Inauguration Trinkets Go on Sale

WASHINGTON —  Buttons, banners, T-shirts and George Bush trinkets from Texas chili to a $1,200 crystal eagle went on sale as the first “official” vending station for the nation’s 50th inauguration opened Tuesday.

“We’ve done a lot of buttons, some T-shirts, a lot of programs” of inauguration events, said Andrew Russell of Landover, Md., working the vending station at 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue along the route of Friday’s inaugural parade.

“A lot of it, I think, is because we didn’t have the inaugural festivities in ‘85,” when bitter cold canceled the parade, he said. “A lot of people are optimistic about the new regime coming in. It’s good for the city.”

Lisa Goddard, assistant promotion director with the American Bicentennial Presidential Inaugural, said two more vending stands will be opened Thursday, and the full complement of 20 stations will be in business Friday.