Inaugural Things to Watch: the Speech, the Dress and More
Trump's inaugural address will set the tone for the launch of his presidency
By Nancy Benac ••
Footage shows towering flames in San Francisco as crews battle a fire caused by a gas explosion.
From a morning stop at church through the swearing-in to the last dance of the evening, it's going to be an inaugural marathon on Friday. Donald Trump will take Washington by storm, no matter what the weather. (Which, by the way, looks like rain.)
Some things to watch for on Inauguration Day:
35 or 39? Trump's oath of office is the only essential on Friday; all the rest is window dressing. The Constitution sets out a 35-word oath for the new president. Some presidents make it 39 by tacking on "so help me God." There are conflicting stories about when the ad lib started. The National Archives says George Washington added the words when he took the oath at his 1789 inaugural. Some say the first eyewitness account of a president using those words came at Chester Arthur's inauguration in 1881. Historian Jim Bendat says Washington's use of the phrase is a myth, but every president since 1933 has done it.
The Speech Trump's inaugural address will set the tone for the launch of his presidency. Will he go the traditional route and offer a message of unity to a divided nation, play the role of disrupter of the established order, or blend a little of both? This won't be his usual off-the-cuff address. Aides say Trump has taken a big role in writing the speech and has been practicing at Trump Tower. Expect him to keep it short, around 20 minutes or so.
Awkward When Trump is sworn in, Hillary Clinton will be sitting on the inaugural platform alongside husband Bill Clinton. She'll be intent on keeping a poker face, but that's got to be tough. All eyes will be watching to see whether Trump has any interaction with his vanquished rival, or mentions her in his address.
It's (not) just lunch Washington ate alone after his 1789 inauguration. Trump will go straight from his swearing-in to a lavish luncheon of Maine lobster and Angus beef for 200 in the Capitol's Statuary Hall. It's not just about lunch, though. Good relations between the new president and the Republican-led Congress will be key to the success of the Trump presidency. Early maneuvering has shown Trump and GOP legislators to be on different pages at times about important issues such as taxes and health care. So amid the toast-making and the gift-giving of the day, the legislators and new president will be feeling one another out.
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President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, wearing a ruby colored chiffon and velvet Jason Wu gown, get ready to dance at the Washington Convention Center during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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Michelle Obama made her grand entrance to the Commander-in-Chief's Inaugural Ball in a custom made Jason Wu ruby red chiffon and velvet gown. Though you can't see them in this photo, she's wearing Jimmy Choo shoes. The whole ensemble will head to the National Archives.
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First Lady Michelle Obama is wearing a navy Thom Browne coat and dress. The fabric for the first lady's Inauguration Day attire was developed based on the style of a man's silk tie. The belt she is wearing is from J.Crew and her necklace was designed by Cathy Waterman. She is also wearing J.Crew shoes.
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First Lady Michelle Obama, in a Jason Wu design, attends the Midatlantic Regional Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, January 20, 2009. Obama was sworn in as the 44th US president earlier in the day. Click to see what other first ladies wore at their husband's presidential inaugurations.
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President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, wearing a ruby gown by Michael Faircloth, greet the crowd January 20, 2001 at the Texas, Wyoming Inaugural Ball in Washington DC.
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First Lady Laura Bush jokes with daughters Barbara and Jenna at the Constitution Ball on Jan. 20, 2005 in Washington DC.
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George H. W. Bush with his wife, Barbara, sporting her signature pearls, have a high old time at the Texas-style Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball. Their son, George W. Jr., right rear, looks like he's having a grand time as well.
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Hillary and Bill Clinton dance during Clinton's second inaugural New England Ball in Washington on Jan. 20, 1997. This gorgeous lace gown was designed by Oscar de la Renta, a First Lady favorite.
