United States presidential inauguration

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Ceremony marking the start of a new presidential term

Second inauguration of Donald Trump, January 20, 2025, in the United States Capitol rotunda

Between seventy-three and seventy-nine days after the presidential election, the president-elect of the United States is inaugurated as president by taking the presidential oath of office. The inauguration takes place for each new presidential term, even if the president is continuing in office for another term.

The first inauguration of George Washington took place on April 30, 1789. Subsequent public inaugurations from 1793 until 1933 were held on March 4, with the exceptions of those in 1821, 1849, 1877, and 1917, when March 4 fell on a Sunday, thus the public inauguration ceremony took place on Monday, March 5. Since 1937, it has taken place at noon Eastern time on January 20, the first day of the new term, except in 1957, 1985, and 2013, when January 20 fell on a Sunday. In those years, the presidential oath of office was administered on that day privately and then again in a public ceremony the next day, on Monday, January 21. The most recent presidential inauguration was held on January 20, 2025, when Donald Trump reassumed office.

Recitation of the presidential oath of office is the only component in this ceremony mandated by the United States Constitution (in Article II, Section One, Clause 8). Though it is not a constitutional requirement, the chief justice of the United States typically administers the presidential oath of office. Since 1789, the oath has been administered at sixty scheduled public inaugurations, by fifteen chief justices, one associate justice, and one New York state judge. Others, in addition to the chief justice, have administered the oath of office to several of the nine vice presidents who have succeeded to the presidency upon their predecessor's death or resignation intra-term.

Since the 1981 inauguration of Ronald Reagan, the ceremony has been held at the west front of the United States Capitol facing the National Mall with its iconic Washington Monument and distant Lincoln Memorial. From 1829 through 1977, most swearing-in ceremonies had taken place on a platform over the steps at the Capitol's east portico. They have also been held inside the Old Senate Chamber, the chamber of the House of Representatives, and the Capitol rotunda.[1] The most recent regularly scheduled inauguration not to take place at the Capitol was the fourth inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945, which was held at the White House.[a]

Over the years, various traditions have arisen that have expanded the inauguration from a simple oath-taking ceremony to a day-long event, including parades and multiple social gatherings. The ceremony itself is carried live via the major U.S. commercial television and cable news networks; various ones also stream it live on their websites.[citation needed]

When a president has assumed office intra-term, the inauguration ceremony has been conducted without pomp or fanfare. To facilitate a quick presidential transition under extraordinary circumstances, the new president takes the oath of office in a simple ceremony and usually addresses the nation afterward. This has happened nine times in United States history: eight times after the previous president had died while in office, and once after the previous president had resigned.

## Inauguration ceremonies

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Second inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt, 1905

### Dates

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The first inauguration, that of George Washington, took place on April 30, 1789.[citation needed] All subsequent (regular) inaugurations from 1793 until 1933 were held on March 4, the day of the year on which the federal government began operations under the U.S. Constitution in 1789. The exception to this pattern was those years in which March 4 fell on a Sunday. When it did, the public inauguration ceremony would take place on Monday, March 5. This happened on four occasions, in 1821, 1849, 1877, and 1917.[citation needed] Inauguration Day moved to January 20, beginning in 1937, following ratification of the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution, where it has remained since. A similar Sunday exception and move to Monday is made around this date as well (which happened in 1957, 1985, and 2013).[citation needed]

President Reagan being sworn in for his second term "privately" on television, January 20, 1985 President Obama being sworn in for his second term "privately" on television, January 20, 2013

This resulted in several anomalies. It has been alleged that in 1849, Senate President pro tempore David Rice Atchison was president for a day, although all scholars dismiss that claim.[2][3] In 1877, due to the controversy over the Compromise of 1877, Rutherford B. Hayes was sworn in secretly on March 3 before Ulysses S. Grant's term ended on March 4—raising the question if the United States had two presidents at the same time for one day.[2] In modern times, the president took the oath on a Sunday in a private ceremony and repeated it the following day with all the pomp and circumstance. In 1985 and 2013, these ceremonies were televised. Irregular inaugurations occurred on nine occasions intra-term, after the death or, in one case, resignation of a president.[citation needed]

