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Library of Congress INFORMATION BULLETIN Vol. 52, No. 2 Published Biweekly January 25, 1993 ‘I Do Solemnly Swear... ’: Presidential Inaugurations Library of Congress INFORMATION BULLETIN JAMES H. BILLINGTON Librarian of Congress On the Cover: In this photomural of a woodcut, Chester A. Arthur takes the oath of office, Sept. 26, 1881, at his residence in New York City. The 21st president succeeded James A. Garfield after his assassination. The oath was administered at Arthur’s Lexington Avenue home without benefit of a Bible. He later took the oath again at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Cover Stories: C) Little in the inauguration ceremony has changed since George Washington was first sworn in. The Constitution requires that just a simple 35-word oath be taken. All other events—the parade, inauguration address, fireworks, balls—are rooted in traditions that have survived for more than two centuries. CJ Inaugural Expertise: The Library has made some major contribu- tions of time and expertise to the inaugural ceremonies of Bill Clinton. Cutback Delay: Originally scheduled for Jan. 5, the reduction in the number of hours selected reading rooms are open has been TALES put off until Jan. 29. EDGAR ALLAN POR Vatican On-Line: “Rome Reborn: The Vatican Library and Renaissance Culture,” a major exhibition at the Library of Congress, will “travel” in a unique way: Electronic access is available to those who can’t make the trip to Washington. Graduation Day: The Soros Fellows, a group of librarians from Eastern Europe who came to the Library for three months to study its policies, took part in a reception marking the end of their visit. News from the Center for the Book ‘Best-Seller’: The Library’s Federal Research Division found it- self with an unexpected “best-seller” recently when its updated Somalia country studies volume was coincidentally reissued as U.S. troops were being sent to Africa for relief efforts. The Library of Congress Information Bulletin is issued biweekly except in August (no issues published) and in December (one issue published) by the Public Affairs Office of the Library of Congress and distributed free of charge to publicly supported libraries and research institutions, academic libraries, learned societies and allied organizations in the United States. Comparable institutions and organizations in other countries may arrange to receive the Bulletin on an exchange basis by applying in writing to the Library’s Exchange and Gift Division. All other correspondence should be addressed to the LC Informa- tion Bulletin, Public Affairs Office, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540-8610. PRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPER Guy LAMOLINARA, Editor by the Library of Congress Lucy D. SUDDRETH, Editorial Assistant Printing and Processing Section ANN M. JEFFERSON, MALINDA B. NEALE, PEGGY F. PIXLEY, Composing Budget Shortfall Causes Reading Room Cutbacks: Implementation are yed — Jan. ae The Library of Congress has an- nounced a delay until Jan. 29 in reducing reading room hours on Tuesday and Friday evenings. A previous announcement, issued Dec. 3, gave notice that hours would be reduced nine hours per week beginning on Jan. 5. The reading rooms affected are Main, Law Library, Newspaper and Current Periodicals, Business, Sci- ence, Microfilm and Local History and Genealogy. As of Jan. 29, these seven reading Areas such as the Newspaper and Current Periodicals Reading Room rooms will close on Tuesday and Fri- will be affected by Library cutbacks. Photo by Reid Baker day evenings at 5 p.m. rather than at 9:30 p.m. The hours of the Li- price increases on goods and ser- all Library operations at current brary’s 15 other reading rooms will vices. Just to keep up with these levels. remain unchanged. “mandatories,” the Library need- The Library’s increased operating The delay of four weeks is de- ed a 6 percent annual budget in- costs in the current fiscal year, which signed to allow both staff and read- crease. began Oct. 1, include outlays for im- ers more time to adjust their In an earlier letter to users of the proving collections security and for schedules and make alternative ar- reading rooms, Dr. Billington noted cataloging a backlog of unprocessed rangements. that “Tuesday and Friday evenings, materials, as well as mandatory pay These same seven reading rooms on average, are the least busy.” Sur- increases. will be closed on Sundays during veys show that only 150 to 200 read- Dr. Billington said the Library was the summer, from Memorial Day ers are in the seven reading rooms “exploring additional cost-saving through Labor Day. in the evenings. measures” and