Re-elected incumbents and candidates-elect get to celebrate their victories through inaugural activities and swearing-in ceremonies. Banquets, balls, parades, and speeches are all characteristic of inaugural ceremonies, which can last multiple days.
However, the most important part of the celebration is the swearing-in. All candidates have to take an oath of office, in which they promise to discharge the duties of their office. From this moment, they are public servants, entrusted by all of us to "faithfully execute the office [to which they are elected]... to the best of [their] ability."
After all the excitement and ceremony, the one election cycle comes to a close. And another one begins...
![Whitehead & Hoag Co., Delaware Delegation for the Presidential Inauguration [of Herbert Hoover] pin, March 4, 1929, from the Jerome O. Herlihy political campaign ephemera collection](https://exhibitions.lib.udel.edu/trail-to-the-voting-booth/wp-content/uploads/sites/97/2020/09/inauguration_1929-e1599940117689.jpg "Whitehead & Hoag Co., Delaware Delegation for the Presidential Inauguration [of Herbert Hoover] pin, March 4, 1929, from the Jerome O. Herlihy political campaign ephemera collection")
![Creator unknown, Inauguration of Governor [Richard] McMullen and Democratic State Government ribbon, January 19, 1937, from the Jerome O. Herlihy political campaign ephemera collection](https://exhibitions.lib.udel.edu/trail-to-the-voting-booth/wp-content/uploads/sites/97/2020/09/inauguration_mcmllen-e1599940249894.jpg "Creator unknown, Inauguration of Governor [Richard] McMullen and Democratic State Government ribbon, January 19, 1937, from the Jerome O. Herlihy political campaign ephemera collection")
![Garrison Toy & Novelty Company, “[Franklin Delano] Roosevelt and [Henry] Wallace Inauguration ribbon with donkey medal, January 20, 1941, from the Jerome O. Herlihy political campaign ephemera collection](https://exhibitions.lib.udel.edu/trail-to-the-voting-booth/wp-content/uploads/sites/97/2020/08/Roosevelt_Wallace_ribbon-e1598804929823.jpg "Garrison Toy & Novelty Company, “[Franklin Delano] Roosevelt and [Henry] Wallace Inauguration ribbon with donkey medal, January 20, 1941, from the Jerome O. Herlihy political campaign ephemera collection")
![Creator unknown, Delaware Delegation [to the] Inauguration of President [Dwight D.] Eisenhower ribbon, January 20, 1957, from the Jerome O. Herlihy political campaign ephemera collection](https://exhibitions.lib.udel.edu/trail-to-the-voting-booth/wp-content/uploads/sites/97/2020/09/del_del_inauguration_57-e1599940360427.jpg "Creator unknown, Delaware Delegation [to the] Inauguration of President [Dwight D.] Eisenhower ribbon, January 20, 1957, from the Jerome O. Herlihy political campaign ephemera collection")
![Creator unknown, [John F.] Kennedy Inauguration Day, including Williams and former President Harry Truman, January 20, 1961, from the Senator John J. Williams papers](https://exhibitions.lib.udel.edu/trail-to-the-voting-booth/wp-content/uploads/sites/97/2020/09/kennedy_inauguration-e1599393360425.jpg "Creator unknown, [John F.] Kennedy Inauguration Day, including Williams and former President Harry Truman, January 20, 1961, from the Senator John J. Williams papers")
