"LAVISH is out. Word has come down from on high that everything should be very modest," a Democrat confided to the New York Times. The scandal over illegal donations during the election campaign has had a dampening effect on this inauguration.
But there will still be fun - 14 balls, a gala with top Hollywood stars, hundreds of parties and seven huge heated tents on the Mall with the theme, "the Bridge to the 21st Century".
The principal events will, of course, be the swearing in of the president and vice-president on the steps of the Capitol at noon on Monday and the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.
The president has commissioned an Arkansas poet, Miller Williams, to read a poem. Mr Clinton himself is planning an inaugural address which will be longer than the 15-minute speech of four years ago.
Hillary Clinton's inaugural wardrobe is coming from top New York designer, Oscar de la Renta. For the balls she has chosen a gold-embroidered tulle evening dress with matching satin cape.
For the swearing-in, possibly in subzero temperatures, the first lady will wear a wool day suit with a matching melton coat but de la Renta is not revealing the colour except to say it will be a "very feminine shade".
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