Nixon

1973 · réf. 12989 — 1973. United States House of Representatives. Inauguration Ceremonies ticket 1973 documents spectator access to Richard M. Nixon and Spiro T. Agnew's second presidential inauguration and supports research into presidential ceremony congressional participation in inaugurations and the material culture surrounding transfers and renewals of executive authority. Nixon and Agnew took their respective oaths that day at the East Portico of the United States Capitol beginning their second terms as the 37th President and 39th Vice President. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies identifies the January 20 ceremony as the 47th presidential inauguration. Official House of Representatives admission card measuring 2 x 4 inches printed on blue card stock with a vertical red line through the center. The face reads "January Twentieth 1973 Inauguration Ceremonies admit bearer to Preferred Standing Room Area Only Capitol Ground Preferred Standing Room HOUSE" identifying the bearer's designated access category rather than general admission. The reverse gives the specific entry instruction "This ticket to be presented only at Independence and New Jersey Avenues H-414" preserving the physical route by which the holder was directed onto the Capitol grounds. Printed signatures are identified in the supplied description as Howard W. Cannon and "Marlan W. Cook" Co-Chairmen Committee on Arrangements. The official 1973 inaugural program identifies the co-chairmen as Senator Howard W. Cannon of Nevada and Senator Marlow W. Cook of Kentucky; the supplied "Marlan" transcription should therefore be checked against the physical card for final cataloging. The ticket is closely tied to Congress's formal participation in the day's proceedings: the House adopted a resolution providing for its January 20 1973 session specifically so members could attend the presidential and vice-presidential inaugural ceremonies. Its designation for "Preferred Standing Room HOUSE" together with the named Capitol grounds entrance and committee signatures gives the card particular documentary value for reconstructing how attendees encountered the inauguration as a physical event. No specific defects are reported in the supplied description; near fine. A well-preserved piece of congressional inaugural ephemera recording the designated House access arrangements for Nixon and Agnew's second inauguration. unknown