Main Page Events  Inauguration Day Speech

The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) organized a full schedule of events leading up to the swearing in ceremony on January 20, 1993.  A December 2 PIC press release promised an inaugural that would be the "most accessible, inclusive and diverse in recent history."  Chairman Ron Brown stated, "An American Reunion will celebrate a new beginning--days committed to restoring hope, confidence, and a sense of common purpose by rededicating government to our fundamental democratic principles and traditions."

Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) Leadership:
Chairman                         Ron Brown
General Co-Chairs           Harry Thomason and Linda Bloodworth Thomason
Co-Executive Directors    Rahm Emanuel and Mary Mel French

Hundreds of staff and thousands of volunteers worked out of 92,000 square feet of office space at the PIC headquarters in the Washington Navy Yard.  PIC staff had not only to create events, but also to attend to a host of details such as ticketing, security, transportation and finances.  On December 11 PIC opened an 800 number to answer questions about inaugural events and tickets.  A week or two later an Inaugural Commemoratives Store opened in the 1700 block of L Street.  As the great day approached, a PIC Media Center, a separate entity from the transition press office, was set up in George Washington University's Marvin Center, where it operated from January 10 to January 21.[1]

All told, PIC spent about $30 million on inaugural preparations.  The money came from sales of tickets, television rights and commemoratives.  In addition, about 200 corporations and wealthy individuals provided $17 million in interest-free loans.[2] Corporations also donated $2.5 million to subsidize the public events, and provided products and equipment to the Inaugural Committee. 

The Armed Forces Inaugural Committee (AFIC), a joint task force of the five Armed Forces branches, began work in April 1992.  AFIC was chaired by Major General William F. Streeter, U.S. Army.

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), chaired by Kentucky Senator Wendell Ford, was responsible for all events at the Capitol.[3]

Notes.
1. Specifics in this paragraph are from PIC newsletters and press releases.

2. Reported in the Washington Post on January 14 and in the New York Times on January 17 and 18.

3. See also: U.S. Senate "52nd Inaugural Ceremonies."