Pilgrim:
When you quoted me where I said,
"..as well as the fact that the president 4 years ago didn't go to it, either," and then proceeded to tell me that Bush, did in fact attend the American Legion Salute to Heroes Ball 4 years ago, you failed to realize that my quote was in a direct response to Chef's comments about the Red White and Blue Ball, NOT the American Legion Salute to Heores Ball. These are two different Balls we're talking about here.
Just because it happened 4 years ago doesn't mean the same thing happend this year.
The Red, White and Blue Ball was first held, for the very first time ever, 4 years ago in 2005. George Bush did NOT attend that Ball. It was then, as now, a fund rasier for veterans charities. It was held again this year, and Obama did not go to that Ball. Neither time was the Red, White and Blue Ball THE same thing as the American Legion sponsored Salute to Heroes Ball. And neither time did either president attend.
This year, in 2009, the American Legion did NOT sponsor a Salute to Heroes Ball of any kind. I can find nothing in the press nor on the Legion site that shows they sponsored any ball of any kind at all.
The American Legion has NOT sponsored a Salute to Heroes Ball every inauguration since 1953.
The first Commander In Chief Ball (and that's what it was called) was held in 1953 to honor Eisenhower and current and former members of the armed services. It was held at the National Guard Armory. The other ball, The Presidential Inaugural Ball, was held at Georgetown University. Eisenhower attended both balls, but skipped out on all other festivities. The American Legion was one of many sponsors of the event.
In 1957 the number of balls grew to four, with The Presidential Inaugural Ball and the Commander In Chief Ball being but of the two official balls. Earlier, in August, 1956, a joint Congressional resolution passed the Presidential Inauguration Ceremonies Act, and thus the Presidential Inauguration Committee was born.
In 1961 there were five official Balls, one of them, the Commander In Chief Ball, would become a fixture at all subsequent inaugurations. The American Legion again was one of many sponsors of the event.
In 1965, there were five Balls. President Johnson lef the dancing at the Presidential Inaugural Ball, where 28,000 people were in attendance. He made brief appearances of approximatedly 30 minutes each at the other four Balls, including the CinC Ball. I cannot find where any of the sponsors of the CinC Ball for that year are mentioned. There is no mention of the American Legion nor the VFW.
In 1969 at Nixon's Inauguration, there were six balls. After Nixon led the parade route as anti-war protesters hurled rocks and beer cans at the president's limousine, the 3,000 D.C. Police, 5,000 regular troops and 1,000 National Guardsmen kept the protests at bay. The Nixons attended all six balls, including a relatively small CinC Ball at the Armory. The American Legion did NOT sponsor the event. It was sponsored entirely by funds made available by the Arms Services Committee.
In 1973 there were five balls. Again the CinC Ball was sponsored by the taxpayers with money provided from the Armed Services budget. That was the last time that happened.
In 1977 Jimmy Carter introduce the "People's Inauguration" theme and all seven of the inaugural balls wer called "parties," and none were permitted to charge more than $25 to get in. The Carter's attende all six of the official "parties," including the CinC Party.
In 1981 there were nine official balls for Reagan's first inauguration, and as promised to pull the American people out of hard time, the events and the inauguration were over-the-top luxury rivaling an even for Euopean royalty, something that did not go uncriticized considering it was on the same day that the Iran Hostage Crisis ended. The Reagan's attended all nine balls, including the CinC Ball, which has as its primary sponsor the American Legion.
In 1985, after the opulence of the previous inauguration, festivities and balls were scaled back, having just seven balls. But it still cost more than $20 million, and the heat was on for that cold January day when the Oath of Office was taken indoors because it was so cold. Nancy's $46,000 dress was fodder for Doonsberry and everyone else for quite a while. Once again, the President and First Lady managed to hit all of the official balls, including the CinC, which was sponsored by corporate (mostly Hollywood) funds.
In 1989 there were nine balls for George Sr, all of which he attended for the "George to George" bicentenniel theme of the anniversay of the first presidential inauguration. No mention is made of who sponsored the CinC Ball that year, but the Bush's did make it to all of the official balls.
In 1993 there were eleven official balls. Clinton made brief apperances at all of them, but spent by far the most time at the Home State Ball for Arkansas, where he played sax with BB King for a good portion of the night. The CinC Ball was another elegant, but subdued affair.
In 1997 we had an all time record fourteen official inaugural balls and the Clinton's day ended the next morning at 4AM. They managed to hit all fourteen balls, including the CinC Ball, funded primarily by corporate donations.
In 2001 and again in 2005, the American Legion and other veterans organizations sponsored the Commander in Chief Ball with the "Salute to Heroes" theme, and used the sponsorship to honor veterans of Desert Shield and Desert Storm, among all of the other veterans, past and present. The term "Salute the Heroes" wasn't much a part of the American vocabulary until Desert Shield, and it was never used as a theme for any of the previous Commander in Chief Balls, ever.
But like I said, show me a link to a credible news organization, or a link to the American Legion Web site, where it talks about any of this. Or, PM me the full headers of that e-mail.
