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Inaugural Ceremony

The Swearing-in ceremony takes place on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol with the president-elect being sworn-in by 12 noon on January 20. Amendment XX to the U.S. Constitution states that the term of the President expires at noon on January 20.

Watch the Official 2005 Inaugural Video

View the 2005 Inaugural Photo Gallery

Program

Prelude The United States Marine Band
Lieutenant Colonel Michael J. Colburn
Director
Call to Order and Welcoming Remarks The Honorable Trent Lott
United States Senator, Mississippi
Invocation The Reverend Dr. Luis León
Musical Selection Susan Graham
Mezzo-soprano
The Vice Presidential Oath of Office was administered to Richard B. Cheney by the Speaker of the House of Representatives The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Musical Selection Denyce Graves
Mezzo-soprano
The Presidential Oath of Office was administered to George W. Bush by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States The Honorable William H. Rehnquist
Inaugural Address The President of the United States
Musical Selection The United States Marine Band
The United States Army Herald Trumpets
The United States Navy Sea Chanters
Benediction Pastor Kirbyjon H. Caldwell
The National Anthem Technical Sergeant Bradley Bennett
The United States Air Force Band
Official 2005 Inaugural Program

Inaugural Luncheon

Discover specifics about the 2005 Inaugural luncheon by visiting the 2005 Inaugural luncheon page.

 
 

Inaugural Theme:
‘A Vision of America’

"A Vision of America" was selected as the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Theme. The 2005 theme commemorated the anniversaries of two significant events in American history that helped shape our nation - the centennial of Theodore Roosevelt's formal inauguration as president in 1905, and the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition reaching the Pacific in 1805.

In 1804, President Thomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on a mission to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase. By 1805 the explorers had reached the Pacific. As a result of Jefferson's vision, and Lewis and Clark's historic journey, most of the continental United States from Atlantic to Pacific was organized into states within the century.

Similarly, Theodore Roosevelt's love of the nation's vast wilderness led to his support for better conservation of our natural resources. Roosevelt's vision led to the establishment of national forests, national parks, and federal wildlife preserves. “We are not building this country of ours for a day,” Roosevelt said in 1903, “It is to last through the ages.”

“A Vision of America” commemorated two centuries of American exploration, development, and conservation. The theme also prompted us to look ahead to new visions of scientific expeditions that span the globe and probe far into space, together with wise stewardship of America's natural resources.

The theme was chosen by the JCCIC in consultation with the Senate Historian's Office. Inaugural themes are incorporated into the official Inaugural program, Inaugural Luncheon menu and d�cor.