Inauguration Day, while not a federal holiday, is observed as a holiday by federal employees who would be working in the "Inauguration Day Area" and who are regularly scheduled to perform non-overtime work on Inauguration Day.[4] There is no in-lieu-of holiday for employees or students who are not regularly scheduled to work or attend school on Inauguration Day. The Inauguration Day Area consists of the District of Columbia; Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland; Arlington and Fairfax counties in Virginia (the City of Fairfax is considered part of Fairfax County for this purpose), and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church in Virginia.[4]

Inauguration Day fell on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, another federal holiday (designated in 1986), in 1997, 2013, and 2025.[5]

### Locations

[edit]

Presidential inauguration at the eastern front of the U.S. Capitol – Lyndon B. Johnson, January 20, 1965

Most presidential inaugurations since 1801 have been held in Washington D.C. at the Capitol Building. Prior inaugurations were held, first at Federal Hall in New York City (1789),[6] and then at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1793 and 1797). Each city was, at the time, the nation's capital. The location for James Monroe's 1817 swearing in was moved to the Old Brick Capitol in Washington due to ongoing restoration work at the Capitol building following the War of 1812.[7] Three other inaugurations—Franklin D. Roosevelt's fourth (1945), Harry S. Truman's first (1945), and Gerald Ford's (1974)—were held at the White House.[citation needed]

Presidential inaugurations (aside from intra-term ceremonies following the death or resignation of a president) have traditionally been outdoor public ceremonies.[8] In 1909, William H. Taft's inauguration was moved to the Senate Chamber due to a blizzard.[9] Then, in 1985, the public second inauguration of Ronald Reagan was held indoors in the Capitol Rotunda because of harsh weather conditions.[10] In 2025, the second inauguration of Donald Trump was moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda due to extreme cold.[11][12]

The first inauguration of Andrew Jackson, in 1829, was the first of 35 held on the east front of the Capitol. Since the 1981 first inauguration of Ronald Reagan, they have been held on the Capitol's west front; a move designed to both cut costs and to provide more space for spectators.[13] Above the west front inaugural platform are five large United States flags. The current 50-star flag is displayed in the center.[8] On either side are earlier variations of the national flag: two are the official flag adopted by Congress after the admission to the Union of the new president's home state and two are the 13-star flag popularly known as the Betsy Ross flag.[14]

### Organizers

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Inauguration platform under construction for Woodrow Wilson's first inauguration in 1913

Before Inauguration Day, the president-elect will name a Presidential Inaugural Committee. This committee is the legal entity responsible for fundraising for and the planning and coordination of all official events and activities surrounding the inauguration of president and vice president (other than the ceremony itself), such as the balls and parade.[15]

Since 1901, the Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies has been responsible for the planning and execution of the swearing-in ceremonies.[16] Since 1953, it has also hosted a luncheon at the U.S. Capitol for the new president, vice president, and guests. Three senators and three representatives make up the committee.[citation needed]

The Joint Task Force National Capital Region, composed of service members from all branches of the United States Armed Forces, including Reserve and National Guard components, is responsible for all military support to ceremonies and to civil authorities for the inaugural period (in 2017, January 15–24). U.S. military personnel have participated in Inauguration Day ceremonies since 1789 when members of the Continental Army, local militia units and Revolutionary War veterans escorted George Washington to his first inauguration ceremony. Their participation traditionally includes musical units, color guards, salute batteries and honor cordons. Military support to the inauguration honors the new president, who is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and recognizes civilian control of the military.[17]

### Attendees

[edit]

In addition to the public, the attendees at the inauguration generally include the vice president, members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, high-ranking military officers, former presidents and vice-presidents, living Medal of Honor recipients, and other dignitaries. The outgoing president and vice president also customarily attend the ceremony.[citation needed]

While most outgoing presidents have appeared on the inaugural platform with their successor, six did not:

* John Adams left Washington rather than attend the 1801 inauguration of Thomas Jefferson[18][19]
* John Quincy Adams also left town, unwilling to be present for the 1829 inauguration of Andrew Jackson[18][citation needed]
* Martin Van Buren was, due to his son being ill and political rancor between Whigs and Democrats, not present for the 1841 inauguration of William Henry Harrison[20]
* Andrew Johnson conducted a final cabinet meeting rather than attend the 1869 inauguration of Ulysses S. Grant.[21]
* Woodrow Wilson, due to poor health, remained inside the Capitol Building during the 1921 inauguration of Warren G. Harding[22]
* Donald Trump held a "departure ceremony" and then left Washington, D.C. prior to the 2021 inauguration of Joe Biden[19]

