President, Congress Set Program for Inaugural Ceremony
By Master Sgt. Stephen Barrett, USA
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 1997 – The White House and the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies recently announced the program for President Clinton's second inauguration Jan. 20.
At noon on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, the president will take the oath of office from Chief Justice William Rehnquist. Vice President Albert Gore will take the oath from Associate Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
Sen. John Warner of Virginia will make welcoming remarks and Sen. Wendell Ford of Kentucky will introduce the president. The Rev. Billy Graham will give the invocation; the Rev. Gardner C. Taylor, pastor emeritus of the Concord Baptist Church of Christ, Brooklyn, N.Y., will give the benediction.
Also participating are international opera singer Jessye Norman; poet Miller Williams, singer Santita Jackson and the U.S. Marine Band.
Groups performing include the Resurrection Choir, composed of adult members of 10 houses of worship destroyed in the past year by arson. Also slated to sing are the Children of the Gospel: The Next Generation, a youth choir from Washington; and the Immanuel Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra of Little Rock, Ark.
The program, which begins at 11:30 a.m., is as follows:
PRELUDE: U.S. Marine Band
CALL TO ORDER/WELCOMING REMARKS Sen. John Warner, Va.
INVOCATION The Rev. Billy Graham
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MUSICAL SELECTION Children of the Gospel Choir:
The Next Generation
VICE PRESIDENTIAL OATH OF OFFICE
MUSICAL SELECTION Jessye Norman
INTRODUCTION OF THE PRESIDENT Sen. Wendell H. Ford, Ky.
PRESIDENTIAL OATH OF OFFICE
INAUGURAL ADDRESS President William J. Clinton
MUSICAL SELECTION Immanuel Baptist Church
Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra
SELECTION Miller Williams
BENEDICTION The Rev. Gardner Taylor
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM Santita Jackson and The Resurrection Choir
