A past contestant on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” has a bone to pick. He (don’t know his name) was asked (paraphrased): “Which US president was the youngest at his inauguration?” A very tricky question, which tricked this contestant.
Inauguration can refer to an actual inauguration ceremony, to which the answer would be John F. Kennedy.
It can also mean just the swearing in, to which the answer would be Teddy Roosevelt.
The contestant answered JFK, but the show said it was TR.
What do you think? Should they bring him back (ala the Great Lakes guy from August), or not?
Wrong thinking is punished, right thinking is just as swiftly rewarded. You’ll find it an effective combination.
That said, I think the show is technically correct. Inaugurate means, “To induct into an office with suitable ceremonies.”
While it’s true that TR never had the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, he was sworn in by a judge. This is a ceremony, by which he was inducted into office.
How much better if they had simply said, “Who was the youngest man ever to become President?” That clearly identifies Teddy. Or they could have said, “Who was the youngest man ever elected President?” to key on JFK.
But the use of the word “inaugurate” under such circumstances is inviting trouble.
Actually, we were just debating (greatly) this very question during lunch here.
1 - Yes, the question is poorly worded, but I believe it is DELIBERATELY poorly worded. After all, we’re playing for money here, folks. Ever lose a sucker bet in a bar?
2 - After a quick search through several references we found that a)an “inauguration” is the formal act of assuming higher office (which could simply be taking the oath) and b) after McKinley died (which took 6 days after he was shot), TR took the oath of office with a half-dozen cabinet members and several dozen guests present. So you could define that as an inaugural ceremony of some sort.
However, since the contestant took his claim to the Today Show, there’s a simple solution – let NBC put him on 21. Can’t you see the promotion! “They said it was his FINAL ANSWER, but they were WRONG!”
I notice that AWB has paraphrased the question. I remember it (probably incorrectly) as being “Who was the youngest president of the United States?” That version, as Bricker points out, doesn’t seem to be ambiguous. But now I see that the contestant has appeared on the Today Show. What’s with that? Who Wants To Be A Millionaire has been willing to reverse themselves before (the Iron Horse question), why would he go to the Today Show first–or has he already tried the other avenues?
<font color=#DCDCDC>penultimate answer
rocks</font>
Who was the youngest U.S. president at his inauguration? Although John F. Kennedy was the United States’ youngest elected president, Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest to be inaugurated. Following the death of President William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt was inaugurated on September 14, 1901, at the home of Ansley Wilcox in Buffalo, New York. This home is now the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site.
Thanks Lib! <font color=#DCDCDC>Obviously my false memory.</font>
It looks like they’ve received a few inquiries about that question. So, this guy on the Today Show, he’s claiming what? That Teddy Roosevelt wasn’t inaugurated?
<font color=#DCDCDC>
rocks</font>