The Inaugural Notebook

The State Of The Union vs. Miss USA

Hail To The Heavenly Chief

With the exception of the second swearing-in ceremony of George Washington, who made only the briefest of remarks (135 words), every Inaugural Address has contained at least one reference to God. Here's how long it took before some earthly Chief Executives took note of the Almighty

President	Reference	At Word...
Grant (2nd) L. Johnson Hoover Eisenhower (1st) Kennedy Clinton F.D.R. (4th) Carter Bush Washington (1st) Truman Lincoln (2nd) Monroe (1st) Nixon (2nd) Reagan (2nd) Jefferson (2nd) Hayes Lincoln (1st) Taft	Providence God God Almighty God Almighty God The Almighty God God Heavenly Father Almighty Being God God Divine Author God God Providence Divine Hand Almighty Ruler Almighty God	2 16 28 41 54 67 114 141 203 354 355 370 510 745 969 1,152 2,223 3,212 5,431
Clinton (2nd)	?	?

Beauty Before Politics

First the Inauguration, then the State of the Union. The White House settled on Feb. 5 for the President's big speech. But CBS said a long-standing contract obligated the network to televise the Miss USA pageant that evening. The White House mulled it over and elected to move the speech to Feb. 4. "Oh, Mr. McCurry! Were you all concerned that Clinton would lose viewers, or did the President, um, er, want to watch the pageant himself?"

Memorabilia Mischief

Last week, the Presidential Inaugural Committee began hawking official souvenirs on the QVC-TV shopping network. But back in September, Brian Harlin, owner of a Washington memorabilia shop, had started selling his Inaugural trinkets to the public. The committee fired off a "cease-and-desist" letter. Harlin scooped it by applying for a trademark for the Inaugural seal seven weeks before the Clintonites did. Approval is pending for both sides. The U.S. Patent and Trademark office says that although the trademark has not been maintained, use determines rights. Hence, lack of a trademark registration does not preclude protection. So which is which?

Verbatim

"Great Presidents don't do great things. Great Presidents get a lot of other people to do great things."
--President Clinton, quoting advice from his college friend Kit Ashby

Charlotte Faltermayer, Janice M. Horowitz, Lina Lofaro, Jamie Malanowski, J.F.O. McAllister, Emily Mitchell, Jodie Morse, Megan Rutherford, Jeffrey C. Rubin and Alain L. Sanders