Inauguration

The 2005 Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) organized events for the 55th Inaugural under the theme "Celebrating Freedom-Honoring Service." PIC accomplished much of its work in a period of just two months. President Bush announced the leadership of the 2005 PIC on Nov. 19, 2004. PIC's budget was in the range of $30-40 million, and it had 400-500 people working to plan and organize the various activities. PIC was aided by the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee (AFIC), a joint task force of the five Armed Forces branches "charged with coordinating all military ceremonial participation and support for the 2005 presidential inauguration." The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) was responsible for all events held at the Capitol. Numerous agencies coordinated on security for the events of inaugural week.

St. John's Church Service
St. John's Church

Swearing In Ceremony
U.S. Capitol

Inaugural Luncheon
U.S. Capitol

Inaugural Parade
Pennsylvania Avenue

Inaugural Balls
Constitution Ball (Washington Hilton)
Freedom Ball (Union Station)
Independence Ball (Convention Center A)
Texas/Wyoming Ball (Convention Center B)
Liberty Ball (Convention Center C)
Democracy Ball (Convention Center D)
Patriot Ball (Convention Center E)
Stars and Stripes Ball (Convention Center Ballroom)

Commander-in-Chief Ball (National Building Museum)
"a special celebration for active troops and their families, focusing on those who have recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan or will be soon deployed there."
-free of charge to invited men and women of the armed forces and their families.-

Friday, January 21, 2005

National Prayer Service
National Cathedral

Notes:
Executive director of PIC, in charge of bringing the various celebratory events together, was Greg Jenkins. Prior to taking on the job Jenkins served as served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Advance for two years. (For example, he organized Bush's surprise visit to Iraq for Thanksgiving 2003). Jenkins joined the Bush advance team in 1999, leaving a position as a producer at Fox News. PIC leadership as announced Nov. 19, 2003. PIC finances.

The tentative schedule of events was first announced Dec. 15, 2004

General Service Contractor for the decor at many of the above events is Hargrove, Inc. of Lanham, MD.

AFIC started work in Jan. 2004; it had a core staff of 200-plus full-time (PCS/permanent change of station) and additional personnel on temporary duty bringing the total to approximately 710 by "I-Day." Commander of AFIC was Major General Galen B. Jackman, who most recently served as Director of Operations for the United States Southern Command. According to the FAQs on its website, JTF-AFIC funding for the 2005 inauguration is: "$4 million, with about $3 million in Fiscal Year 2004 and just over $1 million in FY 2005. The largest portion of this budget is used for such things as computers, communications, equipment, supplies, vehicle support, training, utilities, maintenance, and travel."

The Office of the Architect of the Capitol was appropriated $2.8 million to support the 55th Presidential Inaugural activities, including design and construction and removal of the platform and other preparations on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.

JCCIC was established by S.Con.Res. 94, agreed to on March 16, 2004. The six-person committee consisted of the Senate Majority Leader (Sen. Bill Frist (TN)), the Chair and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration (Sen. Trent Lott (MS) and Sen. Christopher Dodd (CT)), the Speaker of the House (Dennis Hastert (IL)), the Majority Leader (Tom DeLay (TX)), and the Minority Leader (Nancy Pelosi (CA)). The committee held its first meeting on April 1 and selected Trent Lott as its chair. JCCIC had a budget of $1.25 million to carry out its activities (Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, 2005; became Public Law 108-447 on Dec. 8, 2004). >

Nov. 19, 2004--Work is underway to build the review and press stands for the Inaugural Parade.