Presidential Inaugurations

Paul F. Boller Jr. was the first Lyndon B. Johnson Chair in American History at Texas Christian University. His first academic position was at Southern Methodist University, where he taught from 1948 to 1966. In 1966, he accepted a position at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. He accepted the Lyndon B. Johnson Chair at Texas Christian University in 1976. It was at TCU that he came up with a new idea for a book about American presidents. Presidential Anecdotes was unique, presenting short biographical sketches of the presidents followed by stories that illustrated their lives, careers, and personalities. It became a best seller and was followed by other presidentially themed works: Presidential Campaigns, Presidential Wives, Presidential Inaugurations, and Presidential Diversions. Derived from a Kirkus review: Boller provides an entertaining catalogue of material about a president's happiest day. Telling the story of inaugurations from Washington's first to Clinton's second, the author spins a lively narrative full of intriguing tidbits on the evolution of the inaugural ceremony, which was born amid controversy. Wary revolutionaries contested any hint of regal pomp at Washington's swearing-in, and the new president defied his deist comrades by adding the extra-constitutional words "So help me God" to the prescribed oath of office. The thematically organized narrative has chapters on everything from Inauguration Day weather to how the presidents-elect traveled to Washington. Boller gives learned commentary on now-forgotten political, religious, and social movements that found expression at the inaugural, particularly Sabbatarianism. He also shows that the fantastically expensive balls of recent years have long precedent. Readers with an interest in presidential history will find it worthwhile. First Edition [Stated], First Printing [Stated]. …