The Inaugural Address,[C] which occupied half an hour in its delivery, was frequently applauded by the vast audience. The clear, ringing tones of the speaker gave added force to every sentence; and his wonderful magnetism held the whole crowd spell-bound.
At the close of the address, the oath of office was administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and then the immense throngs of people began slowly to disperse.
The threatening clouds of the early morning had all disappeared, and the bright March sun looked down upon a most touching, beautiful picture, as the new President turned around to his dear old mother, the guiding star of his life—and tenderly kissed her.
"Ah! not in Greece or Rome alone
High mother-hearts shall swell;
America's unsculptured stone!
Will Garfield legends tell,—
How at the height of fame he durst—
The proudest moment of his life—
To put the white-haired mother first,
Then turned and kissed his wife."
As soon as the evening twilight came on, a grand display of fireworks illuminated the city. The Inauguration Ball was one of the most brilliant ever held in Washington. The hall was finely decorated. Just in the centre of the rotunda was a statue of America, surrounded by tropical plants; in her left hand she held a shield, and from her right, a powerful electric light in the form of a torch shone down the four wings of the building. Heavy festoons of evergreens, intertwined with rare flowers, hung from the ceiling, and the lofty pillars were decorated with streamers of bunting and the shields of the States and Territories.
Some four thousand people had assembled in the building before the arrival of the presidential party. Garfield did not take part in the dancing, but after an hour spent in hand-shaking, he retired to a balcony where his wife and mother were seated, and watched with evident enjoyment the brilliant scene below.
The next day the Senate had a special session, and the President announced his Cabinet as follows:—
| Secretary of State: | James G. Blaine. | |
| Secretary of the Treasury: | William Windom. | |
| Secretary of the Interior: | Samuel J. Kirkwood. | |
| Secretary of the Navy: | William H. Hunt. | |
| Secretary of War: | Robert T. Lincoln. | |
| Postmaster-General: | Thomas L. James. | |
| Attorney-General: | Wayne McVeagh. |