### Communication

[edit]

The way inauguration ceremony events are communicated to the public has changed over the years with each advance in technology. Improvements in mass media technologies have allowed presidents to reach substantially greater numbers of their constituents. In 1829, Andrew Jackson spoke to approximately 10,000 people at his inauguration.[23] Most recently, in 2017, it is estimated that about 160,000 people were in the National Mall areas in the hour leading up to Donald Trump's swearing in.[24] An additional 30.6 million people in the United States watched it on television,[25] and more than 6.8 million worldwide streamed it live on Twitter.[26] Among the inauguration mass communication milestones are:[27]

* 1801 first inauguration of Thomas Jefferson, first newspaper extra of an inaugural address, printed by the National Intelligencer
* 1845 inauguration of James K. Polk, first inauguration to be covered by telegraph, and first known newspaper illustration of a presidential inauguration (The Illustrated London News)
* 1857 inauguration of James Buchanan, first inauguration known to have been photographed
* 1897 first inauguration of William McKinley, first inauguration to be recorded on film
* 1905 second inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt, first time that telephones were installed on the Capitol Grounds for an inauguration
* 1925 second inauguration of Calvin Coolidge, first inauguration to be broadcast nationally by radio
* 1929 inauguration of Herbert Hoover, first inauguration to be recorded by a talking newsreel
* 1949 second inauguration of Harry S. Truman, first inauguration to be televised
* 1961 inauguration of John F. Kennedy, first inauguration to be televised in color
* 1981 first inauguration of Ronald Reagan, first closed-captioning of television broadcast for the deaf and hard of hearing
* 1997 second inauguration of Bill Clinton, first time that the ceremony was broadcast live on the Internet

## Ceremonial aspects

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Inauguration procedure is governed by tradition rather than the Constitution, the only constitutionally required procedure being the presidential oath of office (which may be taken anywhere, with anyone in attendance who can legally witness an oath, and at any time prior to the actual beginning of the new president's term).[18] Traditionally, the president-elect arrives at the White House and then proceeds to the Capitol Building with the out-going president.[citation needed] Around or after 12 noon, the president takes the oath of office, usually administered by the chief justice of the United States, and then delivers the inaugural address.[citation needed]

### Oaths of office

[edit]

Main articles: Oath of office of the president of the United States and Oath of office of the vice president of the United States

Barack Obama takes the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts during his 2009 presidential inauguration on January 20, 2009.

First inauguration of Barack Obama (January 20, 2009) (21:21)

Video of the first inauguration of Barack Obama.

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First inauguration of Barack Obama (January 20, 2009)

audio only version

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Problems playing these files? See media help.

The vice president is sworn into office in the same ceremony as the president. Prior to 1937, the vice presidential oath was administered in the Senate Chamber (in keeping with the vice president's position as president of the Senate). The oath is administered to the vice president first. Immediately afterwards, the United States Marine Band will perform four "ruffles and flourishes", followed by "Hail, Columbia". Unlike the presidential oath, however, the Constitution does not specify specific words that must be spoken. Several variants of the oath have been used since 1789. The current form, which is also recited by senators, representatives, and other government officers, has been in use since 1884:

> I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.[28]

At noon, the new presidential and vice presidential terms begin. At about that time, the president recites the constitutionally mandated oath of office:

> I do solemnly swear (or affirm) 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.

According to Washington Irving's biography of George Washington, after reciting the oath at his (and the nation's) first inauguration, Washington added the words "so help me God".[29] However, the only contemporaneous source that fully reproduced Washington's oath completely lacks the religious codicil.[30] The first newspaper report that actually described the exact words used in an oath of office, Chester Arthur's in 1881,[31] repeated the "query-response" method where the words, "so help me God" were a personal prayer, not a part of the constitutional oath. The time of adoption of the current procedure, where both the chief justice and the president speak the oath, is unknown.[citation needed]

