In his address, Garfield denounced attempts to impede African-American suffrage, expressed his confidence in the gold standard, warned against the dangers of high rates of illiteracy, and admonished the practice of polygamy by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[2] Garfield was recognized as an extremely competent public speaker, but faced difficulty when composing his inaugural address.

Exhausted by several sleepless nights of writing, he delivered his rushed oration on March 4, but it failed to live up to the high expectations of many of those present.

The centerpiece of the celebration was a large "Statue of America" in the museum's rotunda, who held an electric light in her raised right hand.

[4] The music at the event was directed by conductor John Philip Sousa, and performed by the Germania Orchestra of Philadelphia and the U.S. Marine Band.