FOR most, attending the inauguration of a US president is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, not to mention the kudos of securing a much-coveted ticket to one of the official inaugural balls.
Andreas Jacovides, 72, and his wife, Pamela, attended three.
As Cypriot Ambassador to the United States the couple had the chance to attend the inaugurations of President Reagan in 1981 and 1985 and President Bush Sr in 1989.
“It is a major event and there is an air of anticipation,” said Jacovides.
For ambassadors the day follows a set pattern with the morning Swearing-In Ceremony at the Capitol, a banquet lunch at Blair House (the US President’s official state guest house opposite the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue), the inaugural parade and attendance at one of the official inaugural balls.
Although the day follows a set pattern, each president adds his individual touch to the day.
“For example [Jimmy] Carter walked from the Capitol to Blair House instead of riding in a limousine because he wanted to be a populist president,” he explained.
When the long-time career diplomat attended the 1981 inauguration it was his first ambassadorial posting. It was also his first of two postings as Ambassador to Washington.
It must have been nerve wracking as the new-kid-on-the-block, rubbing shoulders with the Capitol’s rich and powerful.
“I’d been there a year and a half so I wasn’t exactly ‘green’,” said the Cambridge and Harvard graduate.
Nevertheless it was still “very exciting” and there was a highly charged atmosphere of expectation because it was both a new administration and a different party in power.
“Also President and Mrs Reagan were former actors. There was glamour in the air and the people who surrounded them,” he said.
“A wealthy California crowd followed them known as Reagan’s kitchen cabinet and it was fascinating,” said Pamela.
The Swearing-In Ceremony usually takes place outside at the Capitol. Freezing weather conditions mean attendees care less about fashion and more about warmth.
They wear heavy coats, scarves and some even wear thermal underwear, said Jacovides.
In 1985 due to polar conditions the ceremony had to be held indoors and was a relatively low-key affair. It was Reagan’s second inauguration.
“You’re given really VIP treatment. There’s special seating for diplomats, a special entry to the area and you’re seated in the first, second and third row sweats looking up at the Swearing-In,” said Pamela.
This is followed by a lavish buffet at Blair House and the inaugural parade.
“The luxury of going as a diplomat [as opposed to one of thousands in the crowd] is you can go back into Blair House to have a coffee to warm up during the parade,” she said.
Following the parade the Ambassadors and their wives go home to change for the inaugural ball.
Although there are dozens of balls and galas in the run-up to the inauguration and on the day itself, historically the hottest tickets are for the official balls, where you have to get invited and the President-elect, his vice president and their wives are guaranteed to show up. This year there are 10 such black-tie balls and reportedly tickets could sell for as much as $50,000. Other invitations are free, but you have to be on the list.
Asked whether it could be compared to the Oscars, only bigger, Pamela said it could.
“Not everyone gets invited to the balls and people pay a fortune to go,” she said.
Ambassadors and their wives do not pay.
“[But] they are not freebies. We are ‘honoured guests’,” said Jacovides.
Perhaps more exciting than the ‘officials balls’ are the small private parties that only a select few are invited to. These are given by very influential, prominent people and unlike the official ball they are more intimate and you are more likely to meet the President and/or First Lady.
On the day after Bush’s inauguration in January 1989 the Ambassador’s wife was at one such party at the Jockey Club when Barbara Bush walked in. The experience was memorable.
“She came up to me and said ‘Hi Pam’. I congratulated her as Mrs Bush and she said since when had I called her Mrs Bush. I said her husband had been elected president and she said nothing had changed and that I was to still call her Barbara,” she said.
Bush’s inauguration in 1989 was the couple’s third. As a Republican candidate and Reagan’s Vice President, there was less general anticipation for change. But for the couple it was rather different.
“We were very senior in 1989 and I was the deputy dean of diplomats so we were on much more familiar ground,” said Jacovides.
Nevertheless the day still involved meeting new personalities, a whole new team, new senators and congressmen, Washington elite in government and business.
“It’s an opportunity to get to know them, their beliefs and to get them to understand your own issues,” he said.
For the Jacovides’ the inauguration meant a very long day, but it always fascinating, always glamorous. And never boring.
“You would want to go. First and foremost you’re there to represent your country and secondly because you enjoy it,” he said.