The oath of office was administered to Washington in 1789 by Robert Livingston, Chancellor of New York State. Four years later, the oath was administered by Supreme Court associate justice William Cushing. Since the 1797 inauguration of John Adams, it has become customary for the new president to be sworn into office by the Chief Justice of the United States. Others have administered the oath on occasions when a new president assumed office intra-term due to the incumbent's death or resignation. William Cranch, chief judge of the U.S. Circuit Court, administered the oath of office to John Tyler in 1841 when he succeeded to the presidency upon William Henry Harrison's death, and to Millard Fillmore in 1850 when Zachary Taylor died. In 1923, upon being informed of Warren Harding's death, while visiting his family home in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as president by his father, John Calvin Coolidge, Sr., a notary public.[32][33] Most recently, federal judge Sarah T. Hughes administered the oath of office to Lyndon B. Johnson aboard Air Force One after John F. Kennedy's assassination on November 22, 1963.[citation needed]

Since 1789 there have been 60 inaugural ceremonies to mark the commencement of a new four-year term of a president of the United States, and an additional nine marking the start of a partial presidential term following the intra-term death or resignation of an incumbent president. With the 2025 inauguration of Donald Trump, the oath has been taken 74 different times by 45 people. This numerical discrepancy results chiefly from two factors: a president must take the oath at the beginning of each term of office, and, because the day of inauguration has sometimes fallen on a Sunday, five presidents have taken the oath privately before the public inaugural ceremonies.[27]

There is no requirement that any book, or in particular a book of sacred text, be used to administer the oath, and none is mentioned in the Constitution. By convention, incoming presidents raise their right hand and place the left on a Bible or other book while taking the oath of office. While most have, John Quincy Adams did not use a Bible when taking the oath in 1825;[34] neither did Theodore Roosevelt in 1901.[35] In 1853, Franklin Pierce affirmed the oath of office rather than swear it.[36] More recently, a Catholic missal was used for Lyndon B. Johnson's 1963 swearing in ceremony.[37][38]

Bibles of historical significance have sometimes been used at inaugurations. George H. W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Dwight D. Eisenhower used the George Washington Inaugural Bible. Barack Obama placed his hand upon the Lincoln Bible for his oaths in 2009 and 2013,[39] as did Donald Trump in 2017.[40] Joe Biden placed his hand upon a large leather-bound family Bible.[41] Trump used the Lincoln Bible again, along with a childhood Bible given to him by his mother, at his second inauguration,[42] though he did not place his hand on either Bible during the oath of office.[43]

Four ruffles and flourishes played before "Hail to the Chief"

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Problems playing this file? See media help.

Immediately after the presidential oath, the United States Marine Band will perform four "ruffles and flourishes", followed by "Hail to the Chief", while simultaneously, a 21-gun salute is fired using artillery pieces from the Presidential Guns Salute Battery, 3rd United States Infantry Regiment "The Old Guard" located in Taft Park, north of the Capitol. The actual gun salute begins with the first "ruffle and flourish", and "run long" (i.e. the salute concludes after "Hail to the Chief" has ended). The Marine Band, which is believed to have made its inaugural debut in 1801 for Thomas Jefferson's first inauguration, is the only musical unit to participate in all three components of the presidential inauguration: the swearing-in ceremony, the inaugural parade, and an inaugural ball. During the ceremony, the band is positioned directly below the presidential podium at the U.S. Capitol.[44]

### Inaugural address

[edit]

Inaugural address of President Joe Biden. (31:44)

The inaugural address, in full, made by Joe Biden after being sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on January 20, 2021.

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Newly sworn-in presidents usually give a speech referred to as an inaugural address. As with many inaugural customs, this one was started by George Washington in 1789. After taking his oath of office on the balcony of Federal Hall, he proceeded to the Senate chamber where he read a speech before members of Congress and other dignitaries. Every president since Washington has delivered an inaugural address. While many of the early presidents read their addresses before taking the oath, current custom dictates that the chief justice administer the oath first, followed by the president's speech.[16] William McKinley requested the change in 1897, so that he could reiterate the words of the oath at the close of his first inaugural address.[citation needed]

William Henry Harrison delivered the longest inaugural address, at 8,445 words, in 1841. John Adams' 1797 address, which totaled 2,308 words, contained the longest sentence, at 737 words. In 1793, Washington gave the shortest inaugural address on record, just 135 words.[16]

Most presidents use their inaugural address to present their vision of America and to set forth their goals for the nation. Some of the most eloquent and powerful speeches are still quoted today. In 1865, in the waning days of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln stated, "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt avowed, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” And in 1961, John F. Kennedy declared, "And so my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country."[16]

On the eight occasions where the new president succeeded to the office upon their predecessor's death intra-term, none gave an address, but each did address Congress soon thereafter.[18] When Gerald Ford became president in 1974, following the resignation of Richard Nixon, he addressed the nation after taking the oath, but he characterized his speech as "Not an inaugural address, not a fireside chat, not a campaign speech – just a little straight talk among friends".[45] (Full text )

### Prayers

[edit]

Further information: Prayers at United States presidential inaugurations

The Reverend Donn Moomaw delivers the invocation at the first inauguration of Ronald Reagan, 1981.

