A politician ascending to the pinnacle of American power receives custody of the Presidency and its powers on January 20th, but he becomes President over time, through a testing procession of civic rituals and occurrences planned and unplanned: his announcement of candidacy; his acquisition and acceptance of his party’s nomination; his campaign debate appearances; his electoral mandate; his Cabinet and staff choices; his Inaugural; his first full-scale news conference; his first trip overseas on Air Force One; his first crisis in office.
