January 20, 2009 - The inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama. What an extraordinary day! A new chapter in American history began, and the world watched with excitement and high expectations as it unfolded. The activities leading up to and including Inauguration Day will be dissected, analyzed and examined through a variety of filters for weeks, months and years to come, so why not join the exercise? As an armchair observer, I offer a few thoughts on what I believe were etiquette or protocol HITS and MISSES during the presidential campaign, transition and inauguration.
HITS
- Throughout his campaign, President Obama managed to avoid sinking into the quagmire of personal attacks on fellow candidates that has become the political norm. He focused on the issues, demonstrated respect for his competitors, even when he found fault with their agendas, and created a new level of civility in politics. And who said nice guys finish last?
- During the transition, President-elect Obama continually reminded the American people, the international community and the media that there is one President of the United States and at that point in time it was not he. He demonstrated deference and respect for the current president as he conducted the business of the transition.
- I suggest creating a new title for President Obama: Listener-in-Chief. Through his body language, eye contact and active listening skills, he consistently demonstrates interest, concern and respect for individuals who speak with him, whether in one-on-one conversation or when fielding a question in a room filled with people.
- In spite of the pressure of a demanding schedule on Inauguration Day, President Obama opened the car door for the new First Lady as they arrived at the White House for their pre-inaugural visit, demonstrating that his manners are not an afterthought but are, instead, inherent in his character.
- And cheers for First Lady Michelle Obama, our new Manners Maven. She, too, consistently demonstrates kindness, respect and concern for others. I was delighted to see her arrive at the White House for the pre-inaugural visit carrying a gift box tied with a simple ribbon. Clearly, she has been taught that a guest arrives with a gift when invited to someone’s home. It was fun to speculate along with network and cable journalists as to the contents of the box. Doughnuts to go with the coffee? Sandwiches for the Bushes to munch on the plane ride back to Texas? Instead, the box contained THE perfect gift: an engraved pen and journal for the former First Lady to use as she begins to write her memoir.
- Throughout the Inaugural Parade, President Obama stood(!) in the reviewing stand as 13,000 proud parade participants passed in front of him. Well after dark, and undoubtedly feeling the pressure of a daunting evening schedule ahead, he remained in place until the conclusion of the parade and demonstrated his enthusiasm and appreciation as he smiled, cheered and acknowledged the parade units.
- The orderly behavior of approximately two million people in Washington, D.C. for the Inaugural weekend activities was a testament to the respect that the American people have for the new President and his administration and their good-natured enthusiasm for being able to experience the historic occasion first-hand.
MISSES
- The award for Worst Manners Exhibited During the Transition goes to then-President Bush for denying the Obamas’ request to move immediately into Blair House when they arrived in Washington, a decision that resulted in three moves for the family. When facts were made public that there was only one overnight guest during the period in question and that Blair House, a complex of four connected townhouses, has 119 rooms, it became apparent how rude the decision was.
- Throughout the campaign, the transition and the inauguration, there were numerous occasions where a row of American flags was displayed on a stage behind speakers as if it were a prop or decoration. Public Law 94-344 dictates the proper use and display of the American flag and indicates that the flag (singular) is to be treated with the utmost respect. When displayed on a stage, a single flag should be placed in the position of honor to the speaker’s right. The use of multiple American flags to create a red, white and blue photo opportunity is not only in poor taste, it is a breach of protocol that has begun to erode reverence to this important national symbol.
- Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. managed to flub the reading of the Oath of Office and then failed to guide President Obama through a graceful recovery. Although the new president clearly recognized that the Chief Justice had made a mistake, he graciously followed Roberts’ lead.
- Aretha Franklin’s rendition of the musical icon “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” was too far out of the main stream to be appropriate for the occasion.
- The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and its protocol staff should be censured for allowing the inaugural luncheon to drag on interminably, causing the parade to begin an hour and a half later than planned. Evidently there was no concern for the people lining the parade route, many of whom arrived before dawn, or for parade participants waiting in the cold, many of whom would eventually march in the dark past empty stands. Was it necessary for Members of Congress to carve out such a large portion of time for themselves on a day that was really about our new leader and the American people?
- And last, but not least, shame on the VIP guests who left the Presidential reviewing stand before the end of the parade.
On January 20, President Obama challenged all of us to be humane, respectful and inclusive, qualities that he has demonstrated from his first day in public life. He has launched not only a “new era of responsibility” but a new era of civility, and he will lead by example with his impeccable manners.
HISTORIC FOOTNOTE
In the months leading up to the Inauguration, we heard a great deal about President Obama’s interest in and respect for Abraham Lincoln and the striking similarities between their careers. Yet, in his Inaugural Address he summoned up instead the spirit of our Nation’s Founding Fathers and applauded their emphasis on the rights of the individual. I found it fitting for the new president to acknowledge these 18th-century leaders in the context of the swearing-in ceremony, because the basic framework and protocol of the ceremony itself were the creation of George Washington. It was Washington’s belief that the new nation must find a balance between the tenets and trappings of monarchy and the principles of freedom and equality. As he prepared to assume the office of president in the new democracy, he deliberately steered away from a ceremony that would suggest a coronation and chose instead a simple swearing-in.
In addition to his influence in political and military affairs, Washington led by example in matters of civility. He felt that good manners were the outward reflection of one’s character and that the core of good manners was how one treats others. His interest in manners can be traced back to his early years when, at the age of 15, he copied contemporary etiquette guidelines into a journal and titled the document “Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation.” Throughout his life, this code of conduct provided the framework for his personal life and greatly influenced his career in the military and in politics. As Washington and the other Founding Fathers were identifying the principles of the new Nation and crafting its documents, rules and procedures, civility was a key element in the process and the outcome.
Our new president appears to live by a similar code of conduct. The civility, graciousness and impeccable manners that he has demonstrated throughout the campaign, transition and inauguration have been a shining example to all. And like Washington, President Obama has the opportunity to leave his stamp not only on statecraft but on civility, as well. In my opinion, he’s off to a flying start.
