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Finally inside the Senate and seated beside Democratic Leader Robinson, Mr. Roosevelt flashed his friendly smile all about the chamber. He heard John Nance Garner's low "I do" as he took the oath as Vice President from Charles Curtis. Curtis: ''It is with deep emotion that I bid you good-by and go forth from here a private citizen." Garner: ''This is my first and possibly my last opportunity to address the Senate." During the singsong swearing-in of new Senators, Mr. Roosevelt and Senator Robinson put their heads together, whispered.
Black Acres. Meanwhile ten times ten thousand men, women & children had gathered before the inaugural platform on the East Front of the Capitol. They blackened 40 acres of park and pavement. They sat on benches. They filled bare trees. They perched on roof tops. But for all the flags and music and ceremony, they were not a happy, carefree crowd. Their bank accounts were frozen by what amounted to a national moratorium. Many of them wondered how they could raise the cash to get home. Their mass spirits were as sombre as the grey sky above. Yet they remained doggedly hopeful that this new President with his New Deal would somehow solve their worries and send them away in brighter mood.
Before them on the platform the high and mighty of the land were indiscriminately packed together at close quarters. Frail Secretary of the Treasury Woodin could not press through to his reserved seat, was cheerfully content with standing room in the background. Postmaster General Farley shouldered his way about winking slyly at friends. Mrs. Roosevelt and Mrs. Roosevelt Sr. managed to squeeze through to their places. Vice President Garner appeared with a borrowed muffler wrapped around his neck. President Hoover wormed his way down from the rotunda to a front-row seat. He kept his eyes glued on his knees. Mrs. Hoover, in brown, sat by him close and comforting. The crowd had rarely seen President Hoover look so grave.
Oath. Ta-ta-Ta-ta-aa sounded a bugle. Through the great bronze doors that tell the story of Columbus, appeared the President-elect leaning on the arm of his son James. From the door to the platform had been built a special ramp, carpeted in maroon. Down this he shuffled slowly while the crowd cheered and the Marine Band played "Hail to the Chief." When he reached the front of the platform, he turned right and faced Chief Justice Hughes. An aide held out a Dutch Bible that had been in the Roosevelt family for three centuries. It was open at the 13th Chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians ("Faith, Hope & Charity"). Mr. Roosevelt rested his hand on the Bible. Chief Justice Hughes recited the oath. In a loud, clear voice, like a bridegroom at the altar Mr. Roosevelt did the extraordinary thing of repeating it after him :
"I, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God!"