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Obama Walks in Inaugural Parade: Risky or Right of Passage?

by Tina Kells | January 20, 2009 at 01:47 pm

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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama wowed onlookers at the Inaugural Parade by stepping out of their bullet proof motorcade and walking hand in hand down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. It was a powerful and symbolic gesture by a history making President and his partner.

Ever since JFK was assassinated in Dallas citizens and Secret Service agents alike have cringed whenever a President stepped out for a stroll in public. Obama's confident demeanor during his post-inauguration walk sent the clear message that nobody need worry about him.

After the Kennedy assassination Presidents avoided close interaction with the public until Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn walked the entire stretch toward the White House in 1977. Barack Obama and his wife Michelle repeated the Carters performance after the January 20th, 2009 inauguration.

Since the Carter era, the only President not to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue after inauguration was Ronald Reagan. Reagan was elected to two terms in office and he did not walk to the White House in either one of his inaugural parades.

George W. Bush walked in both his parades, even in 2005 amidst post-9/11 tensions he made a short out-in-the-open appearance on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Ronald Reagan was the only one who didn't. In 1981, he traveled the 1½ miles in an open car, in deference to his age. His 1985 inauguration parade was canceled because of icy conditions and bitter wind.

In 1989, George H.W. Bush walked part of the way. So did Bill Clinton, twice. In 2001, George W. Bush rode most of the way to avoid protesters but managed to hoof it for a couple of blocks. In 2005, the first inauguration after 9/11, he left his armored limo only for the last block.

In recent times, no detail of the inaugural parade has been more closely held than this, given the potential danger such a stroll presents. This time, with the day being wrapped in the tightest security ever, the Secret Service is no doubt advising Obama to stay in the limo.

But in the end, it's Obama's decision alone. Given his grass-roots persona, smart money says he'll walk, at least part of the way.