On Saturday, Thomas Jefferson arrived at Gadsby's Tavern to celebrate his second inauguration. It was a trip back in time, and March 12, 2005 became March 12, 1805. The second floor ballroom of the 1792 building became a stage, and a cast of characters from the past came alive in the candlelight and costumes.
John Gadsby, who was performed by Victor Sarna, claimed that the event was the largest to ever be held at his tavern. He welcomed guests, flirted with the ladies and made several toasts. He introduced President Jefferson, who was the featured speaker of the event.
"This new order of the ages will survive," said Jefferson, who was performed by Bill Barker. He predicted that "generations may, in the future, feel a semblance of warmth for the preservation of liberty that we celebrate here tonight."
In his speech, he recalled the bitter electoral stalemate of 1800, the late war with Tripoli, the tax cuts he instituted in his first administration and the technological advancements that had been made since the Revolution. At the conclusion of his speech, he promised to follow George Washington's example by limiting himself to two presidential terms.
"A people must never forget their history," said the president, paraphrasing Cicero. "If they do, they may remain children for the rest of their lives."
IT WAS AN EVENING full of speeches and toasts. In total, 34 toasts were made, celebrating everything from the joys of women to the security of America. Aside from the president's speech, those in attendance at the inaugural banquet also heard speeches from Vice President George Clinton, Secretary of State James Madison, former Attorney General Levi Lincoln and Alexandria Mayor Jonah Thompson.
Vice President Clinton, who was performed by Chuck Aldrich, suffered from the ill effects of old age and rheumatism. He walked with a pronounced limp and moved with a stiffness that indicated physical discomfort. In his speech, he recalled the bitter electoral standoff of 1800, praised the 12th Amendment and explained how his home state of New York could form a powerful alliance with Virginia.
"My presence here is indicative of the unified leadership this nation now enjoys," he said. "This is the reason for the peace and prosperity we now enjoy."
Secretary of State Madison, who was performed by John Douglas Hall, was the wittiest of the bunch. His dry humor and self-depreciating jokes were timed with a subtle delicacy that created within his character the irresistible charm of electoral seduction. His campaign for 1808 had commenced. In his speech, Madison praised the elimination of public debt, the reduction of the size of the Navy, efforts to modify the Judicial Act of 1789, the late war in Tripoli and the cost-saving measures taken by the State Department to reform the system of foreign consuls abroad.
"Under our new democratic republican system, we do not find power in some far off monarch," he said. "Instead, we find power in the hands of the people who sit next to each other here this evening."
Former Attorney General Levi Lincoln, who was performed by Ted Borek, was obsessed with the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase. The dispute dates to 1803, when the House of Representatives voted to impeach the acid-tongued justice, a harsh critic of the Jefferson administration. The Senate fell four votes short of convicting Chase, who remains the only Supreme Court justice to be impeached.
"He had the temerity to enforce laws that were inconvenient to this administration," he said. "He is an intemperate and partisan character, and this unrepentant Federalist is still at large!"
Alexandria's mayor, who was performed by George Kitchen, gave a speech that he described as a "state of our Union Street," providing evidence of Alexandria's growing stature in Virginia and these United States. By the beginning of 1805, according to the mayor, Alexandria had 263 shops, 34 licensed taverns, eight bread-loaf bakers, five biscuit retailers, four incorporated banks and one brewery.
"This is the finest port in Virginia," he said. "We are a growing city, a prosperous city."
AFTER THE SPEECHES and toasts had concluded, the guests of honor congregated with other guests. With the fashion of early 19th century on display and the parade of historical celebrity marching forward, it was easy to forget that the event was a reenactment and that actors were standing in for real people. Those performing title roles remained in part, answering questions and holding conversations as if it were 1805. Questions about e-mail or California were met a blank stare. Predictions about the future were rare, and resentment of Federalists — Jefferson's political rivals — was painfully realistic.