The Inauguration: 1913

Tip of the hat to GlenJay for identifying the sculptures flanking the east staircase. I was pretty sure they hadn't been there in my lifetime and I was wondering what they were.

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Washington Post, April 30, 1959.

Fulton Wars on Capitol's Indian Statue

Rep. James G. Fulton (R-Pa.) wants to make sure that the statue of the Indian that until recently stood on the Capitol steps permanently bites the dust. The white marble statue was part of a group of that was located on one of the stair blocks on the now dismantled East Front steps.

Almost since it was place there in 1853, friends of Indians have been trying to get rid of it. The grouping shows a pioneer settler wresting a tomahawk from the hand of an Indian about to scalp a woman and her child. A snarling dog looks on.

Fulton said he was approached by House Speaker Sam Rayburn (D-Tex.) about eliminating the group when the new extended East Front is unveiled in 1961. Rayburn offered encouragement, he said.

One unsuccessful effort to get rid of the Indian was made 20 years ago by Rep. Usher L. Burdick (R.-N.D.). He called the sculpture a "constant reminder of ill will toward the American Indian" and introduced a resolution to get rid of it.

The group is called "The Rescue" and was carved by Horatio Greenough in Florence, Italy.

If the Indian goes there will be the equal problem of what to do with the companion sculpture that stood on the other side of the steps. Titled "The Discovery," it shows Columbus holding aloft the globe of the World while an Indian maiden shrinks back in fear and wonder.

Silly me, I didn't know the phrase "bites the dust" pre-dated Queen.

Other than the incoming and outgoing Presidents already in place while others file in, the military are sloppily breaking formation to gawk at the proceedings. That would never be tolerated at a Presidential Inauguration now. The laxest they could hope for would be parade rest.

It wasn't until 1981 that inaugurations were moved to the Capitol West Front, more impressive visually and with more room for spectators (but at greater distance).

Barely visible here, the two embarrassing sculptures (The Discovery and The Rescue) flanking the East Front entrance were removed in 1958 and more or less hidden away. The Rescue is said to be broken into pieces.

What? It's tomorrow? Aw Crap.

[There he is, with outgoing President Taft. - tterrace]

In so many modern events, people arrive in order of their unimportance (with the most important arriving last). For this inauguration, at least, the incoming and outgoing presidents are already there, but the crowd of citizens before the podium that would appear in this photo (http://www.shorpy.com/node/4832) is apparently being held back for a time.