“I…do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
CNHI GRAPHIC BY KEVIN BURKETT LOGANSPORT PHAROS-TRIBUNE
NAUGURATION DAY hasn’t always been IJan. 20. Until 1933, the president was typically sworn into office on March 4 — the day the U.S. Constitution took effect in 1789. The 20th Amendment to the Constitution effectively moved the beginning and end of the presidential and vice presidential terms to noon on Jan. 20, thus shaving roughly six weeks off the time when the incumbent president and vice president would be serving as “lame ducks.”
A mural depicting the first inauguration to take place outside the U.S. Capitol building can be found in the Capitol Rotunda. Architect of the Capitol
INAUGURAL LOCATIONS
National Park Service The first inauguration of George Washington took place in 1789 on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York — the first capital.
Most of the time, the inauguration has taken place at the U.S Capitol — though the exact location has moved from inside the Senate or House Chamber, under the rotunda, at one of the Architect of the Capitol The 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama is thought to have had the highest attendance in history. porticos or on one of the exterior staircases. The Capitol wasn’t finished for the first three inaugurations, and FACTS AND death of William McKinley. Words in George it wasn’t available for use for the 8th ceremony — James At age 43, John F. Kennedy 135 Washington’s Monroe’s — because it had sustained heavy damage after being was the youngest president second inaugural address set afire by the British during the War of 1812. FIGURES to be formally inaugurated. in 1793, the shortest in Because of failing health, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fourth Age of Donald Trump, presidential history. inauguration took place at the White House. The other eight times 70 who will be the oldest Words in a president took the oath at a location other than the Capitol was president to be inaugurated. 8,445 William Henry Degrees Fahrenheit at because the previous president died or resigned (in blue). Ronald Reagan was 69 Harrison’s inaugural 7 Ronald Reagan’s when he took office in 1981. address in 1841. Harrison inauguration in 1985, the Date President City Location spent nearly two hours coldest on record. Wind 1789 George Washington New York Balcony of Federal Hall Age of Theodore giving his address in cold, chills at the time of the 1793 George Washington Philadelphia Senate Chamber, 42 Roosevelt when he Congress Hall was sworn in as president wet conditions without an ceremony were reportedly 10 1797 John Adams Philadelphia House Chamber, on Sept. 13, 1901, after the overcoat or a hat. to 20 degrees below zero. Congress Hall 1817 James Monroe Washington Old Brick Capitol 1841 John Tyler Washington Brown’s Indian Queen Hotel INAUGURAL FIRSTS 1925: First radio 1865 Andrew Johnson Washington Kirkwood House broadcast (Calvin 1881 Chester A. Arthur New York Arthur residence 1797: First chief justice to administer the oath Coolidge). 1901 Theodore Roosevelt Buffalo, N.Y. Ansley Wilcox Mansion of office: Oliver Ellsworth, for John Adams. 1949: 1923 Calvin Coolidge Vermont Coolidge Homestead First televised 1945 Franklin D. Roosevelt Washington White House 1857: First inauguration to be photographed inauguration (Harry 1945 Harry S. Truman Washington White House (James Buchanan). Truman, right). 1963 Lyndon B. Johnson Dallas, Texas Air Force One 1897: First video of the ceremony 1997: First live Internet 1974 Gerald R. Ford Washington White House (William McKinley). broadcast (Bill Clinton).
A FATEFUL INAUGURATION TWO PRESIDENTS
William H. Harrison, right, took the without a coat, gloves or hat. He On Friday, March 2, 1877, House on Saturday and was oath of office on March 4, 1841. attended three inaugural balls Congress settled the secretly sworn in by Chief He traveled to Washington by that evening. Historians widely disputed 1876 election by Justice Morrison R. Waite as train — an inaugural first — and believe he contracted pneumonia awarding 185 electoral votes President Ulysses S. Grant delivered a nearly two-hour — though others say typhoid or a to Rutherford B. Hayes and looked on. Since Grant’s speech, stopping near the end to similar illness was the more 184 to Samuel Tilden. term didn’t expire until noon take the oath. Harrison insisted probable condition — and died Concerned that Tilden might the next day, the country on braving the elements — it was 31 days after his inauguration, challenge the verdict by technically had two sitting windy and the temperature was making his term as president the taking the oath that Sunday, presidents for a period of a estimated at 48 degrees — shortest in U.S. history. Hayes went to the White little over 12 hours.
Sources: Architect of the Capitol; Library of Congress; National Park Service; Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies