THE STEPS

THE STEPS	Announcement	Primaries/Caucus	Conventions
Official Campaign	General Election	Electoral College	Inauguration

Ceremony and Celebrations

It looks like the process is finally coming to a close...or is it just the beginning? What is the real purpose of the Inauguration Ceremony? What is usually found in the Presidential inauguration speeches? Why is it a tradition to have an inaugural poem? Is this just a big excuse for a party and parade? Discover what's behind all the hype and hoopla.

Inauguration logo

Sites to Explore

Get the word on the past Presidential inaugural speeches.

http://www.bartleby.com/124/

How is an inaugural speech analyzed? What do goals, tone, and key phrases have to do with it?

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/january97/speech_writers_1-17.html

How has the Library of Congress recorded past Presidential inaugurations?

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/features/inaug/inaug.html

What are the words said by the President in taking the Oath of Office? Take a

look at the U.S. Constitution Article II, Section I and Amendment 20 Section I.

http://wwwsecure.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articleii.html#section1

Examine some historic examples of the Oath of Office ceremony.

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/features/inaug/oath.html

Test your knowledge about past Presidential inaugurals.

http://www.nara.gov/nara/digital/quiz/quiz.html

http://www.pbs.org/inaugural97/quiz/index.html

Learn the rhyme and reason for inauguration poems.

http://www.pbs.org/inaugural97/poetopening.html

Get the picture at the Smithsonian Inauguration Photo Collection.

http://photo2.si.edu/inaugural/inau_top/inaugural.html

Make the Inauguration come alive with these video clips and photos of Kennedy to Clinton.

http://europe.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/resources/inaugural/sights.sounds/

Discover the role of First Ladies at the Inauguration.

http://www.zweb.com/parpro/Inauguration.html

Take an up close look at the 1997 Inauguration.

http://www.jobs.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/inaug/postspec/postspec.htm