WASHINGTON _ Congressional leaders gathered outside the Capitol on Wednesday to hammer the first nails into the platform for the inauguration of the yet-to-be-decided next president on Jan. 20, 2017.
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan was joined by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy at the First Nail Ceremony where each drove a nail into a plank of wood that will be part of the platform.
Inauguration Day _ almost exactly four months away _ will see about 1,600 people descend on that platform including past presidents, members of Congress, Cabinet members and nominees, Supreme Court justices and more.
Wednesday's event was attended by Missouri Republican Sen. Roy Blunt, chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, and Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers.