invited written sug- “The Library of Congress is both During the summer, use of these gestions from Library users. the national library, serving scholars rooms on Sundays is lower by one- Exhibition hours in the Madison and the nation’s other libraries, and third. In the 236-seat Main Reading Building will remain the same. Madi- an agency of the legislative branch,” Room, for example, an average of 72 son Gallery, Madison Foyer and the wrote Librarian of Congress James people use the room on Sundays as Current Events Corridor exhibition H. Billington in a letter published opposed to an average of 108 on areas are open to the public Monday Jan. 6 by The Washington Post. “All Sundays the rest of the year. through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to too often its budget is casually in- “As many of you may know,” Dr. 9:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sun- cluded by the news media as part of Billington said in his letter, “the day from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. All ‘the cost of Congress.’ Library faces increasing fiscal con- other exhibition areas are open Mon- “Seeking to reduce that cost,” he straints along with major core de- day through Friday from 8:30 a.m. continued, “Congress cut all of its mands that cannot be further to 5 p.m., unless otherwise noted. agencies’ budgets, except those of deferred to ensure the security of In another cost-saving measure, the Library and the Botanic Garden, our unique collections, preserve the C Street door of the Madison by 6.5 percent this year. The Library them for future generations, and Building closes to the public after received a 1.9 percent ($6.1 million) reduce the backlog of unprocessed 5 p.m. weekdays. After 5 p.m. the increase for fiscal 1993.” materials so that they can be made remaining officer on duty will admit The reduction in hours resulted available to our users.” only Library and congressional staff from a $12.5 million shortfall in the The Librarian told readers that with identification and will conduct fiscal 1993 budget to pay for so- austerity measures, including a routine exit inspections as staff and called mandatories: federal pay and limited hiring freeze begun last the public leave the building up until cost-of-living increases to staff and spring, were not enough to sustain 9:45 p.m. JANUARY 25, 1993 le Double the Pleasure The opening of the Library ex- hibit “Rome Reborn: The Vatican Library and Renaissance Culture” on Jan. 8 also marked the re- opening of the Great Hall, now re- stored to its former glory. During a news conference Jan. 6, the media had a chance to ask questions regarding the unprecedent- ed Vatican loan of more than 200 items. During the exhibition’s first weekend, more than 5,000 peo- pie came to view the rare items, most of which have never been seen by the public and are un- likely ever to leave the Vatican Library again. While Dr. Billington addressed the reporters, also on hand to tive assistant to the Librarian of brary; and Anthony Grafton, chief answer questions were (from left): Congress and project director for curator. A full report will appear in Jill Brett, LC’s public affairs the exhibition; Father Leonard the Feb. 8 issue. Photo by Jim officer; Declan Murphy, execu- Boyle, prefect of the Vatican Li- Higgins The Vatican On-Line: Electronic Access Available for New Exhibition When the Library of Congress’s and images from the exhibition. transfer services throughout the new exhibition, “Rome Reborn: The The Vatican Library exhibition is world. Vatican Library and Renaissance the second in a series of pilot pro- For more information about Amer- Culture,” opened to visitors on grams to provide patrons through- ica Online, contact: Kathy Ryan, Jan. 8, patrons all over the world out the world with the opportunity America Online, 8619 Westwood also gained the opportunity to to enjoy the Library’s special exhibi- Center Drive, Vienna, VA 22182. “visit” much of this 200-item display tions. The first, the Library's exhibi- Telephone: (703) 883-1585. through their personal computers. tion of documents from the Russian Users of the Internet may ac- Thanks to agreements between Archives, was offered to America cess the files carrying the Vatican the Library of Congress and two Online and Internet users on June Library exhibition information by major computer networks, America 15, 1992, and is still available on-line. anonymous FTP from seq1.loc.gov Online, and the international net- America Online is a leading in- (140.147.3.12) in the /pub/vatican.ex- work, Internet, patrons are able to dependent provider of interactive hibit directory. To learn more about — transfer files containing text and im- services