History
The idea of a state arrival ceremony at the White House was first conceived by President John F. Kennedy in the spring of 1961. President 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 in Washington D.C., with an honor guard.
President Kennedy envisioned a grand ceremony where the White House architecture and grounds would provide a stately setting for a welcome showcasing United States political and military history. President Kennedy worked with the Chief of Protocol and top 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 five branches of the United States Armed Forces were to be included, along with music, an invited audience, diplomatic officials, the press, and a 21-gun salute.
The first state arrival ceremony at the White House took place on October 15, 1962 to greet President Ahmed Ben Bella of Algeria. In reviewing the first state arrival ceremony, President Kennedy was disappointed to find the honor guards, representing each branch of the United States Armed Forces, had been entirely white. All subsequent honor guards have made a point of being multi-racial as a reflection of the United States as a nation of changing demographics and immigration throughout much of its history.
The ceremony evolved over time, and presidents have incorporated, altered, and omitted details. While President Kennedy had avoided the use of a brass fanfare, fearing they would be too regal, President Richard 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 Gerald Ford, but the brass fanfares continued, courtesy of the United States Army Herald Trumpets.
Read more about this topic: State Arrival Ceremony
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