CELEBRATION AND DISSENT.

INAUGURATION Day; INAUGURATION of United States presidents; BUSH, George W. (George Walker), 1946-; CIVIL disobedience; PARTIES; RITES & ceremonies

WASHINGTON (D.C.)Report Available; UNITED StatesReport Available

This article covers the second inauguration of President George W. Bush. The day of pageants and protest and prayer and 10,000 No Parking signs. No longer running for anything other than history's judgment, George W. Bush delivered his second Inaugural Address under a cold sky to a sea of hats--fur and knit and 10 gallon. In protest, people had been called to pray, fast, dress in black, turn their backs, skip work, boycott gas, spend "Not One Damn Dime" to bring the economy to a halt for a day of lament. To rewire the charge that a $40 million party was too gaudy for wartime, the night before the Inauguration was devoted to a salute to soldiers and service, although that gala was followed by the Texas Black Tie & Boots Ball, complete with live armadillos and Bevo--the University of Texas' longhorn steer--20,000 yellow roses and cowboy boots dipped in silver as centerpieces. On Inaugural Night, President and Mrs. Bush waltzed through nine balls in record time, before heading back to the White House.