# Losing candidates not attending the inaugural ceremony **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 4, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-candidates-not-attending-the-inaugural-ceremony/767658 "2016-10-04T20:42:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-candidates-not-attending-the-inaugural-ceremony/767658/1 "2016-10-04T20:42:43Z")
When have losing candidates (of a major party) in a Presidential election not attend the inaugural ceremony? ---
**Author:** ![quimper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7c8e57/32.png) [@quimper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quimper)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-candidates-not-attending-the-inaugural-ceremony/767658/2 "2016-10-04T21:36:53Z")
Weird – I’d have assumed \*\*no \*\*losing candidate would attend the inaugural (are they waiting for a recount?), but [this article is claiming](http://www.thewire.com/entertainment/2013/01/guide-inaugurations-no-shows/61221/) Romney’s absence was the first since Dukakis. Must be something in the water on Beacon Hill :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-candidates-not-attending-the-inaugural-ceremony/767658/3 "2016-10-04T23:08:53Z")
It’s an outdoor ceremony in Washington DC in January. Some years, it’s bitterly cold on that podium. So I can well understand why a losing candidate might choose to stay home. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-candidates-not-attending-the-inaugural-ceremony/767658/4 "2016-10-05T00:55:15Z")
> [@quimper](#): > > Weird – I’d have assumed \*\*no \*\*losing candidate would attend the inaugural (are they waiting for a recount?), but [this article is claiming](http://www.thewire.com/entertainment/2013/01/guide-inaugurations-no-shows/61221/) Romney’s absence was the first since Dukakis. Must be something in the water on Beacon Hill :rolleyes: Hmm… after Dukakis (1988) we have the following losing candidates: 1992 - Bush 41 - Outgoing sitting POTUS 1996 - Dole - barely 7 months out of post as Senate ML 2000 - Gore - Outgoing sitting VP 2004 - Kerry - Sitting Senator 2008 - McCain - Sitting Senator So they were all people who would be in town for the event anyway and probably expected as a matter of protocol to at least be present at part of the ceremonies, save for Dole who though no longer in office was likely recognized elder statesman standing by the Senate leadership. But if I’m a regular citizen or someone with a real job elsewhere, like Mitt and Mike, I should not think I’d be expected there. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2016, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/losing-candidates-not-attending-the-inaugural-ceremony/767658/5 "2016-10-05T01:00:26Z")
John Adams set the precedent. He skipped Jefferson’s inauguration.