Julia Tyler, the vivacious young second wife of President John Tyler, was an amateur composer. Two First Ladies are credited with first instructing the Marine Band to play “Hail to the Chief” at Presidential appearances. Newspapers reported that the music elicited three spontaneous outbursts of acclamation for the President from the crowd in attendance. As President Andrew Jackson departed the ceremony, the Marine Band performed 'Hail to the Chief' in his honor. On May 29, 1829, the Marine Band performed at the ceremony celebrating the laying of the cornerstone for the first lock on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. It was not until 1829 that the first documented performance of the music in the presence of the President of the United States occurred. The melody was based on an old Gaelic air, and the song was first performed in the United States in 1812. Though the Marine Band performs “Hail to the Chief” hundreds of times each year for the Chief Executive, the song did not originate as a Presidential salute.Ĭomposed as a stage adaptation of Sir Walter Scott’s The Lady of the Lake, “Hail to the Chief” is attributed to English composer James Sanderson.

Used to herald the arrival of the President, this piece also is performed at the ceremony to honor the newly inaugurated President immediately after he has taken the oath of office. Marine Band has honored Presidents with 'Hail to the Chief,” music indelibly associated with America’s Commander-in-Chief. Send us feedback about these examples.For centuries “The President’s Own” U.S. These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'commander in chief.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. 2023 Biden is the oldest commander in chief in U.S. 2023 In most administrations, the president’s national security adviser has been more a coordinator than a policymaker, working with all international affairs agencies to deliver their best counsel and analysis to the commander in chief, including options for action.

Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports,, 23 Dec. 2023 Though there's no such bar against prosecution for a former commander in chief, lawyers for Trump say that he cannot be charged for actions that fell within his official duties as president - a claim that prosecutors have vigorously rejected. 2023 Though there’s no such bar against prosecution for a former commander in chief, lawyers for Trump say that he cannot be charged for actions that fell within his official duties as president - a claim that prosecutors have vigorously rejected. officials have also noted friction between Zelensky and his commander in chief, Gen. 2023 In Ukraine, a war of incremental gains as counteroffensive stalls 2024 That help included backing a plot to kidnap the commander in chief of Chile’s army, Gen. Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Jan. 2024 The exhibition tells the stories of Washington’s companions in his war camps, including his enslaved valet, William Lee, who would dress him in the tent three of his aides-de-camp and the soldiers selected to guard the commander in chief. Recent Examples on the Web That blunt assessment from the Ukrainian commander in chief, made in a November interview with The Economist, prompted waves of enormous pessimism.

Commander in chief lyrics