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President Bill Clinton twirls First Lady Hillary Clinton during an onstage dance at the Arkansas inaugural ball in Washington, D.C. Fashion experts Barbara Baber and Cliff Chally teamed up to pick this violet lace gown by designer Sara Phillips, a relatively unknown designer at the time.
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President George Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush, wearing a blue satin gown designed by Arnold Scaasi, attend one of the Inaugural Balls at the D.C. Armory in Washington.
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President Ronald Reagan smiles as first lady Nancy Reagan waves to guests while wearing a beaded gown designed by James Galanos. The first lady was highly criticized for her inaugural wardrobe which had a price tag of more than $46,000, though her spokesperson said the estimate is inflated.
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Rosalynn Carter wore this gown to husband Jimmy Carter's gubernatorial inauguration and again to his 1977 presidential inauguration. The embroidered sleeveless coat and blue chiffon gown was designed by Mary Matise for Jimmae.
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Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter dance in front of the bandstand at the Inaugural Ball held at the Sheraton Park Hotel in Washington on Jan. 20, 1977. VP Walter Mondale and his wife dance to the left of them.
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Pat Nixon, wife of Vice President Richard M. Nixon, wears her Inaugural gown at home in Washington D.C. January 20, 1953.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
This Jan. 1965 photo provided by the LBJ Library shows Lady Bird Johnson at the White House during the inauguration wearing a cheerful yellow gown designed by John Moore.
Style icon Jacqueline Kennedy wears a cape over her white sheath with puffy over blouse gown designed by Oleg Cassini. The gown is an off-white sleeveless gown of silk chiffon over peau d'ange; under the floor-length cape is a strapless bodice embroidered with silver thread.
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Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower with his wife, Mamie, and VP Richard M. Nixon with his wife, Pat, at the 1953 Inaugural Ball.
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President Dwight Eisenhower holds the arm of his wife, first lady Mamie, who dons a pink rhinestone gown by New York designer Nettie Rosenstein, who loved to say, "It's what you leave off a dress that makes it smart."
Power March Start your stopwatch. More than 8,000 people will march in the 1.5-mile inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, from the Capitol to the White House. That's actually a relatively restrained dose of inaugural pomp. Trump's team wants to keep the parade to 90 minutes so the new president has time to do some work. The longest parade, with 73 bands and 59 floats, lasted more than four and half hours at Dwight Eisenhower's first inauguration in 1953.
First Steps Trump aims to squeeze in a little work on his first day in office, perhaps in between the parade and the evening balls. What to watch for: His aides mention possible executive actions and perhaps the swearing-in of some members of his Cabinet.
Big League? Trump has tweeted that "record numbers" of people are pouring into Washington for his inauguration. That's doubtful. There are still hotel rooms for rent. And, contrary to Trump's claims, stores still have plenty of ball gowns to sell. No one believes this inaugural will come close to the estimated 1.8 million people who attended Barack Obama's first inaugural. But with no official arbiter of crowd counts, expect a post-inaugural tussle over how many people really showed up.
Dissenters and Bikers Protesters turn out for any inauguration. This year, one of the biggest pushbacks against Trump will be the Saturday women's march, which could draw 200,000 or more people. There will be plenty of action on Friday, though, with some demonstrators aiming to shut down or cause delays at security checkpoints going in to the swearing-in ceremony. And then there are the Bikers for Trump, promising to come in throngs and serve as "a wall of meat" if needed to protect Trump's supporters.
Actress featured in the latest issue of Porter magazine
Celeb Watch Trump says he's got the "biggest celebrities in the world" coming to town for his inauguration. Yes, there are A-list celebrities in town — but you may need to check out non-inaugural venues to find them.
Trump will have singer Jackie Evancho singing the national anthem at his swearing-in. Performers at his inaugural balls include the Radio City Rockettes, The Piano Guys, 72-year-old Tony Orlando and 81-year-old Sam Moore, from the soul duo Sam and Dave. Over at the nonpartisan Creative Coalition bash, the headliner is Grammy-winning Blues Traveler, and hosts will include Tim Allen and John Leguizamo.
