Why don't vice presidents give an inaugural address (anymore)?

[Sir Mohamed]

In the 19th century, vice presidents used to be sworn-in in the senate chamber and give an inaugural address. Why has that changed? I'd consider it intersting if vice presidents were also to give a brief inaugural address at the ceremony. (Btw: Appointees Ford and Rockefeller did so, but not regular sworn-in VPs).

[brucejoel99]

B/c, in modern times, the swearing-in of the Vice President (moments before the President) is the warm-up act to the main event.

Before 1937, the second fiddles had their own swearing-in ceremonies inside the Senate chamber before heading outside for the presidential inauguration, making the Vice President's swearing-in ceremony distinct & separate from the President's. In 1937, however, Inauguration Day moved to January 20, a change enacted by the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. The Vice President's swearing-in ceremony also moved, to the Inaugural platform on the Capitol's east front. And although the Vice Presidential swearing-in ceremony lost some of its distinctness after it moved to the east front portico, it gained a public audience, & actually served to reflect the growing political importance of the Vice President as part of the executive branch of government.