William Henry Harrison heroically refused to wear an overcoat at his inauguration as US President in March, 1841, despite the freezing drizzle. This resulted in a serious dose of pneumonia and he died 30 days later. His was the shortest American presidency and he spent most of it unconscious.
If the man had had any sense he would have worn a heavy coat for the occasion and thereby held office for the full four-year term. But no, he had to prove to the American nation and the world that he was a fine-looking man in a well-cut suit. Appearance count in politics.
I have always been fascinated by the sight of heads of state and senior politicians refusing to wear overcoats at important, but freezing wet, outdoor functions.
Pouring rain
Have you ever noticed that when a head of state is arriving or departing from Dublin airport, the Taoiseach of the day or some senior Minister is there resplendent in his best dark, sombre suit - even if it is pouring rain or if there is snow on the ground? Big drops of rain are hopping off his shoulders; he looks a sorry sight, but he doesn't care; he is observing tradition. Perhaps an aide is running beside him with an umbrella. Why can't the silly man wear an overcoat and hat? It's not going to detract from the occasion to any great extent. The Irish public will probably be able to tolerate one of its leaders wearing an overcoat. God knows, it is able to put up with a lot of other things from them.
I know this is only a small matter, which will probably never be discussed by the Cabinet, but politicians and public figures generally should remember the sorry tale of poor Willie Harrison.
Hot weather, too, can embarrass those in the public eye. Covering a recent graduation ceremony at the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, I saw a young female garda collapse on the parade ground, overcome by the heat of a stifling summer day.
She was probably mortified, but it wasn't her fault. It had happened many times before. The 100 new gardai were wearing heavy winter uniforms, including white gloves. They had marched up and down the square for about half-an-hour to the beat of the excellent Garda band. A great spectacle. Then they had to stand to attention for another half-hour for speeches and presentations. The sun beat down relentlessly. I stood in the shade of a friendly tree. Their colleagues watched in their short-sleeved shirts and summer uniforms - just what the new gardai should have been wearing.
At the end of the ceremonies, the novices were told from the reviewing platform that they were now all free to go and enjoy themselves, to get out of the sun; they had suffered enough. After all, said the senior officer, he and the rest of the dignitaries reviewing the parade were sitting in the shade while the youngsters were strutting their stuff.
Summer uniforms
It was thoughtful of him to mention that he knew they were finding it tough in the sun. But should he not go further and allow the youngsters to wear summer uniforms for summer graduations? I know there is a long tradition that the full uniform must be worn (hence the white gloves), but for "humane" reasons could this be changed? This would make it a lot easier on the proud new gardai. It must be a sad memory, on one of the biggest and proudest days of their lives, to be carried off the parade ground by a rescue unit - which actually seems to be standing by expecting such an occurrence. Their relatives and friends must also be distressed to see this happening to one of their family.
Similar incidents occur in Britain at big police and military parades. How often have we seen a member of the Royal Guard, in his heavy red uniform and high, heavy busby hat, keel over and crumble to the ground? I'm always intrigued that the guy standing to attention beside the fallen one can't do anything except, perhaps, silently thank his lucky stars that it wasn't him.
In addition, the poor unfortunate who collapses will then have the misfortune to see the moment repeated ad nauseum on the evening news in a weather story illustrating the heat of the day.
In many professions, dress doesn't seem to matter any more. The so-called white-collar worker now comes to work in casual clothes. Men and women maintain they want to feel "comfortable". If they do not, they will not be able to work efficiently. That is the case put forward, and who am I to disagree?
A retired banker was telling me recently that 30 years ago the only day when staff were allowed to wear even half-casual clothes was Friday, when they might be allowed to wear a blazer, "as they could be going off golfing afterwards". Otherwise, it was the old reliable pinstripe suit and tie.
Snazzy tie
Years ago, a young reporter came into the Irish Press newsroom dressed in a very nice sports jacket, a pink shirt and snazzy tie. The news editor, a bit of a tyrant, bore down on him, eyes out on sticks and steam coming from his ears, wanting to know what the hell he meant by coming in dressed so casually. He let it be known they weren't running a holiday camp in Burgh Quay: they were running a serious newspaper and had to keep up standards.
My young companion was quite shattered. He mistakenly thought he was looking a million dollars and representing the paper to the highest standards. He jokingly told me afterwards that he thought he was amazingly well dressed for the salary he was on. But he quickly found out that his sartorial taste wasn't to the news editor's taste and he never wore that jacket to work again.