“We're talking about thousands of people who are participating in this thing. Everyone's working overtime to make this baby happen -- and not only happen, but be the best we ever had.”
“If they're late and the people are waiting, I feel an obligation to keep them entertained somehow, ... I'm not trying to be Bob Hope. But I do feel that if I can keep their minds occupied and keep them somewhat entertained, they'll enjoy themselves more. I'm real serious about spectators having fun. I just feel badly if they come there and leave disappointed.”
“The inaugural parade is like an extension of the president's personality, ... Dwight Eisenhower, for example. A conservative guy. A military man. Short and simple was what his inauguration parade was all about.”
“It has nothing to do with Republican or Democrat, who I am or what I am, ... It's just that I'm the guy that's been doing it these many years and they've never done it before.”
“Now I've got my back to him. I'm starting to walk out. Then I hear, 'Now ladies and gentlemen, introducing the United States Marine Corpse band.' I decided I wouldn't even go to the restroom, ... I came right back.”
“The president's vantage point is ground level, ... Mine is very high. I can see what's coming. He can't. When I announce that the Marine Corps is coming, or this college that he went to is coming, he knows when to stand, when to sit, when to take off his hat, when to salute, when to applaud.”
“They don't have a lot of floodlights because this is a daytime parade. I'm trying to announce who's coming and I couldn't see anything. It was embarrassing.”
