The Inauguration of 1913
This month will feature the second inauguration of President Barack Obama, so let me use this month to look back on some of the previous inaugurations of Presidents. As you probably know, The inauguration of the President of the United States takes place at the commencement of a new term of a president of the United States, on January 20th of the year following the previous election. If January 20th falls on a Sunday (like it will this year), the inauguration takes place the next day on Monday, January 21. Prior to the Twentieth Amendment, Inauguration Day was held on March 4, the day of the year on which the Constitution of the United States first took effect in 1789. The last inauguration to take place on the older date was Franklin D. Roosevelt's first one on March 4, 1933.
A century ago, in March of 1913, a transition in the White House was taking place as President-Elect Woodrow Wilson was about to replace the recently defeated William Howard Taft. By most accounts, the transition was a cordial one and in fact Taft considered inviting the Wilsons to spend the evening of March 3, 1913 at the White House, but first lady Helen Taft vetoed the plan, not because of any animosity toward the Wilsons, but because she found it awkward when the same courtesy had been extended to her four years earlier.
Wilson made inquiries of Taft about some domestic issues such as asking Taft for his candid impression of the White House housekeeper Mrs. Jaffray (Taft gave her a glowing reference). Taft also recommended that Wilson retain the services of Arthur Brooks, an African-American butler, who Taft described in the jargon of the times as being "without exception the most trustworthy colored man in the District of Columbia." Wilson did not follow that recommendation. Taft planned a trip to Augusta, Georgia after the inauguration, for some golf and relaxation.
The Wilsons arrived in Washington on the afternoon of Monday, March 3 and stayed at the Shoreham Hotel. Taft spent the day meeting with newspaper correspondents and signed thousands of requests for autographs. He went to bed, but got up at 2:30 a.m. to sign more of them.
On Tuesday, March 4th (Inauguration Day) Wilson and Taft were driven to the Capitol together where Wilson took the Oath of Office at 1:10 p.m. Upon completion of his inaugural address, Taft told Wilson "I wish you a successful administration and the carrying out of your aims. We will all be behind you."
Wilson's chief usher Ike Hoover recounted some awkwardness at a luncheon held at the White House that afternoon. In his book Forty-Two Years at the White House, Hoover wrote:
"Presently one of the ushers approached and informed Mr. Wilson that the luncheon party had already assembled in the dining room. The new President, taking the hint, gallantly turned to Mr. Taft and invited him to join him at lunch. I have no doubt that Mr. Wilson expected Mr. Taft to decline his invitation, for he looked ready to say goodbye. On the contrary, Mr. Taft was determined to have that lunch. It was really sad to observe Mr. Taft. No one seemed to pay any attention to him. It was now necessary for him to do a little hustling for himself, but he managed somehow to get hold of a bit of salad and a sandwich. Word finally came that Mrs. Taft would not wait for him any longer, but would continue on to the station. This had the desired effect and he was practically dragged from the scene of his former achievements."
Taft's biographer Henry F. Pringle doubts this account. In his book William Howard Taft: The Life and Times, Volume 2, Pringle writes that Taft had been asked to attend the luncheon in advance and had accepted the offer, while Mrs. Taft had declined because she was attending to details concerning the Tafts' departure from Washington. He quotes a previous letter written from Mrs. Wilson to Mrs. Taft which reads "I am very glad that the President can be with us on Tuesday at luncheon, and very sorry that you can not, but I understand perfectly the difficulties due to your early departure."
The Tafts boarded a train for Augusta at 3:10 p.m. On route, Taft read a very friendly New York Times editorial regarding his presidency which began with the sentence "President Taft has been the victim of too much Roosevelt."
A century ago, in March of 1913, a transition in the White House was taking place as President-Elect Woodrow Wilson was about to replace the recently defeated William Howard Taft. By most accounts, the transition was a cordial one and in fact Taft considered inviting the Wilsons to spend the evening of March 3, 1913 at the White House, but first lady Helen Taft vetoed the plan, not because of any animosity toward the Wilsons, but because she found it awkward when the same courtesy had been extended to her four years earlier.
Wilson made inquiries of Taft about some domestic issues such as asking Taft for his candid impression of the White House housekeeper Mrs. Jaffray (Taft gave her a glowing reference). Taft also recommended that Wilson retain the services of Arthur Brooks, an African-American butler, who Taft described in the jargon of the times as being "without exception the most trustworthy colored man in the District of Columbia." Wilson did not follow that recommendation. Taft planned a trip to Augusta, Georgia after the inauguration, for some golf and relaxation.
The Wilsons arrived in Washington on the afternoon of Monday, March 3 and stayed at the Shoreham Hotel. Taft spent the day meeting with newspaper correspondents and signed thousands of requests for autographs. He went to bed, but got up at 2:30 a.m. to sign more of them.
On Tuesday, March 4th (Inauguration Day) Wilson and Taft were driven to the Capitol together where Wilson took the Oath of Office at 1:10 p.m. Upon completion of his inaugural address, Taft told Wilson "I wish you a successful administration and the carrying out of your aims. We will all be behind you."
Wilson's chief usher Ike Hoover recounted some awkwardness at a luncheon held at the White House that afternoon. In his book Forty-Two Years at the White House, Hoover wrote:
"Presently one of the ushers approached and informed Mr. Wilson that the luncheon party had already assembled in the dining room. The new President, taking the hint, gallantly turned to Mr. Taft and invited him to join him at lunch. I have no doubt that Mr. Wilson expected Mr. Taft to decline his invitation, for he looked ready to say goodbye. On the contrary, Mr. Taft was determined to have that lunch. It was really sad to observe Mr. Taft. No one seemed to pay any attention to him. It was now necessary for him to do a little hustling for himself, but he managed somehow to get hold of a bit of salad and a sandwich. Word finally came that Mrs. Taft would not wait for him any longer, but would continue on to the station. This had the desired effect and he was practically dragged from the scene of his former achievements."
Taft's biographer Henry F. Pringle doubts this account. In his book William Howard Taft: The Life and Times, Volume 2, Pringle writes that Taft had been asked to attend the luncheon in advance and had accepted the offer, while Mrs. Taft had declined because she was attending to details concerning the Tafts' departure from Washington. He quotes a previous letter written from Mrs. Wilson to Mrs. Taft which reads "I am very glad that the President can be with us on Tuesday at luncheon, and very sorry that you can not, but I understand perfectly the difficulties due to your early departure."
The Tafts boarded a train for Augusta at 3:10 p.m. On route, Taft read a very friendly New York Times editorial regarding his presidency which began with the sentence "President Taft has been the victim of too much Roosevelt."