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| When the Transfer of Power Occurs |
| The Massachusetts Constitution, Article LXIV, Section 1 states "The terms of governor and lieutenant-governor shall begin at noon on the Thursday next following the first Wednesday in January succeeding their election..." For a copy of the complete text of the Constitution, see the General Court of the Commonwealth's website. |
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| Traditional Exchange of Symbols |
Symbols or tokens are passed from the outgoing Governor to the incoming Governor-elect. In the past this ceremony has taken place in the Executive Chamber, in the Council Chamber and on the landing at the top of the Grand Staircase during State House renovations in 2003. This ceremony has been traditional since the days of Governor Nathaniel P. Banks (1858-1861) and covers a variety of items. Currently, the four items exchanged are:
- The Key: a ceremonial pewter key to the lock on the Governor's Office door.
- The Butler Bible: This Bible was left by Governor Benjamin F. Butler when he departed office in 1884. Butler was unable to find a bible when he came into office; a friend gave him one to keep on his desk. On the day he left office, Butler inscribed the bible saying that it was a "needed transmittendum to my successor in office to be read by him and his successor each in turn."
- The Gavel: This is a relic of the U.S.S. Constitution and was accepted as the "permanent official gavel" of the Governor's Council on December 26, 1906. It is kept in a box made from a piece of white oak taken from the U.S.S. Constitution when she was rebuilt in the Boston Navy Yard in 1906.
- Massachusetts General Statutes: This is a two-volume set of the General Statutes of the Commonwealth dating back to 1860 and is inscribed by each Governor with a note to his or her successor. Governor William Weld wrote the following message to Governor-elect Celluci when they exchanged the symbols of power in 1997: Transmitted to His Excellency Argeo Paul Cellucci on the 29th day of July, 1997 - with deeply held best wishes, from an always grateful William F. Weld.
Various newspaper articles report other tokens being exchanged including the keys to the Council Room (1919, 1945), the Indian spearheads in the Council Chamber (1935, 1937, 1939) and a new copy of the General Laws of Massachusetts (1945).
After the transfer of the symbols, the Governor-elect is escorted by the Sergeant-at-Arms to the House Chamber, where he or she is sworn into office by the Senate President before a joint session of the House and Senate. A 19-gun salute (one rank below the 21-gun salute reserved for the President) is sometimes fired after the Governor-elect is sworn into office. This occurred when Foster Furcolo (1957-1961) became Governor in 1959. The new Governor will then give his or her Inaugural Address (or "State of the State" as it is commonly known). An inaugural reception, luncheon and/or ball may be held.
The departing Governor leaves on the "lone walk." |
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| Long Walk, Lone Walk, Lonesome Walk |
The tradition of a departing Governor making a "lone walk" down the 31 State House steps is more than 200 years old. The outgoing Governor, upon leaving the Governor's Office, walks down the Grand Staircase through the Hall of Flags in the State House, into the original Bullfinch building's Doric Hall and out its central doors and down the steps. It is worth noting that the doors through which the Governor departs are only used in three instances - for the current President of the United States, a visiting head of state and a departing Governor.
Historical accounts indicate that Governor Increase Sumner was the first to take the "lone walk" in 1799. More recent stories say that in 1884 Governor Benjamin Butler walked the steps alone because he was so unpopular when he left office that no one would walk with him.
Since then, tradition has been broken. Governor Coolidge (1919-1921) was followed at several paces by his friends, and Governor James Michael Curley's (1935-1937) wife accompanied him on his walk in 1937. Governor Michael Dukakis (1975-1979, 1983-1990) was also joined by his wife in 1979, Governor William Weld's (1991-1997) well-wishers lined the steps and crowded the gates, and Acting Governor Jane Swift's (2001-2002) family, departing staff and legislators walked with her, and well-wishers lined the steps and crowded the gates in January 2003.
Sometimes the old and new Governors meet at the halfway point on the steps with the outgoing Governor descending and the new Governor ascending. At this halfway point the departing Governor receives a 19-gun salute and continues to the bottom of the steps where his or her family may be waiting, then all depart in their vehicle. The new Governor continues up the steps where he may meet his family and make his way to the Governor's Office. |
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| Paintings of Previous Governors in the Governor's Office |
Incoming Governors usually choose at least one portrait of a previous Governor to hang in their office. Governor Romney (2003-) has the portrait of Republican Governor John Volpe (1961-1963, 1965-1969) over his desk. Governor Cellucci (1997-2001) also had Governor Volpe's portrait in his office. William Weld (1991-1997) hung the portrait of Democratic Governor James Michael Curley (1935-1937) in his office during his terms.
To research legislators please see our Researching Massachusetts Legislators page.
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| Sources: The State Library's vertical files titled Governors, outgoing - lone walk and outgoing ceremonies, the Governor...Terms of Office..."Inauguration Day"...Law file and Governors - Inaugurals file. |
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