State Arrival Ceremony
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The State Arrival Ceremony is a ceremony that takes place on the South Lawn of the White House, the official home and principal workplace of the President of the United States, in which a visiting head of state is formally welcomed to the United States. The ceremony usually begins a state visit, and is the setting of the initial contact between the two heads of state during the visit.
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[edit] History
The idea of a State Arrival Ceremony at the White House was first conceived of by President John F. Kennedy in the spring of 1961. Kennedy wanted to use the majestic setting of the White House for official welcomes, and to reconnect the modern presidency with the history of the early republic. For previous 20th-century administrations, the Chief of Protocol of the United States had begun a tradition of having the United States Secretary of State greet visiting heads of state at Andrews Air Force Base or sometimes at Union Station, with a small military honor guard.
Kennedy envisioned a ceremony where the White House architecture and grounds would provide a stately setting for a welcome showcasing American history and military vitality. President Kennedy worked with the Chief of Protocol and military leaders on the form of the ceremony. An effort was made to find the right amount of pomp befitting a republic. For the first time all four branches of the U.S. military were to be included, along with music, an invited audience of citizens, diplomatic officials and the press, and a 21-gun cannon salute.
The first State Arrival Ceremony at the White House took place on October 15, 1962 to greet Premier Ahmed Ben Bella of Algeria. In reviewing the first State Arrival Ceremony, Kennedy was disappointed to find the guard of honor, representing each branch of the United States armed forces had been entirely white. All subsequent guards of honor have made a point of being multiracial as a reflection of the American nation.
The ceremony has evolved over time, presidents have added, changed, and removed details. While Kennedy had avoided use of brass fanfares, fearing they would be too regal, President Nixon had new band uniforms with spiked helmets made, and began the tradition of brass fanfares for announcing the president. The spiked helmets were discontinued by President Ford but the brass fanfares continued.
[edit] Order of events
Along the South Lawn are positioned members of the four military branches with their colors. The flags of the 50 states are held aloft by members of the U.S. armed forces. Originally the flags of the 50 states were positioned to the south, behind the honor guard. During the administration of George W. Bush, the flags have been positioned along the north edge of the curved drive.
Members of the Official Foreign Delegation are assembled, along with representatives of the three branches of U.S. government, embassy staff, and press. Invited guests, sometimes numbering over 4,000, from the general public, include American citizens with ancestry to the visiting head of state's country. The public are provided with small flags of the United States and of the visiting head of state's country, and a program embossed with Seal of the President of the United States.
The ceremony is carefully orchestrated, and involves the President and First Lady waiting inside the Diplomatic Reception Room on the ground floor of the Executive Residence for word that the visiting head of state's car has approached the north entrance to East Executive Drive. On cue, the United States Army Herald Trumpets, on the balcony of the South Portico sound a trumpet volley, followed by a member of the diplomatic corps announcing "ladies and gentleman, the President of the United States, accompanied by the First Lady." The Herald Trumpets perform four ruffles and flourishes on bugle and drum. Guards open the doors to the White House and the president and first lady emerge. Immediately "Hail to the Chief," the presidential anthem, is played by the band (the band rotates between Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine). The president and first lady stand on the walk awaiting the visiting head of state's car.
Shortly after the president and first lady enter the South lawn, the guests' car approaches, slows to a stop, and the visiting head of state and their spouse emerge. They are greeted by the president and first lady, and then move to a raised dais festooned with the U.S colors. Next, the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, dressed in 18th-century uniform parade by the reviewing stand and invited guests. The colonial-era song "Yankee Doodle" is performed at all State Arrival Ceremonies, except for when the visiting head of state is from the United Kingdom. A member of the diplomatic corps announces the playing of the visiting head of state's national anthem. This is followed by the American national anthem.
Following the two national anthems, the president formally welcomes the visiting head of state to the United States, speaks to the nature of the two nations' friendship, and often concludes with the word welcome in the visitors' language. Next the visiting head of state shares some remarks sometimes requiring translation.
Following the conclusion of remarks, a 21-one gun salute is sounded. Cannons are located to the south on a large public lawn called the Ellipse. The president and visiting head of state next review the honor guard by walking in slow "march step" past the assembled regiments. At this point depending on the pleasure or custom of the visiting head of state, they may greet the public by shaking hands, or simply walk by greeting with a nod or wave.
At the conclusion of the ceremony the president, first lady, visiting head of state and their spouse enter the White House through the Diplomatic Reception Room and assemble in the Cross Hall and Entrance Hall for a smaller reception and receiving line.
[edit] References
- Abbott James A., and Elaine M. Rice. Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White House Restoration. Van Nostrand Reinhold: 1998. ISBN 0-442-02532-7.
- Clinton, Hillary Rodham. An Invitation to the White House: At Home with History. Simon & Schuster: 2000. ISBN 0-684-85799-5.
- Garrett, Wendell. Our Changing White House. Northeastern University Press: 1995. ISBN 1-55553-222-5.
- Seale, William. The President's House. White House Historical Association and the National Geographic Society: 1986. ISBN 0-912308-28-1.
- West, J.B. with Mary Lynn Kotz. Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies. Coward, McCann & Geoghegan: 1973. SBN 698-10546-X.
- The White House: An Historic Guide. White House Historical Association and the National Geographic Society: 2001. ISBN 0-912308-79-6.
