American Heroes Playing America’s Pastime, Baseball
By Katie Cayer, Assistant Archivist & Curator Bottom of the ninth, the bases are loaded and tensions are rising. The home team pitcher stares down the batter from across the […]
By Katie Cayer, Assistant Archivist & Curator
Every four years, people across the country head to the polls to exercise their rights as they vote for the next President of the United States. Once the votes are finished being counted, the next few months are riddled with anticipation and as January 20th approaches, hope springs as celebrations are planned, and the Inauguration comes to fruition.
Beginning in 1953, at the request of incoming President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Medal of Honor Recipients have a long-standing invitation to the Inauguration and the Veterans Inaugural Ball. The Veterans Inaugural Ball is the longest-continuous veterans ball that offers the newly-elected or re-elected Commander-In-Chief the opportunity to pay tribute to Medal of Honor Recipients and their fellow veterans. It also represents an opportunity for Medal of Honor Recipients to witness first-hand the transition of power, reacquaint themselves with their fellow Recipients, and to share the Medal’s values with those in attendance.
Along with the Veterans Ball, Medal of Honor Recipients are also invited to enjoy the Inaugural Parade as the procession, featuring military regiments, marching bands, and parade floats, makes its way down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. They are also invited by various military entities and veterans service organizations to attend many local events.
Historically, Inauguration Day took place on March 4th at noon until the ratification of the 20th Amendment in 1933, despite the language not appearing in the original text of the U.S. Constitution. On September 12, 1788, the last Congress that convened under the Articles of the Confederation voted to approve the following resolution: “…the first Wednesday in March next be the time and the present seat of Congress the place for commencing proceedings under the said constitution.” The first Wednesday in March of 1789 happened to be March 4. This resolution established this date as the start of the new federal government under the ratified Constitution.
Despite this, George Washington’s Inauguration did not take place until April 30, 1789, due to several logistical delays. The House of Representatives and the Senate struggled to meet the minimum number of members required to conduct official business due to the first few months of 1789 being particularly cold and snowy, making travel difficult. Eventually, enough members of Congress gathered to constitute a quorum on April 6, 1789, and once the electoral votes were counted, Washington won the Presidency and was finally inaugurated on April 30, 1789.
After the first Inauguration, Congress set the official day as March 4th. Notes from Washington’s Cabinet meeting on February 28, 1793, included his statement that 12 o’clock was presumed to be the best time to have the Inauguration and from this point forward, they were typically held on March 4th at noon. It was further codified with the ratification of the 12th Amendment, which modified the way in which the Electoral College chooses the President and Vice President, allowing these positions to be elected together. This amendment became the only direct mention of March 4 in the Constitution.
The majority of Presidents prior to 1933 were inaugurated on this date and exceptions were made in 1821, 1849, 1877, and 1917, as March 4 fell on a Sunday and the ceremony was held on the following day. Some were sworn in privately at the traditional time of noon on March 4 when it fell on a Sunday.
This changed when the 20th Amendment, known as the “lame duck,” was proposed and authored by progressive Nebraska Senator George Norris in 1922. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, travel and communications were more difficult, making the nearly four month gap between winning the election and taking the oath necessary. However, by the 20th Century, much had improved in terms of travel and technology.
But this wasn’t the only reason Norris proposed the amendment. Previously, a President that lost re-election could govern until the new President took over without having to be responsible to voters. Shortening this period was meant to strengthen Democracy and avoid a future Constitutional crisis. Norris introduced this legislation five times before finally being successful on the sixth try in March of 1932. The Amendment passed Congress and was ratified by the States in January 1933.
Today, Presidents serve a four year term starting on January 20th at noon and ending four years from that exact date and time. In the years where January 20th is on a Sunday, a private swearing-in ceremony happens and then a public swearing-in ceremony takes place the following day.
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About the Congressional Medal of Honor Society
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Medal of Honor, inspiring America to live the values the Medal represents, and supporting Recipients of the Medal as they connect with communities across America.
Chartered by Congress in 1958, its membership consists exclusively of those individuals who have received the Medal of Honor. There are fewer than 70 living Recipients.
The Society carries out its mission through outreach, education and preservation programs, including the Medal of Honor Museum, Medal of Honor Outreach Programs, the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, and the Medal of Honor Citizen Honors Awards for Valor and Service. The Society’s programs and operations are funded by donations.
As part of Public Law 106-83, the Medal of the Honor Memorial Act, the Medal of Honor Museum, which is co-located with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s headquarters on board the U.S.S. Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, was designated as one of three national Medal of Honor sites.
Learn more about the Medal of Honor and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s initiatives at cmohs.org