Inauguration Day

The day started with the Clintons and Gores attending an interfaith prayer service at the Metropolitan A.M.E. Church at 15th and M Streets, N.W. (>).  Afterwards, President and Mrs. Bush received President-elect and Mrs. Clinton at the White House.  The Inaugural ceremony, at the West Front of the Capitol, began at 11:30 am (>).  Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist administered the oath of office to President-elect Clinton.  President Clinton focused on the theme of American renewal in his Inaugural Address, which lasted about 15 minutes.

	Prelude	United States Marine Band
	Call to Order and Welcoming Remarks	Hon. Wendell H. Ford (D-KY)
	Invocation	Rev. Billy Graham
	Musical Selection	Philander Smith College Choir (Little Rock, Ark.)
	Vice Presidential Oath of Office
	An American Medley	Marilyn Horne
	Presidential Oath of Office
	Inaugural Address
	Poem	Maya Angelou
	Benediction	Rev. Billy Graham
	The National Anthem	Marilyn Horne

The Clintons and Gores then went to the congressional luncheon in Statuary Hall.  The three-course meal consisted of grilled salmon with sorrel sauce; rosemary chicken with pecan rice, ginger baby carrots and broccoli flowerets; and apple-cranberry Brown Betty with creme anglaise.

At about 2:00, led by their escort, they headed to the Presidential Viewing Stand which had been constructed in front of the White House.  The Inaugural Parade consisted of "civilian and military bands and marching units, floats, equestrian units, and a variety of performers and entertainers from all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories."  A PIC press release explained that, "To insure diversity, the PIC invited and accepted nominations from Members of Congress, state and local government officials, representatives of the Clinton/Gore campaign, as well as individuals from around the country."  Each unit selected by the PIC appeared at its own expense.

The day closed with the Clintons and Gores making the rounds at inaugural balls (>).  The Clintons started at the Medal of Honor Inaugural Ball at the Capitol Hilton.  Others on the list were:

Arkansas Ball   MA, ME, NH, VT...    DC, NY        CA...         IN,OH,MI,WV,AK,HI,GA,KY   TX, LA, FL...           National Ball   IL, MO, WI...       MD, VA, PA           Tennessee Ball     Youth Ball

Washington Convention Center (Hall B) Washington Convention Center (Hall C) D.C. Armory Kennedy Center Air and Space Museum Omni Shoreham Hotel National Building Museum Sheraton Washington Hotel Union Station Washington Hilton Hotel Old Post Office Pavilion

In addition to the official balls attended by the Clintons and Gores, various groups organized unofficial balls and events around town.