Since 1937, the ceremony has incorporated one or more prayers.[46][47] Since 1933 an associated prayer service either public or private attended by the president-elect has often taken place on the morning of the day.[48] At times a major public or broadcast prayer service takes place after the main ceremony most recently on the next day.[49]

### Poems

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Maya Angelou delivering her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993

Several inaugural ceremonies since 1961 have included a reading by a poet.[50] The following poetry readings have taken place:

* Inauguration of John F. Kennedy (1961): Robert Frost read part of "Dedication" and recited "The Gift Outright"[51]
* First inauguration of Bill Clinton (1993): Maya Angelou read her poem "On the Pulse of Morning"[52]
* Second inauguration of Bill Clinton (1997): Miller Williams read his poem "Of History and Hope"[53]
* First inauguration of Barack Obama (2009): Elizabeth Alexander read her poem "Praise Song for the Day"[54]
* Second inauguration of Barack Obama (2013): Richard Blanco read his poem "One Today"[55]
* Inauguration of Joe Biden (2021): Amanda Gorman read her poem "The Hill We Climb"[56]

## Other elements

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Over the years, various inauguration traditions have arisen that have expanded the event from a simple oath-taking ceremony to a day-long one, including parades, speeches, and balls. In fact, contemporary inaugural celebrations typically span 10 days, from five days before the inauguration to five days after. On some occasions however, either due to the preferences of the new president or to other constraining circumstances, they have been scaled back. Such was the case in 1945, because of rationing in effect during World War II. More recently, in 1973, the celebrations marking Richard Nixon's second inauguration were altered because of the death of former president Lyndon B. Johnson two days after the ceremony. All pending events were cancelled so preparations for Johnson's state funeral could begin.[57][58][59]

### Congressional luncheon

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Barack Obama's 2009 inaugural luncheon

Since 1953, the president and vice president have been guests of honor at a luncheon held by the leadership of the United States Congress immediately following the inaugural ceremony.[citation needed] The luncheon is held in Statuary Hall and is organized by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, and attended by the leadership of both houses of Congress as well as guests of the president and vice president. By tradition, the outgoing president and vice president will not attend.

### Inaugural parade

[edit]

The inaugural parade on Pennsylvania Avenue passes the presidential reviewing stand in front of the White House in March 1881. Inauguration Day, January 20, 2005: President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush lead the inaugural parade from the Capitol, down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House

Following the arrival of the presidential entourage to the White House, it is customary for the president, vice-president, their respective families and leading members of the government and military to review an inaugural parade from an enclosed stand at the edge of the North Lawn, a custom begun by James Garfield in 1881. The parade, which proceeds along 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the stand and the Front Lawn in view of the presidential party, features both military and civilian participants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia; this parade largely evolved from the post-inaugural procession to the White House, and occurred as far back as Jefferson's second inauguration in 1805, when workers from the Washington Navy Yard, accompanied by military music, marched with the president[60] on foot as he rode on horseback from the Capitol to the White House. By the time of William Henry Harrison's inauguration in 1841, political clubs and marching societies would regularly travel to Washington for the parade. That year was also the first in which floats were part of the parade. It was at Lincoln's second inauguration, in 1865, that Native Americans and African Americans participated in the inaugural parade for the first time.[61] Women were involved for the first time in 1917.[62]

In 1829, following his first inaugural parade, Andrew Jackson held a public reception at the White House, during which 20,000 people created such a crush that Jackson had to escape through a window. Nevertheless, White House receptions continued until lengthy afternoon parades created scheduling problems. Reviving the idea in 1989, President George H. W. Bush invited the public to a "White House American Welcome" on the day after the inaugural.[63]

