TAKOMA PARK, Md. (AP) — Charlie Brotman has been the announcer for every presidential inaugural parade since 1957. Here are some of his favorite memories.

Dwight Eisenhower (1957): Brotman remembers the parade as being "very conservative," matching the president's military, no-nonsense style. Brotman announced from the roof of the media complex across from the president's reviewing stand, kept company by two Secret Service agents. "I was freezing — and the wind was blowing my script out of its binder," Brotman said. "Great adventure, I thought."

John Kennedy (1961): Brotman remembers it as one of the best: four hours of entertainment that took place only because a massive military operation using flame-throwers was able to clear snow that fell the night before. "Everywhere else there was 6 inches of snow," Brotman said, "except Pennsylvania Avenue was clear for the parade."

Lyndon Johnson (1965): Security was extremely tight at the first inauguration following Kennedy's assassination. The president's reviewing stand was encased in bulletproof glass for the first time. "FBI agents insisted I report any suspicious or unusual happenings," Brotman said. "I was nervous."

Richard Nixon (1969 and 1973): Nixon's parades were remembered mostly for the protests. Eggs were thrown at the presidential limousine at his second inaugural in 1973. Brotman said both parades were "somber."

Jimmy Carter (1977): Who remembers the parade? Carter stole the show by walking the entire 1.7 miles from the Capitol to the White House — despite the bitterly cold weather.

Ronald Reagan (1981 and 1985): "Mr. Show Biz, bringing all of his Hollywood pals to Washington," Brotman said of the 1981 parade. "It was really a big deal. He had the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as the last event of his parade, saving the best for last. The problem was it went over four hours long, and now it's pitch black. So here they are, singing like crazy, you can hear them and they're beautiful, but nobody could see them. Very embarrassing."

Reagan's 1985 parade was shortened and moved inside the old Capital Centre in suburban Maryland because of extreme cold. "The official parade script was canceled," Brotman said. "I was requested to ad-lib the entire indoor 'parade.'"

George H.W. Bush (1989): Outdoors again, but the freezing temperatures prompted Brotman to come up with a new way to keep the crowd entertained. "I introduced the 'presidential inaugural trivia quiz,'" Brotman said. Among the questions: Which president was a lifelong bachelor? (James Buchanan)

Bill Clinton (1993 and 1997): When the University of Arkansas marching band approached the reviewing stand in 1993, Brotman tried to goad Arkansas native Clinton into playing the saxophone with the group. Brotman said Clinton smiled and "indicated he was a little busy."

In 1997, Clinton was very late arriving at the stand, so Brotman had the crowd do the "wave" to pass the time. "It appeared to make waiting much more pleasant," Brotman said.

George W. Bush (2001 and 2005): Bush's first parade "the most disorganized ever," according to Brotman, because Bush wasn't declared the winner of the election until December following the disputed Florida recount. "I didn't receive my credentials or script until about two hours before the parade was to begin," Brotman said.

There was unprecedented security at the 2005 parade, the first after the 2001 terrorist attacks. Long lines kept many spectators from getting to their seats. Brotman said the parade was "nothing exceptional," but he did snag a special souvenir: the cardboard inaugural seal that adorned the reviewing stand. It now sits in his basement.

"I was late leaving, and I saw it there," Brotman said. "I said, 'Well, I'm going to borrow this.' I didn't think anybody would mind. It's dated. It's 2005, so they can't use it again."