March 4, 2021 (Thursday)
Believe it or not, today’s date, March 4, was once upon a time a very significant date in the United States. Beginning with George Washington’s second inauguration in 1793, the inaugural date for a new president was March 4, and remained the inaugural date until January 20, 1937, when Franklin Roosevelt’s second inauguration was the first under the new date, as mandated by the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution. Thirteen presidents have been inaugurated since the change to January 20.
The date was changed because transportation and life in general was much different in 1937 than in 1793. The period between the election on November 3 and the inauguration on March 4 allowed plenty of time to get all the electoral votes counted and gave the new president and vice president time to get settled in at Washington before their term began.
The new date, January 20, shortened the period of time known as the “Lame Duck” session, by six weeks. In light of the most recent Lame Duck Session’s confusing activities, one wonders if inaugurations should take place sooner than January 20. With world-wide communications available these days, the words of a president speaking in any given place can be heard around the world, seconds after being spoken. Seems to me one month would be more than adequate, and even that might be too long.
I have steadfastly avoided politics in this blog, and my remarks today are not about politics but about Constitutional housekeeping. I’m for whatever will lessen confusion and make life easier for all of us. If a new person is elected to office, let’s give him his desk and chair as soon as possible. Not much need to wait anymore when planes can take people from place to place at 550 miles per hour, something unheard of in 1797.
Actually, more than convenience is involved as we think about this. Lincoln was elected November 3, 1860, but could not take office until March 4, 1861. During that “Lame Duck” period, seven states seceded from the Union, with four more preparing to follow. One wonders how history would read if Lincoln had become the new president four months earlier when he was elected.
Since we have changed the date for inauguration, why not start a new policy of by which the president can be elected by individual American citizens, instead of election by representatives of the states (Electoral College)? We do live in the computer age, do we not? Like it or not, we share a great big party line with instantaneous communication. With our electronic magic, we could know the ballot totals before we retire on election night. With adequate security protocols in place, we could probably vote at home on our own computer. I predict that some day we will get to that point, but, of course, I won’t be around to see it.
I have spoken. Aren’t you glad I never write about such things? But be fair with me. This is not about politics but it’s about the rules.
In the meantime, the old rules prevail, and we still live in the greatest country on earth!
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
Words: Katherine Lee Bates, 1895
Music: Samuel A. Ward, 1883
Date Published 1910
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all!