It only happens every four years and is arguably the biggest party in the nation, but no matter who wins the presidential election, Inauguration Day is likely to be scaled back.
The reason isn’t the long-term weather forecast, like in 1985, but the lingering coronavirus crisis.
“We clearly are considering that as a likely thing we’ll have to deal with,” said Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies that manages the swearing-in ceremony.
“The biggest complication this time is wondering about the COVID impact on the inauguration,” he told Secrets.
The worst case scenario? If elected, Joe Biden has told close advisers that his ceremony could go virtual, eliminating the stage and crowds below the swearing-in.
Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, for example, said that his longtime partner, former Sen. John Breaux, has been in regular contact with Biden and the virtual inauguration has been raised.
“In talking yesterday to one of our clients, Breaux made the point, and I think he knows what he’s talking about, it kind of surprised me though, that if it’s Biden it might be a virtual inauguration. Breaux said they’ve already said it would be a virtual inauguration,” he said.
Trump has not suggested any changes if he wins a second term.
Blunt has unusual insight into the event because this is his second inauguration as chairman, a role given to the leaders of the Senate Rules Committee. “The second time you do have a little more of a concept of how many things can go wrong and the incredible vulnerability of the moment but also the incredible importance of the moment. Millions of people all over the world watch the presidential inauguration,” he said.
Planning has been underway for about a month. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies has a $1.5 million budget, a staff, many regulars to inaugural duties, and construction of the podium and seating rows began in September.
For now and until at least Christmas, Blunt said that the committee is moving ahead as if the inauguration is going to be like it always has been.
“We’ve decided that we are going to move forward with a traditional inauguration as our goal and then as we find out more and more about what Jan. 20 will be like to have some ability to add to that,” he said.
The last time an inaugural was radically changed was in 1985, for former President Ronald Reagan’s second. Due to the 7 degree thermometer reading at noon, the outdoor events were canceled.
Lott recalled that when he chaired former President George W. Bush’s second inauguration, security was a new and overwhelming issue because it was the first post-9/11. He said that a whole new security network was put in place but that despite much longer lines, “people were understanding.”
This time the virus could affect the parade and inaugural balls, events not hosted by Blunt’s committee but funded by the winning candidate’s Presidential Inaugural Committee.
Reagan historian Craig Shirley worked on the 1985 committee. He was in charge of taking care of the nation’s governors. He recalled the bitter temperatures that day and said events had to be changed to keep people safe.
This time, he added, the virus is likely to have an even bigger impact because of social distancing and mask rules, especially at the dozen or so balls.
“They’ll be vastly diminished, vastly, vastly, vastly diminished,” he said. “You’re just not going to get the people coming,” he added.
Still, said Blunt, the swearing-in portion will go on outside even if COVID-19 spreading fears result in fewer who are allowed on the main stage to join the winning candidate’s family, former presidents and vice presidents, judges, and lawmakers.
“You can in a socially distanced way still incorporate a whole lot more people outside than you could inside. I think that will be what we will do unless it’s just impossible to stay outside as it was in 1985,” said the Republican senator.
And in the end, it’s the image of a peaceful ceremony that matters most. “It’s a wonderful thing to be involved in, and I’m glad to get to do it,” he said, adding, “There’s a lot to be concerned about, but there’s also a lot to be grateful about as you look forward to being part of something this important to the country and this import to the world.”
