Black tie & muddy boots: the inauguration of an American President - photographing the 2001 presidential inauguration

PSA Journal, July, 2002 by Robert J. Leonard, William A. Yeagley

American Democracy ... the peaceful change of power works, but sometimes a bit strangely. For a time, perhaps everyone in the world wondered if it would ever take place--the 2001 Inauguration of the President of the United States. However, to the credit of the democratic process, the contest was finally resolved with George W. Bush declared the winner. So, whether it's "Hail to the Chief" or "Hail to the Thief," photographing the celebration of this peaceful change of power is a daunting task.

Access

The key to photographing the inauguration ceremonies ... the swearing-in, the parade, and the formal balls ... is access. That means being a member of the working press, and space for photographers is very limited. You must be working for a television network, newspaper or magazine for priority admittance. For the written press, the larger the circulation the better.

Press access for the Inauguration is controlled by two groups: the United States Senate and the Presidential Inauguration Committee. The Senate Press Photographers Gallery controls the requests to cover the actual swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. With very limited space for TV crews (38 positions) and still photographers (150 positions), credentials are very hard to get and go to the largest "news" organizations.

There were two photographer platforms. The cost of building the stands was not paid for by tax dollars, but by the press themselves. If you were offered a place on the main stand it cost $650.00, while the secondary stand was $350.00. There were a few free spots on the north or south Capitol stairs.

The Presidential Inauguration Committee (PIC) handled the press requests for the parade, the eight balls and other inaugural events. They handled over 17,000 requests from the written press, TV, and still photographers from around the world.

The PIC prepared a media press guide. The guide described all the events and assigned photo locations for the press. Each location was described; whether it was a head-on, angle or profile shot, the distance to the presidential stage (camera throw), and number of camera positions. The guide also provided information on event participants, media contacts and attire. "Warm, layered clothing recommended" for the parade, and "black tie" for the balls. Yes, a tuxedo was required for the inaugural balls, even for the press photographers.

The Inauguration events began on Thursday, January 18 with an outdoor "Opening Celebration" at the Lincoln Memorial, which included live performances, a military band, celebrity speakers and a fireworks display. Other events included Mrs. Laura Bush Celebrates America's Authors, Vice President-Elect Salutes American's Veterans, and the `Black Tie `N' Boots' Inaugural Ball hosted by the Texas State Society.

The Swearing-In Ceremony

The Inauguration of 2001 begins with the media. Prominent in the middle of the U.S. Capitol Mall was the mammoth press tent; the TV broadcast trucks; large scaffolds to support the staff and equipment of each major TV network; and hundreds of miles of thick, black cable and the throngs of people who make the news--reporters, photographers, broadcasters, cameramen, and technicians of all types.

On this day--January 20, 2001--the weather was cold and damp with blustery winter winds infiltrating the protective clothing donned for the occasion. There was a prediction of sleet and freezing rain scheduled for later in the day.

Upon leaving the press tent, and heading toward the Capitol where the ceremony was to take place, there appeared a sea of people. Giant projection TV screens and large towers with mega-speakers had been erected at strategic locations throughout the Mall to afford the audience a chance to see and hear this historic event. A sloshing sound could be heard everywhere as faithful citizens of the U.S., and in fact the world, trekked their way through the "mud" that had begun to form, to get a better vantage point.

The Parade

After the sweating-in ceremony, the new President and Vice-President attended the Inaugural Luncheon with members of Congress. Then the President led the parade from the Capitol to the White House, over 15 blocks. TV crews and a few still photographers had been assigned to raised platforms, while the rest of the still photographers could walk the parade route between the public spectator rope and the fence marking the parade boundaries. Everyone, including the press had to go through a security checkpoint, where every bag, case and camera was checked and searched. For the most part, we photographed the parade from a 40-foot long area around 4th Street along the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route.

To make matters worse for the photographers, the parade route was lined by military personnel standing every 10 feet along the parade route facing the parade at the fence. Because of the disputed election results and expected protesters, the Government added extra security. A police officer also was placed every ten feet, facing and watching the crowd. Each photographer had only a 5-foot corridor to photograph the parade, as the military and police were interspersed every five feet.