Harold Smick Jr.
USA- A Lifetime of Inaugurations
- Memorable Moments
- Presidential History Enthusiast
- Political Views
- Inauguration Souvenirs
- Hopes for Trump's Presidency
An American Tradition: Witnessing Presidential Inaugurations Since 1941
A 91-year-old New Jersey man is preparing to witness the swearing-in of his 18th U.S. president. Harold Smick Jr. was just 15 years old on January 20, 1941, when he witnessed Franklin D. Roosevelt's historic third inauguration as the only American president to serve three terms.
A Lifetime of Inaugurations
Smick's inauguration tradition began that day and has continued unabated to this day. He has attended every presidential inauguration since 1941, including the upcoming one for Donald Trump.
Memorable Moments
Smick recalls a particularly memorable inauguration when he traveled with his father by bus from South Jersey to Washington, D.C. "It was smoggy until we got to the Pennsylvania Ferry," he said. "There were no bridges at the time. You had to take a ferry even from Camden to Philadelphia."
Another memorable moment came during John F. Kennedy's inauguration in 1961, when a snowstorm prevented Smick from driving home. "It kept getting worse as the day went on," he said. "At 5 o'clock, I pulled into an Esso gas station and said, 'I've come all the way from Salem. I'm going to take the train back. Can I leave my car here?'"
Presidential History Enthusiast
Smick's inauguration passion has extended to a lifelong interest in presidential history. His living room is adorned with inauguration buttons, photographs, and memorabilia, including autographs from every American president.
Political Views
Despite voting for Hillary Clinton in the recent election, Smick's political views do not prevent him from attending Trump's inauguration. "He's different than anyone that's ever been president of the United States," he said of Trump. "He's never been in government before."
Smick strongly criticized the more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who chose to boycott Trump's inauguration. "I think it's terrible," he said. "It's a disgrace. America gave them the right to boycott, but it's a disgrace. He's going to be our president on Friday."
Inauguration Souvenirs
During Roosevelt's inauguration, Smick pocketed a piece of felt from the president's reviewing stand. He plans to do the same at Trump's inauguration. "I stayed after and walked up on the stand," he said. "It was a big piece of canvas, and I ripped a corner off. To this day, the FBI doesn't know where that corner went."
Hopes for Trump's Presidency
Smick prays that Trump will bring peace, address healthcare, and help working-class Americans. He also hopes that his family's lumber business, which has been in operation since 1906, will thrive under Trump's leadership.
