Every US President since Ronald Reagan has chosen to take the Oath of Office on the West Front of the US Capitol. According to the Capitol tour, this is more or less a pragmatic decision, as the West Front has more room for spectators than the East Portico, which is the formal ceremonial entrance to the building. However, the decision has a probably-unintended consequence that seems particularly salient these days. If you're going to put a statue on the dome of a building like the Capitol, you have to choose a direction for it to face, and the obvious choice is for the statue to face the formal front. Thus, the Statue of Freedom faces the East Portico, away from the West Front.
Next week, George W. Bush will take the Presidential Oath of Office behind Freedom's back.
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