Issue 6: Conservation

Featured Response: Betsy Loyless || Senior VP for Advocacy and Policy, National Audubon Society

Betsy Loyless

Audubon believes the Inauguration will usher in a new era of hope for our environment; and the people, birds and other wildlife that depend on it. Eight dismal years of environmental abuse and neglect are now coming to an end. As President, Barack Obama and a more environmentally aware Congress offer the promise of leadership and fundamental change. This will translate into improved protections for America’s treasured places, and a new lease on life for species in decline.

The days of secret task forces and backroom deals with polluters are over. In his own words, President-elect Obama said: ‘The future of our planet is at stake.’ Conservationists have waited years for this opportunity and are strongly committed to helping the new administration and Congress to live up to this great promise.

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Inaugural Insight

  • The inauguration for the first U.S. president, George Washington, was held on April 30, 1789 in New York City.
  • Should January 20 be a Sunday, the President is usually administered the oath of office in a private ceremony on that day, followed by a public ceremony the following day.
  • Immediately following the oath, the bands play four ruffles and flourishes and "Hail to the Chief", followed by a 21-gun salute from howitzers of the Presidential Salute Battery.
  • The inaugural celebrations usually last ten days, from five days before the inauguration to five days after.
  • Since Thomas Jefferson's second inaugural on March 4, 1805, it has become tradition for the president to parade down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House.
  • According to tradition, in the first inaugural, President Washington added the words "so help me God" when reciting the oath, although there is no contemporary evidence of this.
  • In 1977, Jimmy Carter started a new tradition by walking from the Capitol to the White House, although subsequent presidents have only walked part of the way for security reasons.
  • The War of 1812 and World War II forced two swearing-ins to be held at other locations in Washington, D.C.
  • The new President assumes power at noon on January 20th, regardless of whether or not he has actually taken the oath of office.
  • There is no requirement that any book, or in particular a book of sacred text, be used to administer the oath, and none is mentioned in the Constitution.

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