for personal computer the Internet, contact any major ages of the exhibition to their com- users. It offers subscribers a variety university library or the many pub- puters for home viewing. Users are of features, including electronic lic and commercial on-line informa- permitted to download (store) the mail, interactive forums, software tion companies that provide access. transmitted information for personal files, computing support, on-line Additional information related to and educational use, but may not classes, news, stock quotes and the exhibition is also available on sell or mass-produce it. Through other information. LC’s Internet address via anony- these two services, an estimated 20 Internet is a nonprofit network of mous FTP at seq1.loc.gov. The files million people in 72 countries have networks offering on-line mail, are in the /pub/Library.of.Congress direct access to sample documents forum and document and data directory and subdirectories. 28 LC INFORMATION BULLETIN Graduation Day: Soros Fellows Conclude Their Stay at the Library On Dec. 11 trainers, supervisors, Mary Pickford Theater. the presentation of certificates. mentors and LC managers bid fare- Welcoming remarks were made by The Visiting Fellows left Washing- well to the 1992 class of Library of Vera DeBuchananne, the program’s ton on Dec. 12 for Urbana, Ill., where Congress/Soros Foundation Visiting 1992 coordinator, followed by re- they spent a week at the University Fellows during a reception held in marks from representatives of the of Illinois Library. They spent their the West Dining Room of the Madi- 1992 class: Natalja Kutovenko, final weekend in the United States in son Building. library director at the International New York City as guests of the Soros The Visiting Fellows —14 librarians Banking Institute in St. Petersburg; Foundations, where they met with and information specialists from 14 Bohdana Stoklasova, chief analyst Soros officials, attended a reception countries in Central and Eastern Eu- at the National Library in Prague, in their honor at the New York Pub- rope—had completed a three-month Czechoslovakia; and Aleksandra lic Library, took in a Broadway play intensive program at the Library Horvat, assistant professor of In- and toured the city. consisting of one month of orienta- formation Science, Faculty of They return home not only with a tion and two months’ training and Philosophy, at the University of better understanding of how libraries work tailored to their professional Zagreb, Croatia. The ceremony con- in democratic societies operate, but needs. The reception was followed cluded with remarks by Daniel Mul- also with ideas for professional cooper- by a graduation ceremony in the hollan, acting Deputy Librarian, and ation among their home institutions. Soros Fellows at the Dec. 11 reception were (clockwise from top left): Valentina Pashkova, Zlata Dimec, Ulle Soosalu, Maria Doombalakova, Hanna Misiewicz and Natalja Kutovenko; Grant Harris of the European Division, Mirela Djokic, Ana Maria Capalneanu and Valda Laucinya; Aleksandra Horvat, Bohdana Stoklasova, Maria Okalova, David Kraus of the European Division, David Cooper, Valdete Sala and Krisztina Varga; Constance Carter of the Science and Technol- ogy Division, Judith Cannan of Collections Services, Carol Redfearn of Integrated Support Services and Kutovenko JANUARY 25, 1993 29 EDERAL BAL “ue dead af CONE k Pivinted & Nald ; + 1 frootstt , Ne: w-Hawen sted Sell cs 3 ce ee ie eS tae is es ta st LC INFORMATION BULLETIN ‘| Do Solemnly Swear... LC Exhibition Chronicles an American Political Tradition by Guy Lamolinara eRe one: ES 0N.. “"s 444t is a scene unique in history .. . . Austere in the extreme.” So said Andrew J. Cosentino of the presidential inauguration ceremony, held every fourth year. Dr. Cosentino of the Interpretive Programs Office is curator of “’I Do Solemnly Swear . . . ’: Presidential Inaugurations, 1789-1993,” an exhibition of 75 items on view in the Library’s Madison Building through Feb. 21. Although most people do not as- sociate “austere” with the hoopla that surrounds the ceremony, Dr Cosentino points out that all that is required by the Constitution is a ae simple oath of 35 words. “The use of a Bible, the inaugural speech, the parades, balls, fireworks, comresee oY galas and other festivities are all MuwuT a Dew wae ast | :< rooted in tradition—many estab- lished by Washington at his first inauguration,” said Dr. Cosentino. “It aEBMMAUL PT aI ASNSO RE ial cAGe t e: is remarkable how little has changed Fable.w hen ¥ G Willig Jt in the way Inauguration Day is ob- Aa Bog harris low served. Even the parade route from tnhuee , Catpoi ttohle, Wuhpi tPee nHnosuylsvea niisa esAsveen-- tna