Democracy's Big Day: The Inauguration of our President 1789-2009 [Paperback]

Jim Bendat (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 2008

Few events in the world symbolize the essence of democracy like the inauguration of a United States president. In Democracy’s Big Day, Jim Bendat paints a vivid picture of the process, traditions, quirks, and unusual events connected with this centuries-old institution.

Bendat details various parts of the inauguration day, beginning with the morning when the outgoing president has coffee with his successor, proceeding to the U.S. Capitol for the ceremony, and continuing with the afternoon parade and the Inaugural Ball in the evening. He shares historic and amusing vignettes about past presidents that illustrate how inauguration day has evolved from 1789 to the present. Finally, Bendat recounts the quiet inaugurations of nine presidents after the unexpected demise of their predecessors.

Complete with a map of the parade route and an inauguration chart from George Washington to George H.W. Bush, this concise and lively book is a remarkably comprehensive history of our nation’s fascinating inauguration festivities.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jim Bendat, a lawyer with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office since 1978, has written articles for the New Republic, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and Baltimore Sun. He has been featured as an inaugural historian on major networks in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom and worked as a correspondent at the last two inaugurations. A father of three, Bendat lives with his wife Marilyn.

Product Details

• Paperback: 219 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse Star (February 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583484663
• ISBN-13: 978-1583484661
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,608,768 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Big Day is Big Fun, March 29, 2008

By 

Mark W. Donovan "History Teacher" (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Democracy's Big Day: The Inauguration of our President 1789-2009 (Hardcover)

This book is my kind of history. It is a collection of stories that takes the reader through Inauguration Day from start to finish through a series of wonderful stories and anecdotes about Presidents from George Washington to George W. Bush. It is just plain fun to read.

This book would be enjoyed by any person of any political persuasion, be it liberal, moderate, or conservative. It will remind each of us how extraordinary our country is. Here in the United States politcal power, much of the time, is changed peacefully and without violence. The Civil War, of course, is an exception. Yet even after that conflict--as Bendat notes in one of many, many entertaining and informative anecdotes--an ex-Confederate rebel actually swore in one of our Presidents. Astonishing!

We forget in this time of struggle that our country has seldom been without challenge and danger. Yet, as angry as we become with each other, we hold together. E pluribus unum.

Highly recommended for those who occasionally become discouraged for whatever reason about our nation. Hope is always with us. And of course highly recommended for history buffs.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inauguration Celebration, January 18, 2009

By 

Steven Lubet (chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Democracy's Big Day: The Inauguration of our President 1789-2009 (Paperback)

This book is filled with fascinating details about every presidential inauguration in United States history. Most people probably have not given a great deal of thought to inaugurations, but writer Jim Bendat opens the door to a series of intriguing, and sometimes important, details. For example, Abraham Lincoln was the first president to invite a free African American to attend an inauguration. Lyndon Johnson was the first president to be sworn in by a woman.

This engaging book provides us with an insight into a wealth of little known facts about American history. Anyone interested in history (or trivia, though there is much more to it than trivia) will be delighted by this book.

The writing is lively and spirited. The subject matter is unforgettable. The book is terrific.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book Is a must for US history buffs and fun too!, August 8, 2008

By 

Ira A. Nathanson "catbruin" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Democracy's Big Day: The Inauguration of our President 1789-2009 (Paperback)

Jim Bendat's new revision of Democracy's Big Day is a treasure trove of solid information, little known oddities, and some truly witty tidbits-all of which make reading about the US presidential inauguation great fun while at the same time providing a vast amount of detail about the Big Day. His account of our nation's transition of leadership reveals his excitement and pride in a most informative yet non-partisan way. His breezy vignette style makes for easy reading, where one can turn to any page and learn something new!