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Posted on 01/05/2005 12:46:20 PM PST by Happy2BMe
January 5, 2005
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON-- House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., will swear in Vice President Dick Cheney at the inauguration Jan. 20, an unusual but not unprecedented choice.
Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, announced details of the event Wednesday, including the musical performers at the Capitol and who will administer the oaths.
William H. Rehnquist, chief justice of the United States, will swear in President Bush and Hastert will do the same for Cheney. Rehnquist had sworn in Cheney four years ago.
House speakers have sworn in vice presidents on three occasions, according to the Senate Historian's Office. The last time was in 1977 when Speaker Tip O'Neill, D-Mass., swore in Vice President Walter Mondale.
In 1961, Speaker Sam Rayburn, D-Texas, gave the oath of office to Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, and in 1965, Speaker John McCormack, D-Mass., swore in Vice President Humbert Humphrey.
There had been some question as to whether Rehnquist, who is being treated for thyroid cancer, would administer the oath to Bush, but last month, officials at the Supreme Court said he would fulfill that duty.
The inaugural ceremony will include performances by the U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club, the U.S. Marine Band and mezzo sopranos Denyce Graves and Susan Graham.
Guy Hovis, a vocalist from Tupelo, Miss., who performed on the Lawrence Welk show, will sing, "Let the Eagles Soar," a song written by Attorney General John Ashcroft.
Thomas Basile, a spokesman for the committee, said the song is a favorite of Lott's. When Ashcroft served as senator from Missouri, he and Lott were members of the singing senators' quartet. The group also included Sens. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, and Jim Jeffords, I-Vt.
Lott said Bush and first lady Laura Bush selected Graves and Graham. As chairman of the congressional committee, Lott chose several of the other performers, including the Alcorn State University Concert Choir from Mississippi. The chairman typically picks musicians from his home state.
The congressional committee received $1.25 million for the ceremony. A separate Presidential Inaugural Committee is raising some $40 million to cover the cost of the parade, the nine official inaugural balls and candlelight dinners with the president and vice president for major donors.
Dang!
I got excited, seeing the words "swear" and "Cheney" in the same sentence....
The heavy 'swearing' will be done by Bill, Hillary, John and Tereezuh. It will be quite a hell storm.
Guy Hovis, a vocalist from Tupelo, Miss., who performed on the Lawrence Welk show, will sing, "Let the Eagles Soar," a song written by Attorney General John Ashcroft.
Conyers to swear at Cheney in inauguration ;)
The former AG is a good man of many talents. Too bad he was so hated by so many. I believe he will go down in history as one of the best AG's this nation has ever had.
That's most definitely a "too bad for you, Dems" move by the Pres. and good for him!!
/s/
They're going to miss it!?
Is that Guy from Guy & Ralna? Haven't heard that name in a while.
Did you know that Guy and Trent Lott were in a singing group at Ole Miss?
I would have liked to see Clarence Thomas swear in Bush.
Their attornies are agitating in Ohio and they're in the middle east in denial.
________________________________________
I dare say the President would have been honored.
(Perhaps one day . .)
:~)
I believe so.
I wish I could be there!
Went to Reagan's in 1985... 20 years ago...
Deeeeep Sigh.
It may not be series - but it's Hugh!
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