He gave his commitment to international peace through noninterference in the affairs of foreign governments.[107]
John Philip Sousa's Marine Corps band played at the Inaugural Ball inside the Pension Building with a large crowd attending.[108] After moving into the White House, Harrison noted, quite prophetically, "There is only a door—one that is never locked—between the president's office and what are not very accurately called his private apartments. There should be an executive office building, not too far away, but wholly distinct from the dwelling house. For everyone else in the public service, there is an unroofed space between the bedroom and the desk."[109]

Inauguration of Benjamin Harrison, March 4, 1889. Cleveland held Harrison's umbrella.
Harrison hounded by office seekers at the beginning of his term, May 1889, from Puck
Harrison acted quite independently in selecting his cabinet, much to the Republican bosses' dismay. He began by delaying the presumed nomination of James G. Blaine as Secretary of State so as to preclude Blaine's involvement in the formation of the administration, as had occurred in President Garfield's term.[110] In fact, other than Blaine, the only Republican boss initially nominated was Redfield Proctor, as Secretary of War. 