Saturday's women's march, organized by women dismayed at Trump's election, will have Scarlett Johansson, America Ferrara, Amy Schumer, Frances McDormand and Zendaya, among others. Thursday's "Peace Ball" for liberal activists promised Solange and Esperanza Spalding.
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Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt and guests of honor at an inaugural ball held in Washington, D.C., on Mar. 5, 1933. Left to right: Mrs. Cary T. Grayson, Ray Baker, James Roosevelt, Mrs. Roosevelt, Rear Admiral Cary T. Grayson, retired, and Brigadier General William T. Horton, retired.
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President Dwight Eisenhower and first lady Mamie Eisenhower sit in a box in the balcony at the National Guard Armory during one of inaugural balls held in his honor on Jan. 20, 1953.
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Jacqueline Kennedy lifts the skirt of her inaugural ball gown as she and her husband, President-elect John F. Kennedy, leave their Georgetown home in the snowfall en route to the inaugural concert in Washington, D.C., Jan. 19, 1961.
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President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy in a relaxed moment as they attend one of five inaugural balls, Jan. 20, 1961. At left is Vice President Lyndon Johnson.
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Lady Bird Johnson, center, her daughters Luci Baines, left, and Lynda Bird, right, pose in New York City on Jan. 12, 1961. They are modeling the gowns they would wear at the inaugural ball on Jan. 20.
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This Jan. 18, 1965, photo shows Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird, wearing a white peau de soie gown for the year's inaugural gala.
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President Nixon, right, and his family prepare to leave the White House to attend six inaugural balls in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 1969. From left: David Eisenhower; Julie Nixon Eisenhower; Doug Rogers, son of the new secretary of state and Tricia Nixon's escort; Tricia Nixon; Pat Nixon and the president.
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President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter are pictured with their daughter, Amy, at the first of seven inaugural balls in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 20, 1977.
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President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, dance at an inaugural ball at the Pension Building in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 1981. The president and first lady were scheduled to appear at nine balls during the evening.
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In this Jan. 21, 1985 photo, President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan arrive at the inaugural ball in the Washington Hilton in Washington.
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President-elect George H. W. Bush, left, strains to see the crowd as his wife, Barbara, waves to well-wishers during their second inaugural ball of the evening at the Pension Building, Jan. 18, 1989, Washington, D.C.
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Hillary and President-elect Bill Clinton are seen at one of the four official inaugural dinners in Washington, Jan. 19, 1993.
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President Bill and first lady Hillary Clinton, along with daughter Chelsea, at the New England Ball during inauguration night festivities in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 1993.
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President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton, dance at the New England Ball Monday, Jan. 20, 1997, in Washington D.C.
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President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush smile as they are welcomed by supporters at the Salute to Heroes and Veterans Banquet in Washington, D.C., Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001.
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President George W. Bush, right, first lady Laura Bush and their twin daughters Barbara (far left) and Jenna (to her right) are introduced at the Texas State Society's Black Tie and Boots Ball the week's first inaugural gala Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005, in Washington, D.C.
President Barack Obama, left, and first lady Michelle Obama, right, are introduced at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
In this Jan. 21, 2013, photo, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama wave to guests after their dance at the Inaugural Ball at the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C.
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President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump during the Salute to Our Armed Services Inaugural Ball at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, January 20, 2017.
Fashion Politics There's always intense interest in what the new first lady will wear, both for the swearing-in and to the inaugural balls. This year, it's not simply a matter of fashion. It's political. A number of designers have said they don't want to dress Melania Trump because they disagree with her husbands' policies. The president-elect has shrugged off such talk and suggested his wife wouldn't even want to be dressed by some of those who are demurring. Musicians who have agreed to play the inaugural have faced a backlash from Trump critics. Watch to see if the first lady's designer does, too.