a tit td fazreis p tially the same as it’s always been.” preeesisoS bined Yel tw cbr Nd Cl, athe Abou! ratSioonmse: highlights of past inaugu- Pye atnkee 6b bAr e1 AaAVl esAI OsLe momAe looUnade na vaAnAt e t:g earee feen CO) George Washington. The first tthud tad Pande We Yrd eiree gaai so t oyS eg, inauguration of the first president of the United States occurred April 30, ts wona te tiab h ey Mh. 1789. At the time New York was the temporary capital and Washington The first time: This photomural (opposite) of an engraving depicts the traveled by carriage and, for cere- April 30, 1789, inauguration of George Washington at Federal Hall in New monial purposes, at times on horse- York City, the nation’s temporary capital. The original 1790 engraving by back, from Mount Vernon. The A. Doolittle is in the New York Public Library; (this page) cover of sheet inauguration was held over a month music for “Grand Inauguration March,” written in honor of William Henry later than the prescribed date of Harrison, who died one month after his swearing in of March 4, 1841, March 4 because “it took until early after delivering, on a cold and wet day, the longest inaugural speech on April to achieve a congressional quo- record—over 8,000 words. As the handwriting at bottom shows, the sheet rum and to officially count the votes music was given in 1888 to William Henry's grandson Benjamin, in antic- of the Electoral College,” said Dr. ipation of his victorious presidential campaign. From Music Division JANUARY 25, 1993 Cosentino. Once Washington was told of his election, he “reluctantly left his beloved Mount Vernon” and took an overland route by carriage to New Jersey. From there he took a boat to New York, where he was sworn in at Federal Hall, overlook- ing Wall Street. According to Dr. Cosentino, “Many precedents were set in this first inauguration: the swearing in took place outside; the oath was taken upon a Bible; Washington gave an address, the contents of which in many ways set the pattern for all sub- sequent addresses; and several festivities accompanied the inauguration, including fireworks, a parade and a ball, held about a week later.” The exhibition features one of the 16 pages of Washington’s first inaugural address, in his own hand, from LC’s collections. (1) Thomas Jefferson. The third president was the first to be inaugurated in the new capital city of Washington. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Marshall administered the oath, as he would to Jeffer- son’s four successors. Jefferson's election as a Democratic-Republican also marked the beginning of the two-party system. Former president and Federalist John Adams boycot- ted the ceremony. The second inauguration of Lin- coln (standing at podium), 1865; an attempt on his life during the ceremony was described in a letter by Commissioner of Buildings Benja- min B. French. From Prints and Photographs Division; this note, written Aug. 23, 1864, to Lincoin’s Cabinet, dwells on the forthcoming election and the long hiatus between election and inauguration (March 4, in those days). Assuming that “this administration will not be reelected,” Lincoln nonetheless planned to cooperate with the new president “to save the Union” during the hiatus, “as he will have se- cured his election on such ground that he cannot possibly save it after- wards.” From Manuscript Division LC INFORMATION BULLETIN C) James Monroe. The fifth president ushered in the “era of good feelings,” a time when prosperity seemed assured and the nation dra- matically increased in size with the filling in of the Louisiana Territory. Dr. Cosentino notes that Monroe was the first to take the oath and deliver his address outdoors— Washington had taken only the oath outdoors. But it was John Quincy Adams who, in 1825, was the first inaugurated on the East Portico of the Capitol—a tradition that lasted until 1981. C) Andrew Jackson. The seventh president's insistence on the preservation of the Union presages Lin- coln’s and is summarized in his first inaugural address (1829), page one of which is on display: “My country- men will ever find me ready to ex- ercise my constitutional powers in arresting measures which may directly or indirectly encroach upon the rights of the States. . . . But of equal, and indeed, of incalculable, The design of the cover of this 1897 inaugural ball booklet is similiar importance is the union of these to those used during the 19th and early 20th centuries, although, in its States, and the sacred duty of all to lavishness, it is typically late 19th century. From Manuscript Division contribute to its preservation.” CJ William Henry Harrison. The into pneumonia. He died exactly 1861, “no doubt because the dark ninth