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Schwarzenneger sworn in as governor { November 17 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
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Schwarzenegger Sworn In as Calif. Governor
Monday, November 17, 2003
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Arnold Schwarzenegger (search) was sworn in Monday as California's 38th governor, humbly promising to serve Californians and to give back to the state that gave him so much.
"I am humbled, I am moved and I am honored beyond words to be your governor," Schwarzenegger said in his speech after taking the oath. "I have taken the oath to serve you … I will not forget my oath and I will not forget you."
About 7,500 guests received tickets to attend the hour-long ceremony on the steps of the state Capitol. California Supreme Court Justice Ronald George administered the oath of office while incoming first lady Maria Shriver (search) held the Bible.
The new governor kissed Shriver after taking the oath of office and made his way to the podium.
Sacramento may be 400 miles from Los Angeles, but an entourage of Hollywood stars like Rob Lowe, Rob Reiner, Danny DeVito and Jamie Lee Curtis, headed north to watch one of their own be sworn in as governor of the most populous state in the union.
Singer and actress Vanessa Williams (search) sang the national anthem.
Also attending what was supposed to be a low-key swearing-in ceremony were Schwarzenegger's newly nominated education secretary, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan (search); former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz; outgoing Gov. Gray Davis; former Gov. Pete Wilson and Kennedy clanswoman, Eunice Shriver, Schwarzenegger's mother-in-law and sister of the late President John F. Kennedy.
"Today is a new day in California," he said in his speech. "It is no secret that I am a newcomer to politics. I realize I was elected on faith and hope and I feel a great responsibility not to let the people down."
The first thing Schwarzenegger will do after the ceremony is to sign Executive Order No. 1, a move to repeal the state's 300 percent increase in the car tax, he said, receiving thunderous applause.
He will also issue a proclamation convening a special session of the legislature to address California's fiscal crisis and reform the workers compensation system, among other things.
"I enter this office beholden to no one except you, my fellow citizens," Schwarzenegger promised. "I pledge my governorship to your interests, not to special interests.
"I want the people to know that my administration is not about politics, it is about saving California."
Just before the ceremony began, Schwarzenegger walked down the Capitol building's hallway with Shriver, a Kennedy clan member, and their four children.
Afterward, Schwarzenegger was expected to attend three luncheons — for federal and state officials, for friends and family and a third hosted by the state Chamber of Commerce. No glamorous inaugural balls or glitzy parties were on the agenda.
The celebrity-packed but dressed-down celebration was void of black-tie galas that have greeted previous governors. In 1995, Natalie Cole sang at then-Gov. Pete Wilson's inaugural gala.
The 1999 inaugural for Davis, ousted by last month's recall vote, included a $3.7 million event featuring Lionel Richie, Kenny G and a reading by actor Henry Winkler. His second inaugural earlier this year — seemingly toned down amid the state's fiscal crisis — was held in an auditorium where the swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performed.
Aides say the actor wanted to avoid a Hollywood-style celebration since the state is facing considerable fiscal problems and a bitterness that lingers from the first successful recall election in the state.
But pomp and circumstance were not altogether absent. About 740 journalists from around the world, including Japan, Australia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Schwarzenegger's native Austria, sought press credentials — about the same number that would request passes to a presidential inauguration.
"Sacramento has never seen anything like this before — it is astonishing," said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a political scientist at the University of Southern California. "There has never been this kind of intense media attention on the governor at any time in the state."
About 500 California Highway Patrol officers were assigned to the event, said CHP Commissioner D.O. "Spike" Helmick. Nestled on top of nearby buildings, in trees, on motorcycles and on horseback, officers were tightly watching the capital and its new charismatic leader. Officers with bomb-sniffing dogs did a security sweep at 2 a.m.
"We don't want anything to happen to spoil the fun," Helmick said.
Action-Packed Agenda
Based on the Austrian-born Schwarzenegger's blow-'em-up movie image, some say it's not hard to imagine "The Terminator" star roaring one of his Hummers up the steps of the state Capitol clad in Armani with an expensive cigar clenched between his teeth to mingle and make policy with the rumpled suits of the state Legislature.
But others suggest that Schwarzenegger shouldn't rely on his Hollywood career for guidance on how to do his job.
"I think his background doesn't really prepare him well for dealing with the budget crisis, which is maybe $10 billion or more," said David Corn, editor of the Nation. "If he's done a $10 billion budget movie in six weeks, then maybe he'd be prepared for what's about to hit him."
The budget deficit may be closer to $25 billion, Schwarzenegger's newly appointed chief financial deputy projected over the weekend. The governor-elect is bound by the state constitution to offer a budget by Jan. 1.
Schwarzenegger is expected to confront some issues immediately after entering office — as soon as Monday afternoon. Going to work after his luncheons, Schwarzenegger could sign an executive order repealing the car tax hike that went into effect earlier this year. He also plans to call a special session of the Legislature as soon as Tuesday.
During his campaign, Schwarzenegger said he wanted state lawmakers to deal with a variety of issues, including midyear budget cuts, reform of the state's worker compensation system and a repeal of a new law that lets undocumented workers get driver's licenses.
Schwarzenegger has gotten a head start by appointing aides to top positions, including Cabinet seats for health and human services, food and agriculture, correctional agencies and others. All require state Senate confirmation.
Deputy campaign manager Patricia Clarey will be his chief of staff. Rob Stutzman, who also worked on Schwarzenegger's campaign, was named the governor's new communications director.
Donna Arduin, who has worked for several Republican governors, most recently as Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's director of policy and budget, has been nominated as director of finance, a position that also requires confirmation from the state Senate. Arduin has already submitted an independent audit of the state's treasury, currently under review by a bipartisan committee.
Using Style to Tackle Substance
The former Mr. Olympia has used his movie earnings as capital to invest in real estate, technology companies and a mall in Columbus, Ohio, where he has an annual fitness exposition. He also owns a mansion in Brentwood; a ski lodge in Sun Valley, Idaho; a Boeing 747 that he leases to Singapore Air and a small fleet of road-squeezing Hummers.
Schwarzenegger has already learned compromise, too. Facing environmentalists' concerns that the new governor's military-designed sport utility vehicles are an extravagant and dirty luxury, Schwarzenegger agreed to retrofit one of his six Hummers to run on cleaner-burning hydrogen fuel instead of gasoline.
Previously, he has also managed to get the company that makes Hummer to be a national sponsor of the After School All Stars, the newly named, eight-year-running after-school program that Schwarzenegger created to keep endangered inner-city youth off the streets.
Schwarzenegger also knows how to raise money. He auctioned off two specially designed Indian Chief motorcycles used in last summer's "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," and the $80,000 helped pay for the ballot initiative for the After School All Stars.
Schwarzenegger also has a head start when it comes to foreign relations. He once convinced the Austrian government to track down a buried M47 tank he drove as part of the Austrian military in the 1960s.
The government later shipped the tank to the United States, where Schwarzenegger placed it on display as a loan to the Motts Military Museum in Groveport, Ohio, where he visits it at least once a year.
Fox News' Sharon Kehnemui and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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