Inauguration Crowd of 250,000 Foreseen : Presidency: A key official for the event says interest is high because of ‘pent-up aspirations of Democrats after 12 years of Republican rule.’

As many as 250,000 people, the largest such gathering in the nation’s history, are expected here for the inauguration of President-elect Bill Clinton, according to the chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

After briefing reporters on plans for the Jan. 20 event, the chairman, Sen. Wendell H. Ford (D-Ky.), hammered four nails into a section of pine scaffolding to mark the start of construction of temporary stands on the West Front of the Capitol.

Ford attributed the potential size of the gathering--which would amount to 100,000 more people than attended President Bush’s inauguration in 1989--to “pent-up aspirations of Democrats after 12 years of Republican rule.”

“Everywhere I go, people are besieging me for tickets. There seems to be much more interest than in past years,” he said.

Ford said that, aside from tickets to be distributed by aides to Clinton and Vice President-elect Al Gore, each member of the House of Representatives will have 100 invitations to dispense and each senator 200 tickets.

In addition to invited guests who will occupy large areas in front of the inaugural platform, about 75,000 to 80,000 people will be permitted to stand on the Mall, where they will get a clear view of the ceremonies.

Also, “Bill Clinton’s inauguration will be viewed around the world on television by tens of millions of people,” Ford said.

“No single event serves as a more vivid reminder of our freedom and democracy than this solemn but simple event, which takes place like clockwork every four years,” he said.

Congress has earmarked $906,000 for the noontime ceremonies, including $290,000 for construction of the stands. That construction bid is 10% below the cost of four years ago. The remaining funds, not all of which necessarily will be spent, will be used to install an expanded sound system for spectators on the Mall, for police and security details and for the new President’s traditional luncheon with members of Congress after his inaugural address, Ford said.

Inaugural balls that night largely will be paid for by ticket sales and through the sale of souvenirs and memorabilia, officials said. Details about scheduling, who will perform at the ceremonies and related events have yet to be planned, they said.

The inaugural is being developed by newly named inaugural chairman Ronald H. Brown, chairman of the Democratic National Committee; campaign aides Mel French, Rahm Emanuel, Bruce Lindsey and his wife, Beverly, and television producers Harry Thomason and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, close friends of Clinton.

Ford said the inaugural will mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson, the nation’s third President and its first Democratic chief executive, who also was the first President to be inaugurated at the Capitol.