A Capital Celebration

A diverse array of entertainment and special events is planned to help mark the beginning of Bill Clinton’s presidency. The events begin with a bus trip today and end with a White House reception on Thursday.

Flashbacks

Some facts about past inaugurals:

* Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first President to hold two inaugural balls. John F. Kennedy held five and there were 11 at George Bush’s inauguration in 1989. Bill Clinton will also have 11.

* President Jimmy Carter held what was probably the most simple inaugural celebration in recent history. He called his inaugural balls “parties.”

* Longest inaugural address: 8,445 words, by William Henry Harrison in 1841

* Shortest inaugural address: 135 words, by George Washington in 1793 (his second address)

* The only thing a President is required to do at his inauguration is to take the oath of office, as stated in the Constitution.

* George Washington set many of the traditions still practiced, from the inaugural journey to the inaugural address. Though he owned much land and was considered wealthy, he had to borrow 600 pounds to finance his trip to New York for the first inauguration.

* Andrew Jackson invited the “common” people from throughout the country to his inauguration in 1829. A crowd of 20,000 showed up and the White House became a shambles as people stood on chairs with muddy boots and spilled punch on the carpet while cheering their President.

* The first organized parade was for James Madison in 1809.

* Martha Washington didn’t make it to New York in time for the inaugural ball in 1789, but Washington still attended parties and danced.

* In 1865, Vice President Andrew Johnson gave his speech while drunk. He had taken liquor due to illness.

* In 1981, Ronald Reagan switched the ceremony from the traditional site on the East Front of the Capitol to the West Front, where it was also held in 1989.

* The cost of putting on the inaugural ceremony for Franklin Pierce in 1853 was $322, including the pay of 16 extra policemen. This year’s price tag: $25 million, to be financed by private and corporate donations.

The Week’s Highlights

Listings are in Pacific Standard Time. Times remain unavailable for some events. Some TV times reflect tape delays:

Today

5 a.m.: President-elect and inaugural entourage attend religious service in Charlottesville, Va., tour Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and begin bus trip to Washington

7 a.m.-1 p.m.: “America’s Reunion on the Mall” in Washington, an outdoor festival featuring food, music and crafts

8 a.m.: Bus cavalcade stops for church service at Culpepper, Va., Baptist Church

Noon: Entourage arrives at the Lincoln Memorial on the downtown Washington Mall for “A Call for Reunion- A Musical Celebration,” at the Lincoln Memorial.

3 p.m.: “Bells for Hope.” After a procession across the Potomac River, the inaugural party will ring a replica of the Liberty Bell, marking the start of bell-ringing nationwide

3:15 p.m.: Fireworks display, Lincoln Memorial grounds

On TV Today

CNN: Live coverage begins at 5 a.m. and continues throughout the day.

C-SPAN: Live coverage begins at 5 a.m.

HBO: Lincoln Memorial concert, 8-10 p.m. (will be unscrambled for non-subscribers in many areas)

*

Monday

5 a.m.: Reception for the diplomatic corps at Georgetown University

7 a.m.-1 p.m.: “America’s Reunion on the Mall” continues

7 a.m.: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observance at Howard University

9 a.m.: “Faces of Hope” luncheon, Folger Library. Clinton and Gore host luncheon for 50 individuals they encountered during their White House campaigns

11 a.m.: Tennessee Street Festival for Gore’s family, friends and staff at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

On TV Today

CNN: Live reports, 2:30 p.m.

C-SPAN: Coverage throughout the day and recap, 5 p.m.

*

Tuesday

Governors’ luncheon at the Library of Congress

7:30 p.m.: “Salute to Children,” Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, including Mr. Rogers, the Muppets, Raffi, and Emmylou Harris

9:30 p.m.: “Salute to Youth,” Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, including entertainers Boyz II Men, Celine Dion and the Joffrey Ballet

4 p.m.: “Presidential Gala,” at the Capital Centre, with entertainment including Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Thelonious Monk Jr., Elton John, Barbra Streisand, James Earl Jones, Jack Nicholson, Bill Cosby, Chevy Chase, Wynton Marsalis, Judy Collins, Jack Lemmon, Herbie Hancock and Jack Nicholson

On TV Today

CNN: Live reports, 2:30 p.m.

C-SPAN: Recap of the day, 5 p.m.

DISNEY CHANNEL: (on participating cable systems) Children’s concert, 3 p.m. and again at 6 p.m.; youth concert, 5 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.

CBS: Presidential Gala, 6-8 p.m.

*

Wednesday

5 a.m.: Prayer service, Metropolitan AME Church

President and Mrs. Bush receive the Clintons at the White House

8:30 a.m. Inaugural ceremony, Capitol West Front

11 a.m.: Clintons and Gores leave the Capitol and head for the inaugural parade reviewing stand in front of the White House

11:30 a.m.: Inaugural Parade begins, following route along Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House

4 p.m.: Inaugural balls

On TV Wednesday

C-SPAN: Coverage begins at 5 a.m. and continues throughout the day. Parade coverage, 11:30 p.m.

ABC: Swearing-in, 7-10 a.m. Parade coverage, 11 a.m.

NBC: Swearing-in, 7-10 a.m. Recap of day’s events and coverage of inaugural balls, 10-11 p.m.

CBS: Swearing-in, 7-10 a.m. Special report on festivities, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m.

CNN: Swearing-in, 7 a.m. with updates throughout the day. Wrap-up of day’s activities, midnight.

KCET: Coverage begins at 7 a.m.

MTV: “The MTV Rock ‘n’ Roll Inaugural Ball,” 10-11:30 p.m.

*

Thursday

6-9 a.m.: Open House, White House (ticket required)

11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Reception for Arkansans, White House

The Weather Factor

William Henry Harrison caught cold during the inaugural ceremonies in 1841 and died of pneumonia a month later.

In 1985, 7-degree weather and a -20 windchill forced Ronald Reagan to cancel the inaugural parade.

Jimmy Carter’s inaugural in 1977 was held in 28-degree temperatures, with a windchill in the teens.

Light snow fell for Franklin D. Roosevelt’s inauguration in 1945.

Sources: Presidential Inaugural Committee, Times staff and wire reports, National Weather Service, Facts About the Presidents

The Main Events

Event: 1) Today, “America’s Reunion on the Mall” Description: Outdoor festival including regional food, music, crafts Location: The Mall Event: 2) “A Call for Reunion--A musical Celebration” Description: Concert and fireworks Location: Lincoln Memorial Event: 3) Monday: “The American Gala” Reunion of the Mall continues Description: Features “internationally renowned entertainment.” Location: The Capital Centre Event: Reunion of the Mall continues Location: The Mall Event: 4) Tuesday: “Salute to Children” and 5) “Salute to Youth” Description: No more seating is available, but these shows will be broadcast on the Disney Channel. Location: J.F.K. Center for the Performing Arts Event: 6) Wednesday: Inaugural Ceremony Description: Oath of office for vice president and President, inaugural address Location: West side of the U.S. Capitol Event: 7) Parade Description: Begins 11:30 a.m. Pacific time and follows traditional route along Pennsylvania Avenue Location: Capitol to the White House Event: 8) Thursday: “A Presidential Open House” Description: Invitation to the public to visit the new President and First Lady in their new home. Invitees determined by lottery. Location: The White House Oath of Office, 8:30 a.m., Wednesday

* Invocation by evangelist Billy Graham

* Vice President-elect Al Gore is administered the oath of office by Supreme Court Justice Byron White

* President-elect Clinton is administered the oath of office by Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist

* Clinton delivers inaugural address