6. Homework Help

6.2. General Information

6.2.2.  Hail to the Chief

"The words of the song ... are attributed in the book to Walter Scott. According to Fuld, the words first appeared in his The Lady of the Lake tune. Hail to the Chief was first published in the U.S. in about 1812. It was also called March and Chorus in the Dramatic Romance of the Lady of the Lake ...  The song was first played to announce the arrival of the president on March 4, 1837, when it accompanied Martin Van Buren's inauguration. ... " [GO]

The original lyrics follow:

Hail to the chief, who in triumph advances,
Honor'd and blessed be the evergreen pine!
Long may the tree in his banner that glances,
Flourish, the shelter and grace of our line.
Hail to the chief, who in triumph advances,
Honor'd and blessed be the evergreen pine!
Long may the tree in his banner that glances,
Flourish, the shelter and grace of our line.
Heav'n send it happy dew,
Earth lend it sap anew;
Gaily to burgeon and broadly to grow;
While ev'ry highland glen,
Sends our shout back again,
Roderigh Vich Alpine dhu, ho! i-e-roe!

1. Who was the first president for whom Hail to the Chief was played?

It was first played at Martin Van Buren's inauguration. [GO]  [March 4, 1837]

I have also seen it stated that it was given new lyrics, re-titled Wreaths for the Chieftain, and played in 1815.  Then on July 4, 1828, the Marine Band performed the song at a ceremony for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which was attended by President John Quincy Adams.

2. His wife introduced the custom of playing Hail to the Chief whenever the president appeared in public.

John Tyler's second wife, Julia Gardiner Tyler [BLSWH 336]