PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATIONS

White House fun-facts–compiler Boller (Presidential Anecdotes, not reviewed) provides an entertaining catalogue of material about a president’s happiest day.

Telling the story of inaugurations from Washington’s first to Clinton’s second (with a sentence or two on the swearing-in of George W.), the author spins a lively narrative full of intriguing tidbits on the evolution of the inaugural ceremony, which was born amid controversy. Wary revolutionaries contested any hint of regal pomp at Washington’s swearing-in, and the new president defied his deist comrades by adding the extra-constitutional words “So help me God” to the prescribed oath of office. The thematically organized narrative has chapters on everything from Inauguration Day weather to how the presidents-elect traveled to Washington (by steamboat and stagecoach in Andrew Jackson’s case; by bus in Bill Clinton’s). This approach leads to a certain amount of repetition, but not so much as to prove an obstacle. Boller gives learned commentary on now-forgotten political, religious, and social movements that found expression at the inaugural, particularly Sabbatarianism (which kept James Monroe, Zachary Taylor, Woodrow Wilson, and a few other presidents from taking office forthwith when Inauguration Day fell on a Sunday). He also shows that the fantastically expensive balls of recent years have long precedent. At Ulysses S. Grant’s swearing-in feast, for example, the menu included baked salmon, roast boar’s head, pickled oysters, lobster, turkey, capons stuffed with truffles, mutton, roast beef, ham, and dozens of other plates—enjoyment of which was substantially diminished by the fact that most of the food lay frozen on the groaning board, the night being extra-cold and central heating nonexistent.

A little late to take advantage of this year’s festivities, but readers with an interest in presidential history will find it worthwhile.