How elaborate have wartime inaugurations been in the past?

[elperromagico]

Bush is spending, what, $40 million on his inauguration? Sounds kinda fancy to me, especially considering that we are - as Bush and company constantly remind us - a nation at war.

The last time, IIRC, that a reelected President was inaugurated during wartime was in 1945. And it was not an elaborate ceremony; FDR took the oath at the White House in a very simple ceremony.

Now some of this had to do with FDR's health - his leg braces were uncomfortable and he was ill - but a lot of it had to do with the fact that we were a nation at war, with soldiers dying overseas, and it didn't seem appropriate to hold an elaborate inauguration ceremony under such circumstances.

What's changed?

Edit: Forgot about Nixon's 1972 inauguration. How elaborate was that one?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. What's changed is that El Shrubbo is a freaking egomaniac

with delusions of empire who wants to make damn sure everybody knows how powerful he is. He's showing the whole world that his dick is bigger than his daddy's.

[Skittles]

2. bush is a thieving, incompetent piece of shit BASTARD

who doesn't give a f*** about the troops OR AMERICA

[blackangrydem]

3. Increased security costs no doubt account for most of it.

[elperromagico]

4. You could have a small, indoor ceremony,

and cut down on a lot of the security costs. There is no requirement anywhere - as far as I know - that a President needs to be inaugurated either at the Capitol or outside. And there is no requirement that there be a dozen inaugural balls either.

[blackangrydem]

7. It's probably important that we apply the usual pomp and circumstance

to our established traditions, especially during war time. Life in America goes on.

[elperromagico]

8. Do our established traditions always have to cost $40 million?

Really? It's a waste of money; I don't see the point of elaborate inaugurals anyway - whether it's a Republican or a Democrat taking the oath.

[blackangrydem]

9. 40 million is extreme.

[NYC]

5. That is a record setting $40 million.

Don't leave out the words "record setting".

The king considers himself worthy of this expenditure.

[elperromagico]

6. Seems appropriate, since he's broken so many records.

Record setting deficit.
Record setting national debt.
Record setting unemployment.
Record setting gas prices...

[proudbluestater]

10. Here's a description of FDR's during WWII

"At the height of WWII, Franklin D. Roosevelt's fourth Inauguration was simple and austere with no fanfare or formal celebration following the event.There was no parade because of gas rationing and a lumber shortage."


THAT'S MORE LIKE IT! THAT'S HOW A REAL WAR PRESIDENT DOES IT.

http://inaugural.senate.gov/history/chronology/fdroosevelt1945.htm

Bush is only a "war president" when it is convenient for him to be one.

[tritsofme]

11. Is the $40 million just for security and things of that sort?

Because I think the ceremony and other events, which are privately funded, is even more expensive and a waste of money.

Jimmy Carter had the right idea.