area in front of the Secretary's desk
with the members of the committee occupying seats on either side.
The retiring Vice President administered the oath to the Vice
President elect, and then at 12 m. declared the Senate adjourned sine
die.
The Vice President called the Senate to order in special session \1\
and, after prayer by the Chaplain, delivered his address, at the
conclusion of which the proclamation of the President convening the
extra session was read and the oath of office was administered to
Senators elect.
The Vice President then directed the Sergeant at Arms to execute the
order of the inauguration ceremonies, and the President elect, escorted
by the justices of the Supreme Court and accompanied by the joint
committee, proceeded to the inaugural stand at the east front of the
Capitol.
They were followed by the members of the Diplomatic Corps, the Chief
of Naval Operations and his aid, the Chief of Staff of the Army and his
aid, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Vice President, Sergeant
at Arms and Secretary of the Senate, the Senate of the United States,
the Speaker and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Members
of the House of Representatives, and then by other guests admitted to
the floor of the Senate.
The Chief Justice administered the oath of office to the President
elect.
The President delivered his inaugural address.
The inaugural party on the platform rose and remained standing while
the President retired from the stand. The Senate then returned to its
Chamber and resumed its session.
451. Ceremonies participated in by the House at the inauguration of
the President in 1925.
Arrangements for the inauguration of the President and Vice President
of the United States made by a joint committee of the two Houses.
On December 19, 1924 \2\ the House passed without amendment the
following concurrent resolution of the Senate:
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),
That a joint committee consisting of three Senators and three
Representatives, to be appointed by the President of the Senate and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively, is authorized to
make the necessary arrangements for the inauguration of the President
elect of the United States on the 4th of March next.
The Speaker thereupon appointed the committee on the part of the
House.
On March 4, 1924,\3\ at 11 o'clock and 45 minutes a.m., under the
escort of the Doorkeeper, the Members of the House of Representatives,
preceded by the Sergeant at Arms and the Clerk, and headed by the
Speaker and the Speaker designate, entered the Senate Chamber. The
Senators and Senators elect had been previously
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\1\ First session Sixty-seventh Congress, Senate Journal, p. 1.
\2\ Second session Sixty-eighth Congress, Journal, p. 836; Record, p.
5521.
\3\ First session Sixty-ninth Congress, Record, p. 1.
Sec. 451
seated on the east side of the Chamber, and the Speaker and the Members
of the House were escorted to the seats on the west side. The Clerk and
the Sergeant at Arms were seated at the Secretary's desk.
The ambassadors and ministers of foreign countries, the Members of
the President's Cabinet, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Commandant
of the Marine Corps and the Chief of Staff of the Army and their aides,
and the Chief Justice and associate justices of the Supreme Court
arrived in the order named and were shown to seats reserved for them.
The Vice President elect (Charles G. Dawes) entered the Chamber,
escorted by-members of the joint committee on arrangements for the
inauguration, and was conducted to a seat at the right of the President
pro tempore.
Several minutes before noon the President elect, Calvin Coolidge,
escorted by the Sergeants at Arms of the Senate and the House and
accompanied by the chairman and members of the committee on
arrangements of the two Houses, was announced.
Those present rose to receive them and remained standing until they
were seated.
The President elect was seated in the space in front of the
Secretary's desk, the chairman and members of the joint committee on
arrangements occupying the seats on either side.
The President pro tempore administered to the Vice President elect
the oath of office prescribed by law.
And then, the hour of 12 m. having arrived, the President pro tempore
declared the Senate of the Sixty-eighth Congress adjourned sine die.
Thereupon the Vice President took the chair and called the Senate to
order in the extra session of the Sixty-ninth Congress.
After prayer by the Chaplain of the Senate, the Vice President
addressed the Senate. The proclamation of the President convening the
Senate in extra session was read, after which the oath was administered
to the Senators elect.
The Vice President then directed the Sergeant at Arms to carry out
the order of the inauguration ceremonies.
The President elect, preceded by the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate
and accompanied by the committee on arrangements, was conducted to the
President's room. The Supreme Court retired from the Chamber to their
robing room, and the Diplomatic Corps, the Chief of Staff of the Army,
the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps
and their aides were escorted to the Marble Room in the Capitol.
Members of the Senate, headed by the President pro tempore and the
Secretary of the Senate, proceeded to the inaugural platform, on the
central portico at the east front of the Capitol, followed by the
Members of the House of Representatives, preceded by the Clerk and the
Doorkeeper, headed by the Speaker and the Speaker designate, followed
in turn by governors of States and other guests of the Senate.
These having been seated on the platform, the President elect,
accompanied by the committee on arrangements, escorted by the Sergeants
at Arms of the Houses, left the President's room. When the Marble Room
was reached, the Diplomatic Corps, the Chief of Staff of the Army, the
Chief of Naval Operations, and the Com-
Sec. 452
mandant of the Marine Corps followed. At the door of the Supreme Court
the Chief Justice and associate justices took places at the head of the
line and proceeded to the inaugural platform.
The President elect of the United States having arrived on the
platform, the oath of office was administered to him by the Chief
Justice of the United States.
The President delivered his inaugural address.
And then the President, followed by the inaugural procession, left
the platform in the reverse order to that in which it had arrived, the
President departing to the White House and the Senate returning to its
Chamber, and the ceremonies were concluded.
452. The concurrent resolution creating a joint committee authorized
to arrange for the quadrennial inauguration ceremonies is considered
sufficient authorization for the necessary appropriations for that
purpose.--On December 14, 1928,\1\ Mr. Bertrand H. Snell, of New York,
in reporting from the Committee on Rules the usual joint resolution (S.
J. Res. 24) providing for the appointment of the joint committee to
make necessary arrangements for the inauguration of the President elect
on March 4, 1929, explained:
Mr. Speaker, I simply desire to state that this is the usual
resolution that is passed once in four years preceding the inauguration
of a new President. This resolution is considered to be an
authorization for an appropriation which will be carried in the
deficiency bill. I move the previous question on the resolution.
453. Arrangements for the inauguration of the President of the United
States, in 1933.
The Speaker, having been elected Vice President, continued in office
until the expiration of his term.
Mr. Speaker Garner, having been elected simultaneously to the Vice
Presidency and to Membership in the next Congress, transmitted to the
Executive of his State his resignation as a Member elect of the
Seventy-third Congress.
Resolutions preliminary to the inaugural ceremonies of 1933 were
passed by the House, providing for the appointment of committees on
arrangements, December 8, 1932; \2\ exempting inaugural tickets from
taxation, January 8, 1933; \3\ quartering of troops participating in
the ceremonies, January 26; \4\ granting permits for the use of public
facilities, January 27; \5\ and providing for the maintenance of order,
February 7.\6\
Mr. Speaker Garner, the Vice President elect, presided in the House
on March 4, until adjournment sine die, at 11 o'clock and 21 minutes
p.m.,\7\ and was sworn in as Vice President in the Senate Chamber at 12
o'clock noon.\8\
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\1\ Second session Seventieth Congress, Record, p. 607.
\2\ Second session Seventy-second Congress, Record, p. 205.
\3\ Record, p. 2031.
\4\ Record, p. 2607.
\5\ Record, p. 2705.
\6\ Record, p. 3545.
\7\ Record, p. 5668.
\8\ Record, p. 5656.