U.S. Marine Band: A national treasure since 1798

We’ve enjoyed matching wits with Amazon’s “Alexa” as part of our daily routine. We regularly summon Alexa to participate in her “question of the day” challenge.

Playing “question of the day” involves answering a trivia question from one of several categories, such as arts and entertainment, geography, literature, history, science and general knowledge. Players earn “imaginary points and badges.” But best of all, you learn important stuff. 

For example, a recent question was: “Which American president established the United States Marine Band?” The choices were John Adams, Herbert Hoover, Harry Truman or Jimmy Carter.

 

Of these four former commanders in chief, only one had a dab of musical talent – Harry Truman, who occupied the White House from 1945-53. 

Truman once remarked: “My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a (bawdy house) or a politician. And to tell the truth, there’s hardly any difference.”

 Great quote, but wrong answer. Alexa said the correct choice was John Adams, the second U.S. president, who served from 1797-1801. 

The U.S. Marine Band was established by an Act of Congress and signed by Adams in 1798, making the band “the oldest continuously active professional musical organization in the country.” 

Congress specified that the Marine Band’s primary mission is “to provide music for the president” at every official and formal function at the White House and at other appropriate occasions. 

The Marine Band was given the title “The President’s Own” by Thomas Jefferson, who succeeded Adams as commander in chief.

 

Band members have memorized the song “Hail to the Chief,” which has become the “personal anthem of the President of the United States.” The tune was adapted in 1812 by English songwriter James Sanderson from an original Scottish Gaelic melody. 

In 1844, Julia Gardiner Tyler, who called herself “Mrs. Presidentress” as the second wife of President John Tyler, instructed the Marine Band to be on duty 24-7 to play “Hail to the Chief,” whenever her husband made an appearance. 

That happened a lot, because “she was the darling of Washington society,” hosting lavish dinners and balls. Julia Tyler could dance the night away, but her hubby who was 30 years her senior was often “visibly fatigued” and too pooped to participate. But the Marine Band played on. 

The next First Lady to occupy the White House was Sarah Childress Polk. Her husband, James Polk of Pineville, N.C., was not very tall – about 5-foot-8. Too often, his arrival at “presidential events frequently went unnoticed.”

Sarah Polk asked the Marine Band to play “Hail to the Chief” to announce the entrance of President Polk – with the customary preceding fanfare of four ruffles and flourishes (performed with drums and bugles). 

When Chester A. Arthur occupied the White House from 1881-85, he objected to “Hail to the Chief,” because he didn’t think the song was “dignified enough” for the office of the president. Arthur instructed the director of the Marine Band – John Philip Sousa – to come up with more appropriate music.

 

Sousa would compose “Presidential Polonaise” for indoor affairs and “Semper Fidelis” for outdoor affairs. “Presidential Polonaise” was used for a time but never fully replaced “Hail to the Chief” and was eventually dropped. “Semper Fidelis,” of course, became the “official march” of the Marine Corps. 

Today, the Marine Band has about 130 musicians and a support staff of about 20 Marines. All personnel are based at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C. Newly enlisted band members are exempt from attending boot camp. They are the fewest of “The Few.”