Inaugural tallies
How Obama’s event stacks up
By the time all the tables and chairs get put away and the final tab is settled, the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States is expected to cost $150 million. His staff attributes the record expense to record attendance thanks to unprecedented accessibility in their plans. How does this price tag compare to inaugurals past? Here are the estimated costs for the past half-dozen presidents:
Year President Cost 2005 G.W. Bush $42 million
2001 G.W. Bush $40 million
1997 Clinton $29 million
1993 Clinton $33 million
1989 G.H.W. Bush $30 million
1985 Reagan $20 million
1981 Reagan $16 million
1977 Carter $3.5 million
1973 Nixon $4 million
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