Punctual President on His Biggest Day

For those seeking clues about how America’s new president likes to operate, George W. Bush obliged Saturday even before taking the oath of office.

On a day of pomp and circumstance, with its finely synchronized rituals, Bush arrived at the Capitol for his inauguration a full five minutes early--fresh evidence that he hates to be late.

After the inauguration, a speech-laden luncheon at the Capitol ran overtime, delaying the start of the parade.

But don’t count on Bush being tardy too many more times in the next four years. As governor, he often arrived so early for events that he and his entourage had to drive around the block to pass the time.

Bush began his day by attending a prayer service at St. John’s Episcopal Church on the other side of Lafayette Park from the White House.

At midmorning, he and his wife, Laura, went to the executive mansion for coffee with the Clintons and the Gores.

At the executive mansion’s north portico, the Bushes were met by outgoing President Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Amid the handshaking, Laura Bush said to her soon-to-be predecessor: “Good morning, senator.”

Bush gave a thumbs-up to reporters and photographers at the doorway.

Two minutes later, Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, greeted Gore’s successor, Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne, at the same doorway.

Also attending were several congressional leaders, including House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi, Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri and Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.).

Continuing the ceremonial courtesy of their White House visit, Clinton and Bush shared a limousine ride to the Capitol for the official transfer of power.

Shortly after he was sworn in, in one of his first acts as the nation’s 43rd president, Bush signed papers to submit his Cabinet nominations to the Senate. The signing was a formality; seven of Bush’s nominees were confirmed by the Senate within hours of the inauguration.

He also issued a formal document proclaiming the day a national day of prayer and thanksgiving and a second document setting forth ethics rules for officials in his administration, reminding them of legal limits on post-government lobbying.

Andrew H. Card Jr., the new White House chief of staff, sent a memorandum to the heads of all agencies that effectively halted a series of regulations that Clinton issued in his final days.

The order reportedly applied to such orders as new regulations for managed care programs under Medicare and new environmental rules on runoff from animal feeding operations.

The order suspends the printing of new rules in the Federal Register, effectively blocking them from taking effect, at least temporarily.

Today, the Bushes are scheduled to attend a morning prayer service at the National Cathedral. In the afternoon, they are to preside at an open house as well as host individuals from around the country whom Bush met during last year’s campaign. Bush is to give them a special guided tour of the White House.

The Bushes moved into the mansion Saturday afternoon, and a number of their immediate family members, including former President Bush and his wife, Barbara, were to spend the night there.

Saturday evening, the new president and first lady attended a series of inauguration galas and balls that kept them up until the wee hours--another early test for a man who would much rather be home in bed than at a soiree.

Even as Bush and his wife were doing the box step all over town, his parents chose to stay in, settling down at the White House for the night with other members of their extended family.

Just like old times.

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Times staff writer James Gerstenzang contributed to this story.