by Billie Jean Keith
(Editor’s Note: As our December Braille Forum goes to press on the week before Thanksgiving, we are amazed to contemplate the fact that we still do not know which candidate is planning his inaugural celebration and which is planning a quiet night at home in front of the fire. Yet we, like all of you, believe that there will be cause for celebration on the evening of January 20 — no matter who the victor turns out to be. For, by then, American will have weathered and triumphed over the significant storms spawned on November 7. We will celebrate a triumph of democratic principles and reaffirmation of the constitutional precepts which have sustained U.S. citizens for more than two centuries now. So, no matter who is throwing the inaugural ball, we hope that you will think about purchasing your own glass slippers — and join in the celebration!)
When I was 14 or 15 years old, I remember seeing fuzzy pictures of a Presidential Inaugural Ball on our little black and white TV. I can’t remember which president was being honored, but the celebration was very impressive. Presidents can ask any famous stars they like to attend and perform at their balls. The stars get a lot of publicity and the public gets a lot of free entertainment. At that stage of my life, I was more impressed by the entertainers than by the political significance. Up until that time, I had thought presidents just presided over very dull meetings and made very dull speeches. (Come to think of it ...)
Since moving to Washington, D.C. 13 years ago, I learned that every four years on January 20th, the city holds a big parade and many parties. It is Inauguration Day and the whole city celebrates. There is not just one inaugural ball, but several official balls and many unofficial ones. The President, First Lady, Vice President and Second Lady attend all official balls — a long night for everyone involved. I have attended three Inaugural Balls to honor two presidents, one for Bush and two for Clinton. It doesn’t matter what political persuasion one supports. Celebrations honor the office of the presidency and our country, not the actual person who was elected to the office. At least, that’s my opinion.
The first time I was invited to an inaugural ball, I got the invitation because of my job. I was director of communications for the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), a veterans’ service organization. The BVA always got tickets to attend the Veterans Ball. The Veterans Ball is an official ball named the “Salute to Heroes,” and usually is the first ball that the president visits. The Veterans Ball serves an elegant four-course dinner, has great live music and dancing to entertain 1,200 people. Some official balls do not serve food or even provide places to sit down. One mingles until the president and his party arrive and go. Tickets cost about $100 each, even to some of the balls without food or seats. At that price, tickets are still much sought after. Invitations to the “Salute to Heroes” are limited to veterans, their families and guests. I was the “and guest.”
After receiving and accepting the invitation, the big search began for the perfect ball gown. An inaugural ball is not an occasion for a cocktail dress or dressy anything else. It requires a ball gown. There is probably more written about inaugural gowns than is written about the people wearing them. Since I hadn’t owned a formal gown since the frilly one my mother made for the junior prom, I joined the hunt. Men have it easy; they wear tuxedos and only have to decide what color cummerbund will distinguish their attire. Women have many choices to make and often at great expense. Some women spend hundreds of dollars to buy their gowns; some spend hundreds of dollars to rent designer gowns. Time is invested looking for the perfect inaugural gown.
Because I didn’t have hundreds of dollars and scads of time to spend, I went to a bridal shop and after a couple of hours trying on many designs that could be custom made, I found a silver crepe floor length gown with silver applique around the neck for $100. It was hanging on a rack all by itself and on sale. Perhaps it was an unclaimed made-to-order dress for a wedding that didn’t happen or was abandoned by a mother of the bride who didn’t like the finished creation. It was fine for me and the only accessories I needed were silver earrings, an evening purse and shoes. I wore that gown in 1989 and 1993 and refer to it as the dowager duchess dress. It has been retired for the time being.
At any presidential function where the public is permitted, much attention is given to security. Metal detectors, like the ones at airports, are everywhere, and the screeners appear to be more intense than the usual security guards. They are Secret Service agents and every guest is carefully scrutinized. My tiny beaded evening bag only has space for a lipstick and tissues. It was amusing to watch a huge man open and peer into it. He was only doing his job. Even when I went back and forth to the ladies’ room, I had to pass through security and the evening bag was inspected.
The sense of excitement and expectation was present throughout the evening. After all, everyone was dressed up for a big occasion and being among so many beautifully dressed people added to the sense of excitement. Part of the fun was seeing that my gown fit in very well with so many more expensive gowns. For the primary players, it must have been absolutely exhausting. They had already sat through or marched in the Inaugural Parade that lasted for five or six hours. I have not attended any of the parades myself because it is easier for me to see them on television with the narration.
At the first Inaugural Ball I attended in 1989, our table was very close to the head table where all the commanders and presidents of the veterans organizations were seated. About 20 minutes before the President’s party was scheduled to arrive, food serving stopped and no one was allowed to enter or leave the ballroom. Apparently, halls and doors are selected by the Secret Service at the last moment for the president’s party to use. No one knew the route so all doors were watched. The lights got brighter and the music played.
We knew the instant the president arrived because the band played “Hail to the Chief” as one of the doors opened and the president’s party swept in. I was only about 20 feet from President Bush when he came in, and could easily see him and his party move into the room and up to the head table. By the time he reached the front, everyone was standing and applauding wildly. After he and the other dignitaries were introduced, the president made a very short speech about how wonderful it was to be there, and after about 10 minutes of handshaking and hand-waving, his party left and headed to the next of 12 official balls. Food service resumed, we dined, and the music and dancing went on until the wee hours. When we finally departed, I suppose everyone was as tired as I was, but they all appeared to be happy to have taken part in the nation’s celebration.
Even though I probably won’t ever meet a President or First Lady, I did meet some very special people at each of the three Veterans Inaugural Balls I attended. The honored guests were the Congressional Medal of Honor veterans, and some sat at my table. After meeting some of these heroes and hearing their stories, I realized again that we should never take our freedoms for granted. It may sound a little soppy, but it is absolutely true. If you are ever invited to attend such a celebration in the future, no matter what your political leanings are, I’m certain that you will also find it to be a wonderful experience to be a part of the nation’s party of all parties. While writing this article, a little voice occasionally chirps, “Where are you going to look for that next perfect ball gown?”