From the Senate Republican Whip’s office inside the US Capitol, Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso reminisces about his long-standing tradition of attending presidential inaugurations in Washington, DC. Barrasso recalls his first inauguration experience at the age of eight, watching John F. Kennedy's inaugural address in 1961 from the east side of the Capitol. He mentions that inaugurations were later moved to the west side starting with Ronald Reagan's presidency.
As the son of a World War II Battle of the Bulge veteran, Barrasso describes attending inaugurations as a family tradition. Despite a technicality due to Reagan's second inauguration being moved indoors due to cold weather in 1985, Barrasso has made it a point to attend every presidential inauguration on January 20 since Kennedy's.
Barrasso's inaugural attendance continued when he became a senator, with his first as a senator being Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009. He emphasizes the significance of these events in showcasing the history of the country and the peaceful transfer of power.
Throughout the years, Barrasso has passed down this tradition to his own children, bringing them to inaugurations at a young age to instill in them the importance of this historical moment. For Barrasso, witnessing presidential inaugurations serves as a reminder of the democratic process and the continuity of leadership in the United States.
