Hank Silverberg, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Monday’s inauguration is expected to be both smaller and less expensive than President Barack Obama’s first swearing in four years ago.
But historically that is not not unusual. Inaugurations for re-elected presidents have tended to be smaller affairs.
“It is the president that we already now. It’s not some fresh new president,” says American University historian Allan Lichtman.
“Hopes are often dampened as you go into a second term.”
It’s estimated about 800,000 people will attend Obama’s second swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 21, compared to 1.2 million who attended in 2009.
The events will be less expensive although the taxpayers still pay for part of it.
“Except for the ceremony at the Capitol itself, all the rest is not paid for by taxpayer dollars. It is paid for by private donations,” says Lichtman.
A spokesman for The Presidential Inaugural Committee says the committee expects to spend about $55 million in private donations on the events, such as the parade, the balls and the “Day of Service” events.
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