# So how many legislators NORMALLY attend an inauguration? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 19, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-legislators-normally-attend-an-inauguration/777566 "2017-01-19T19:58:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-legislators-normally-attend-an-inauguration/777566/1 "2017-01-19T19:58:43Z")
All this talk about people choosing not to attend Trump’s inauguration made me wonder: how many attend \*most \*inaugurations? Is missing one unusual? Unheard of? Or does it happen all the time? I’ve never really paid any attention to them, so I have no idea if these boycotters are making a huge and important statement, or if they are trying to make a big deal out of an actually commonplace occurrence. Does anyone know or have any data from past inaugurations? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-legislators-normally-attend-an-inauguration/777566/2 "2017-01-19T21:08:23Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > All this talk about people choosing not to attend Trump’s inauguration made me wonder: how many attend \*most \*inaugurations? Is missing one unusual? Unheard of? Or does it happen all the time? I’ve never really paid any attention to them, so I have no idea if these boycotters are making a huge and important statement, or if they are trying to make a big deal out of an actually commonplace occurrence. Does anyone know or have any data from past inaugurations? Thanks! Happens all the time. Which is what made Designated Survivor so into the realm of fantasy. 20 or so Congresscritters and usually a couple SCOTUS dont show up. Health issues, family matters, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-legislators-normally-attend-an-inauguration/777566/3 "2017-01-19T22:03:56Z")
The _Washington Post_ had a list of Reps who will not attend. One of them pointed out that Congress is not in session–he’ll be at home with his constituents. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-legislators-normally-attend-an-inauguration/777566/4 "2017-01-19T22:05:54Z")
The number is not necessarily unusual, but the “statement” part of staying away is the actual statements of those who are staying away as a boycott. It’s the stated purpose for doing so that may set these non-attendees apart. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-legislators-normally-attend-an-inauguration/777566/5 "2017-01-19T22:48:31Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Happens all the time. Which is what made Designated Survivor so into the realm of fantasy. 20 or so Congresscritters and usually a couple SCOTUS dont show up. > > Health issues, family matters, etc. On _Designated Survivor_ the event wasn’t an inauguration, it was the State of the Union address, where it is more likely most(if not all) will show up. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-legislators-normally-attend-an-inauguration/777566/6 "2017-01-19T23:21:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Happens all the time. Which is what made Designated Survivor so into the realm of fantasy. 20 or so Congresscritters and usually a couple SCOTUS dont show up. > > Health issues, family matters, etc. I don’t know if you guys have seen [this article](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2017/01/democrats_are_finally_learning_to_fight_like_republicans.html), but it’s reporting that there are about 70 legislators skipping the event. So a lot more than 20. And the fact that they’re doing it specifically in protest of the person who will take the oath is actually very unusual. > [@Slate columnist Michelle Goldberg](#): > > The last time members of Congress staged a protest like this was in 1973, when 80 anti-war representatives refused to attend Richard Nixon’s second inauguration. True, a few Democrats, including Lewis and California Rep. Barbara Lee, skipped George W. Bush’s inauguration in 2001. But even though Bush lost the popular vote and assumed the presidency thanks to a Supreme Court ruling, most Democrats refrained from questioning his legitimacy and instead worked to shore up popular faith in our democracy. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-legislators-normally-attend-an-inauguration/777566/7 "2017-01-19T23:28:40Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > On _Designated Survivor_ the event wasn’t an inauguration, it was the State of the Union address, where it is more likely most(if not all) will show up. And the real-life designated survive is most assuredly [real.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Designated_survivor)The Wiki article list who was the DS going back to 1981. Inaugurations are covered. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-legislators-normally-attend-an-inauguration/777566/8 "2017-01-19T23:44:45Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > And the real-life designated survive is most assuredly [real.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Designated_survivor)The Wiki article list who was the DS going back to 1981. Inaugurations are covered. Sure. But EVERYONE but the DS isnt at any event. It’s highly improbable that every congresscritter would be at any event. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-legislators-normally-attend-an-inauguration/777566/9 "2017-01-20T01:17:13Z")
They should all go - but arrive in wheelchairs, so that they don’t have to stand up. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-many-legislators-normally-attend-an-inauguration/777566/10 "2017-01-20T03:38:37Z")
Is anything else thinking how much it would really suck for the GOP if someone pulls of a decapitation strike during the Inauguration? With some many Democratic congress people boycotting they’d wind up with a supermajority in House. :smack: