The Shadow
March 4, History and C. Bascom Slemp
March 4 is a date that may not mean much to you, or any American.
But 100 years ago, it was a significant day.
March 4 used to be the official day for presidential inaugurations. President-elects such as Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt were sworn into office on March 4.
The fourth member of Mount Rushmore, General George Washington, did not celebrate his 1789 inauguration until April 30.
While Congress scheduled the inauguration for March 4, they were unable to count the electoral ballots in time!
Pushing the inauguration back to April 30 gave Washington more time to travel from Virginia to New York City (the U.S. capital at the time).
The March 4 inauguration tradition generally applied to every U.S. president until ratification of the Twentieth Amendment in 1933. The second inauguration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937 began the modern trend of holding the ceremony on January 20.
One of the last U.S. presidents to be sworn into office on March 4 was Calvin Coolidge.
Coolidge served as vice president under the previous Warren G. Harding Administration. Harding was an extremely popular president while in office.
But in August 1923, Harding died of a heart attack.
Thus, Coolidge ascended into the presidency. Coolidge soon tapped Wise County native C. Bascom Slemp to serve as Coolidge’s secretary (what is known today as chief of staff).
Bascom was not new to the politics of Washington, DC. His father, Campbell Slemp Sr. was a U.S. Congressman representing the Ninth District of Virginia from 1903 until his sudden death in 1907.
In a special election, Bascom ran to succeed his father. A Virginia Military Institute graduate who completed his studies with the highest grade point average in school history (a record that still stands today according to sources), Bascom was a smart and promising young man.
Additionally, Bascom was a dedicated Republican. He chaired the Republican Party of Virginia’s state committee beginning in 1905.
Bascom comfortably won the special election, securing nearly 70% of the vote.
The Ninth District frequently changed hands up until that time, but Bascom continued to win reelection as a Republican.
During this time, Bascom was the only Republican congressman in the Virginia delegation! He was one of a handful of Republican congressmen from the South, which overwhelmingly supported Democrats.
Not only did Bascom continue service in Congress, but he also headed the Republican Party of Virginia until 1918.
Bascom then retired from elected office. President Harding soon hired Bascom to serve in the Administration as an advisor.
Once again, Bascom was one of the few to come from the South and have a role in the White House.
Given Bascom’s relationships and knowledge of White House affairs, Coolidge offered Bascom the secretary position.
Bascom served in this role as Coolidge ran for president during the 1924 election. Coolidge prevailed in the 1924 contest, and his inauguration was set for March 4, 1925, nearly 100 years ago.
Despite the victory, Bascom was inclined to move back home. His final day with the Coolidge Administration was also March 4, 1925.
Bascom returned home to Big Stone Gap, where he practiced law. A future appointment by the Hoover Administration resulted in France awarding Bascom the French Legion of Honor Medal.
Bascom passed away in 1943, but his legacy lives on in the foothills and mountains of Appalachia.
Bascom’s house was donated to the Commonwealth of Virginia, which now stands as Big Stone Gap’s Southwest Virginia Museum and Historical State Park. It is a National Historic Landmark.
The post office and courthouse in Big Stone Gap is named after Bascom.
The University of Virginia’s College at Wise campus features the C. Bascom Slemp Student Center.
The Slemp Foundation carries out Bascom’s request in his will to improve the health, education and welfare of Lee and Wise County residents.
According to their website, the Foundation has awarded over $35 million in scholarships, pledges and charitable grants.
March 4 may not carry as much meaning to people anymore, but the Ninth District of Virginia can celebrate the centennial of when one of their very own served their final day in the White House.
If you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at morgangriffith.house.gov. Also on my website is the latest material from my office, including information on votes recently taken on the floor of the House of Representatives.
