I seem to recall (thought I don’t have a cite) that Jimmy Carter chose to have an inuguaration relatively free of pomp and circumstance. I definitely recall being, well, irritated at the pomp of Bill Clinton’s inauguration; it seemed entirely too near a coronation; and if Wikipedia’s assertion that GW Bush spent $30 million on his 2000 inauguration is true, that’s even worse… Which brings me to this question:
Would it be possible, or even desirable, for the next president to discard the more over-the-top trappings of inauguration and office? If possible, what would you like to see go? If you want the status to remain quo, why?
To me the Inauguration should be a celebration of peaceful transition of government, whether I voted for or approve of the CIC or not. I’m all for pomp and circumstance especially in the case of swearing in a new President. It only comes around once every 4 years, after all.
Jimmy Carter walked from the Inauguration to the White House, in a gesture to show his lack of presumption. Ronald Reagan brought back the limos, and was hailed as being “more Presidential”.
Ah, yes… and Rosalyn wore a worn-before gown to some of the events, I remember.
Public opinion seems to tend against the proposals. America apparently wants its CEO to look and act like the CEO of the kickingest Great Power. As it is, though, the POTUS could be said to have relatively low-key, though enormously expensive, stylings for a Head of State of this rank. Just imagine “His Excellency Bill Clinton/GWBush” in a sash and medallion of office watching over the Change of the Presidential Guard from his balcony.
That said, yes, we could do with NOT trying to make Inauguration Week beat Super Bowl week in production value. Really, it’s unnecessary (then we’d have some smart alec bemoaning that America puts on a bigger show for the Super Bowl than for its presidential transition). But if they wants to use private, not public, money to throw parties around the inauguration, who am I to complain
Nice assumption there, dude. Blithely assume in your OP that those *are *imperialist trappings, even though there is no evidence at all that they are, then ask if they can be discarded. :rolleyes:
Got a cite that Pre “Imperialist” America didn’t have “trappings”? :dubious:
I remember Carter getting a lot of flak for diminishing the presidency for his decision to have a low key swearing in. Personally, I like the idea of it, but I think it would be politically inadvisable, especially for a Democrat who often has to appear hyper patriotic to fend off criticism from the right.
Carter was a low key guy all around, and all through his time in office he did not have them play ‘Hail to the Chief’ but, but, GAAAHHH BRAIN FART! but not Hail.
I think he was the first president to be photographed wearing blue jeans. He frequently would wear a sweater rather than a suit and tie. Whereas Reagan once said IIRC that he felt wrong not wearing a suit in the Oval Office.
Some of the hoopla over the the Carter inauguration hinged on the “fancy dress balls” which he eschewed. His brother Billy was photographed by the print media dangling a pair of small orbs covered in frilly lace.
I’d like to get rid of the pomp, myself. Nobody threw me a party when I was hired on with my current company.
I’ve often thought that the presidency should be considered a job, first and foremost- not a position. A job entails responsibility, while a position implies privilege. When you get right down to it, the office of the presidency is really the ultimate civil servant job. Well, okay- I think it *should *be.
I’m all for more ceremonial trappings. I love ceremony. The President is not an “average guy just like you and me.” The President is the leader of the country. He should conduct himself at a higher level than the average person. His inauguration should be flashy as all get-out, as far as I’m concerned. Military parades and police motorcades, horses, the works. I think it’s badass that Reagan felt uncomfortable not wearing a suit - I like that kind of attitude.
Of course, I also think that they should bring back knee-high riding boots and Sam Brown belts to military dress uniforms, and have praised the Nazis numerous times on this forum for their fashion sense. So, I’m probably in the minority here.
