On Friday, January 20, Donald Trump will take the Oath of Office to officially become the 45th President of the United States of America. That brief moment is central to a day otherwise filled will pomp and circumstance celebrating, not only the new president, but also the nation.
As the world counts down to the transition of power and gathers to watch the event, we sat down with Stephen Studdert, the executive director of the 1989 inaugural of President George H.W. Bush. He offered his unique perspective and shared some fun stories about his interactions with President Bush, as well as the other two presidents he served. As a former staff assistant to President Gerald Ford and special assistant to President Ronald Reagan, our conversation is a great primer for the inaugural.
We plan to roll out one episode of our discussion each day leading up to Inauguration Day, so check back each day for more.
About the Author
Marty Carpenter
Managing Partner, 24NINE, LLC
Previous to 24NINE, LLC, Marty Carpenter served as director of communication for Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert. As a senior advisor to the governor, he crafted communication strategy and served as the administration’s primary spokesman. In 2015, the governor tapped Carpenter to serve as campaign manager for his 2016 re-election campaign. Prior to joining the Herbert administration, Carpenter served as executive vice president of communication at the Salt Lake Chamber, the state’s largest and longest-serving business association. He also served as the communication lead for Governor Herbert’s successful 2012 campaign, winning all 29 Utah counties en route to a 39-point victory. He can be reached at mcarpenter@24NINE.com.