president and the fifth from one month later. clouds of secession hung over his in- Virginia (the others: Washington, In another first for Harrison’s inauguration. He attended the second Jefferson, Madison and Monroe) auguration, the “Grand Inaugura- because the Civil War’s outcome in held many distinctions. He was the tion March” was written in his honor favor of the Union seemed immi- first president to study medicine, the and piayed by the U.S. Marine nent,” said Dr. Cosentino. first president-elect to arrive at the Band. The band has performed dur- Lincoln’s second address, deliv- capital by train, the only president ing every inauguration since then. ered from the East Portico of the to have a grandson (Benjamin Har- OC) James Buchanan. The 15th Capitol, “is probably the most fam- rison) elected president, and the first president was the first bachelor to be ous of all inaugural addresses,” said president to die in office and lie in elected and was sworn in March 4, Dr. Cosentino. “The power of its state in the White House (he served 1857. His ceremonies were also the sentiment is deepened even further one month—the shortest of all first to be photographed, as shown when it is read as a counterpoint to terms). in the exhibition. the first inaugural address, perhaps But “Tippecanoe’s” most dubious C) Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln’s as Lincoln meant it to be,” he said. distinction was that he gave the second inauguration, in 1865, fol- On both occasions, Dr. Cosentino longest inaugural speech ever—over lowing his Emancipation Proclama- continued, “he cited the responsibil- 8,000 words and taking almost two tion, was the first in which blacks ities of the opposing sections, North hours to deliver. Tradition holds that participated: A battalion of black and South, as well as his own as the speech would have been longer soldiers marched in the parade from chief magistrate.” Lincoln also both had not Daniel Webster edited it. the Capitol to the White House. times appealed to the basic human- March 4, 1841, was a cold, wet A photograph from the exhibition ity of the nation’s citizenry, hoping day. Harrison refused to wear a coat shows the 16th president’s second that “the mystic chords of memory” or hat during the ceremonies and inaugural ball, held March 6, 1865. would “swell the chorus of the Union” caught a cold, which later turned He did not attend the first ball in and lead to that transcendent moment JANUARY 25, 1993 33 when all could say, “With malice toward none, with charity for all.” In addition to a photocopy of the original speech, which is in the Man- uscript Division, the exhibition in- cludes the Bible used in Lincoln’s first inauguration, in 1861. In a hand- written note in the back of the Bible, which is in the custody of the Rare Book and Special Collections Divi- sion, William Thomas Carroll, clerk of the Supreme Court, said that Chief Justice Roger B. Taney used the Bible in administering the oath. Lincoln was assassinated April 14, 1865. Two other attempts on his life were made at inauguration time. One was in February 1861, when he was traveling from Baltimore to Washington; the plan was uncov- ered and thwarted by the president's security personnel. The second was March 4, 1865, and was described by Benjamin B. French, commissioner of public buildings, in a letter, seen TTERY -iINPUGURATION in the exhibition. French describes a man jumping from the crowd “as the [inaugural] procession was passing through the Rotunda toward the Eastern portico. . . . [We] stopped him. He said he had a [word missing] right there, & looked very fierce & angry... . [Later]... a gentleman told {us}... that Booth was in the crowd .. . and broke into the line & .. . brought me a photograph of Booth and I recognized it at once.... My theory is that he meant to rush behind the President and assassinate him, & in the con- fusion escape into the crowd again. . . . All this is mere surmise, but the man was in earnest, & had some errand.” OC) Rutherford B. Hayes. Because March 4 fell on a Sunday (for the third time) and because of the turmoil surrounding his election, the 19th president was sworn in during a President and Mrs. Taft, March 4, 1909, ride from the Capitol to the “secret” ceremony in the White House White House after the inaugural ceremonies, the first time a first lady had on March 3, 1877. He took the oath made such a trip; the Mountain Battery in Taft's inaugural parade marches again, publicly, on March 5. “With up Pennsylvania Avenue; this was one of the stormiest Inauguration Days the election of Hayes, the difficult era on record. From Prints and Photographs Division of Radical Reconstruction came to an 34 LC INFORMATION BULLETIN