On January 1, 2019, Michigan’s 49^th Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and other statewide officeholders, celebrated their electoral success by officially taking the oath of office just prior to noon on the State Capitol’s steps – the Gubernatorial Inauguration.  The official event was followed by a Legislative luncheon where new cabinet members, Legislators, party loyalists and other VIPs gathered to hear the hopeful voices of a children’s choir, take in a deeply meaningful prayer from a Detroit minister and of course network with the powerbrokers in the room.  That evening, the party moved to Detroit where a formal black-tie optional Inaugural Celebration Gala, attended by thousands, was held.  It was a day of transition and celebration.

The Inauguration of Michigan’s Governor has taken on a similar feel, albeit on a micro-scale, to that of a Presidential Inaugural.  While both the U.S. Constitution and Michigan Constitution only require new public officials to “take and subscribe” to the oath of office prior to taking the job, pageantry and celebratory events on Inauguration Day have become the outward facing norm.  It begs the question, “How did Inaugurations get to this point?”

While George Washington was Inaugurated in 1789 as the first President, it was our fourth President James Madison who is the one to thank for the first Inaugural Ball back in 1809.  In 1881, our 20th President James Garfield established the presidential 1½ mile parade route through D.C., which pays tribute to our military and includes dignitaries from all 50 states.  

Other presidential inaugural traditions that have made their way into the state level include:

• Prayer – The first prayer took place during FDR’s second Presidential Inaugural ceremony in 1937. 
• Poetry – JFK added a poetry reading by Robert Frost to his inaugural ceremony in 1961. Presidents Bill Clinton and Barak Obama upheld the tradition and included poetry readings by famous authors at all four of their inaugurals.
• Congressional Luncheon – The Congressional Luncheon started in 1953 with President Dwight D. Eisenhower and is attended by Congressional leadership and guests of the President and Vice-President.

While many citizens see Inauguration Day’s transition of power as a change in philosophical and ideological direction, that change doesn’t start until after there’s a party.  Even new Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist recognized this on January 1 when at the Detroit Celebration Gala he mentioned (paraphrasing) that “Tonight is a time to party and celebrate and tomorrow we begin to govern.”

Much has happened in the weeks after the inauguration. New leadership and new challenges await. Governor Whitmer’s first State of the State Address will take place on February 5th. It is then that we get a clear vision of where the new administration’s priorities lie. No matter what party you belong to, this is an exciting time at the State Capitol.

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