#DonaldTrump - 10 facts about his inauguration

President-elect Donald Trump, left, and his wife Melania Trump arrive at the "Make America Great Again Welcome Concert" at the Lincoln Memorial, in Washington. Picture: Evan Vucci/AP

President-elect Donald Trump, left, and his wife Melania Trump arrive at the "Make America Great Again Welcome Concert" at the Lincoln Memorial, in Washington. Picture: Evan Vucci/AP

Published Jan 20, 2017

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Washington - With his left hand on a Bible used by

Abraham Lincoln, Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th U.S.

president around noon on Friday (about 7pm in SA) and give an address

at the west front of the U.S. Capitol before leading a parade to

the White House.

Here are some facts about his inauguration:

* Weather is forecast to be wet and unseasonably warm. The

National Weather Service predicts temperatures nearing 47

degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) and rain tapering off by

midafternoon.

* After breakfast and a church service, Trump and his wife,

Melania, will meet outgoing President Barack Obama and first

lady Michelle Obama at the White House. Following tradition,

Trump and Obama will ride together down Pennsylvania Avenue to

the Capitol.

* Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas will swear in Mike

Pence as vice president. Chief Justice John Roberts will

administer the oath of office to Trump.

* Trump will give an inaugural address expected to last

about 20 minutes. His spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump will give

"a very forward-thinking, very inspiring, together-oriented

speech" on solving such problems as creating jobs.

* As many as 900 000 people are expected to turn out for the

event, including thousands of protesters. After the ceremony,

the Obamas will leave the Capitol to begin their post-White

House lives. Trump and Pence stay for lunch.

* Starting around 3pm, Trump, Pence and their

families will lead a parade up Pennsylvania Avenue to the White

House. Inaugural organizers expect more than 8 000 people to

take part, including high school and university marching bands,

equestrian corps and veterans groups.

* Donald and Melania Trump may step out of their limousine

briefly along the parade route to wave to well-wishers. Three

inaugural balls are scheduled in the evening.

* Following tradition, Obama will leave his successor a

letter in the Oval Office desk. Its contents have not been

divulged.

* While 20 minutes may seem short for an inaugural address,

it would not be the shortest. George Washington's second

inaugural speech in 1793 consisted of about 130 words.

* The honour of longest inaugural address goes to William

Henry Harrison, whose March 4, 1841, speech contained more than

8,440 words and lasted an hour and 45 minutes. Harrison, who

gave his speech in a howling snowstorm without a hat or a coat,

died of pneumonia a month later. 

* Compiled by Jonathan Oatis; Editing by Howard Goller

Reuters

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