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9 Faulkner L. Rev. 27 (2017-2018)
Presidents as Tradition Creators and Tradition Keepers

handle is hein.journals/faulklr9 and id is 39 raw text is: PRESIDENTS AS TRADITION CREATORS AND TRADITION KEEPERS Kenneth Starr* I. INTRODUCTION On January 20, 2017, America paused to celebrate the inauguration of our nation's 45th President. The November 2016 election resulted in an enormous surprise. Although the former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, commanded a three million popular vote advantage, our federal system-with the Electoral College standing as a bulwark protection of small states' political power-carried the day for the disruptive candidate who had never sought political office.' Donald Trump's election proved, yet again, that in America anything can happen. President Trump's speech will long be remembered for its unprecedentedly harsh tone and the ensuing controversy over the size of the crowds gathered around the National Mall. The few unremarkable moments of the day included those trappings, such as the morning inaugural parade and evening balls, which have over the centuries become customary for the inaugural-occasion. One lesser-known tradition takes place at a small, historic parish located directly across Lafayette Square from the White House. In 1933 Franklin Delano Roosevelt began the practice of worshipping at St. John's Episcopal Church on inauguration morning, which has been followed by every incoming President since. Since it opened in 1816, every sitting American President has visited the Church of the Presidents; there is even a pew reserved for the nation's leader and his family.2 * Judge Starr is a former President of Baylor University, served as Solicitor General of The United States from 1989 to 1993, and sat on the United States Circuit Court for the District of Columbia. i Kenneth T. Walsh, Clinton Wins Popular Vote by Nearly 3 Million Ballots, U.S. NEWS & WORLD REP. (Dec. 21, 2016, 7:34 AM), https://www.usnews.com/ news/ken-walshs-washington/articles/2016-12-2 1/hillary-clinton-wins-popular- vote-by-nearly-3-million-ballots. 2 History, ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, https://stjohns-dc.org/welcome-to-saint-johns- church/history/ (last visited Dec. 26, 2017). 27

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