Brett Baier: The day of the founding brings attention to America’s eternal promise

In the year At noon on January 20, 2025, Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. He will be only the second president to serve non-consecutive terms, Grover Cleveland being the first. Cleveland’s fate is the result of the regret of the ruling public. First elected in 1884, he lost to Benjamin Harrison in 1888 and his economic policies were a disaster. Harrison was so weak that Cleveland saw an opportunity to regain the White House. He was re-elected in 1892.

On Monday, Trump will repeat the rare act of Cleveland when he stops for an inauguration in Washington, D.C., on one of the coldest days of the year. Capital One Arena. Although more than 200,000 people have tickets to the inauguration, most will be watching on screens along with the rest of America. Only a handful of occasions have brought the systems in due to severe weather, most recently in 2015. For Ronald Reagan’s second anniversary in 1985, the temperature was seven degrees at noon.

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Inauguration Day is a constitutionally mandated ritual performance every four years to uphold the promise of democracy. A largely apolitical tradition, anyone who lays hands on the Bible is popular with the public. Every four years, this occasion is a celebration where we recognize what unites us. Americans have largely put their differences aside and focused on our enduring democracy. Serious feelings from the election may be delayed, but if the opening ceremony is only for one day, it will cross these parts.

It begins early in the morning, when the incoming president and his wife are traditionally greeted for tea at the White House by the president and his wife. Biden will host Trump on January 20. This tea is another example of the peaceful transition of power that can be difficult when winners and losers come together in those final moments. Trump skipped it entirely in 2021, but photos from various transitions show plenty of strong smiles. Everyone studies the photos for body language clues, but the bottom line is that it often happens. Americans like to see leaders from different parties communicate, even superficially. Note the explosive reaction in the press and social media to Trump and Obama smiling and talking at Jimmy Carter’s funeral.

It is also customary for outgoing and incoming presidents to ride together to the Capitol. In the year Trump and Obama sat together on Trump’s first inauguration in 2017. It is unclear whether Biden and Trump will share a car this time.

The inauguration itself follows tradition, with all four presidents — Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden — present. Taking pride of place alongside cabinet appointees and high-ranking guests will be some new faces for the occasion—a collection of the country’s top tech leaders, including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook and TikTok CEO Xu Zi. Chewing

Everyone looks forward to the inaugural speech that sets the tone for the new administration. Over the centuries, signature lines have become memorable after a president has come and gone. What makes a statement memorable is how well it reflects the enduring spirit of America. For example, Thomas Jefferson’s statement, “Not every difference of opinion is a difference of principle.” Or Abraham Lincoln. During the last and bloodiest days of the Civil War in 1865, he offered this wonderful olive branch: “In evil to none, in charity to all, as God has given us to see the right, to finish our work, to mend the nation’s wounds, to care for the war-weary, to care for the widow and the poor; Let us strive to do our best. Let us maintain a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

Franklin Roosevelt stood before a nation broken by the Great Depression and sought to create a new commitment with these words: “Therefore, first, let me affirm my strong convictions that The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.It takes effort to turn the paralysis of nameless, irrational, unverified terror into retreat.” John F. Kennedy gave perhaps the most famous inaugural address of all: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what your country can do for you.”

In Reagan’s first inaugural address, he laid out the guiding principle of American greatness in the world: “Above all, we must realize that no weapon, or any weapon in the world’s arsenal, is so formidable as will and moral courage.” free men and women”.

Reports from the Trump transition indicate that Trump will set the tone for his second inauguration, and if he does so, he will receive a positive public response. On this glorious day, Americans like their leaders to talk about what it’s all about right With America.

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After the ceremony, there will be a procession to the Capital One Arena. The inaugural parade, a tradition dating back to the nation’s earliest days, is a showcase of the best of American life, with marching bands, floats and exhibits representing the states. America’s sacrifice and courage will be seen with military units, police and fire departments.

This year’s parade features first responders from Butler County, Pennsylvania, the site of an assassination attempt on Donald Trump in July. They will honor Buffalo City Fire Chief Corey Comparatore, who was shot and killed that day.

Finally, it is customary for the outgoing president to slip a personal note to his successor in an Oval Office desk drawer. The tradition was started by Ronald Reagan, who left a personal note for George HW Bush. Then Bush did the same thing to Bill Clinton, “Now your success is our nation’s success, and I’m building hard for you.”

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As President Trump entered the White House for his first term, he received a note written by Barack Obama: “Millions have placed their hopes in you, and all of us, regardless of party, must hope for widespread prosperity and security under your presidency.” ”

Trump in 2016 They left a note for Joe Biden in 2021, which Biden said was a “very generous letter.” Now Joe Biden leaves a note for Trump. And so the great cycle of American life continues.

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