Grover Cleveland’s 1885 inaugural parade lasted three hours and showcased 25,000 marchers. Eighty years later, Lyndon Johnson’s parade included 52 select bands.[63] Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1953 parade included about 22,000 service men and women and 5,000 civilians, which included 50 state and organization floats costing $100,000. There were also 65 musical units, 350 horses, 3 elephants, an Alaskan dog team, and the 280-millimeter atomic cannon.[64]

In 1977, Jimmy Carter became the first president to set out by foot for more than a mile on the route to the White House. The walk has become a tradition that has been matched in ceremony if not in length by the presidents who followed.[65]

Twice during the 20th century, an inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue was not held. In 1945, at the height of World War II, Franklin D. Roosevelt's fourth Inauguration was simple and austere with no fanfare or formal celebration following the event. There was no parade because of gas rationing and a lumber shortage.[66] In 1985, with the temperature near 7 °F (−14 °C),[67][68] all outdoor events for Ronald Reagan's second inauguration were canceled or moved indoors.[60]

### Post-inaugural interfaith national prayer service

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Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, and Jill Biden at the 2013 National Prayer Service

A prayer service associated with the inauguration dates back to George Washington.[69] The modern tradition of a public interfaith service at the Washington National Cathedral (which belongs to the Episcopal Church) began in 1933, following the first inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt.[70] Held the morning after the inauguration, the service typically includes representatives from various Christian denominations and non-Christian religions.[71] Attendance is by invitation only, with tickets issued by the Cathedral and the Presidential Inaugural Committee.[72]

### Inaugural balls

[edit]

Main article: United States presidential inaugural balls

The first Inaugural Ball was held on the night of James Madison's first inauguration in 1809. Tickets were $4 and it took place at Long's Hotel.[62]

### Security

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A U.S. Customs and Border Protection boat patrolling the waterways around Washington, D.C. prior to the inauguration of Donald Trump in 2017.

The security for the inaugural celebrations is a complex matter, involving the Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service (DHS-FPS), all six branches of the Armed Forces, the Capitol Police, the United States Park Police (USPP), and the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPDC). Federal law enforcement agencies also sometimes request assistance from various other state and local law-enforcement agencies throughout the United States.[citation needed]

### Presidential medals

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A presidential medal from the inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt in 1905

Beginning with George Washington, there has been a traditional association with Inauguration festivities and the production of a presidential medal. With the District of Columbia attracting thousands of attendees for inauguration, presidential medals were an inexpensive souvenir for the tourists to remember the occasion. However, the once-simple trinket turned into an official presidential election memento. In 1901, the first Inauguration Committee[73][failed verification] on Medals and Badges was established as part of the official Inauguration Committee for the re-election of President McKinley. The Committee saw official medals as a way to raise funding for the festivities. Gold medals were to be produced as gifts for the president, vice president, and committee chair; silver medals were to be created and distributed among Inauguration Committee members, and bronze medals would be for sale for public consumption. McKinley's medal was simple with his portrait on one side and writing on the other side.[74]

Unlike his predecessor, when Theodore Roosevelt took his oath of office in 1905, he found the previous presidential medal unacceptable. As an art lover and admirer of the ancient Greek high-relief coins, Roosevelt wanted more than a simple medal—he wanted a work of art. To achieve this goal, the president hired Augustus Saint-Gaudens, a famous American sculptor, to design and create his inauguration medal. Saint-Gaudens' obsession with perfection resulted in a forestalled release and the medals were distributed after the actual inauguration. Nonetheless, President Roosevelt was very pleased with the result. Saint-Gaudens' design, executed by Adolph A. Weinman, was cast by Tiffany & Company and was proclaimed an artistic triumph.[75] Saint-Gaudens' practice of creating a portrait sculpture of the newly elected president is still used today in presidential medal creation. After the president sits for the sculptor, the resulting clay sketch is turned into a life mask and plaster model. Finishing touches are added and the epoxy cast that is created is used to produce the die cuts. The die cuts are then used to strike the president's portrait on each medal.[76]

From 1929 through 1949, the official medal was struck by the U.S. Mint. This changed in 1953 when the Medallic Art Company was chosen to strike Walker Hancock's portrait of President Eisenhower. The official medals have been struck by private mints ever since.[75] The Smithsonian Institution and The George Washington University hold the two most complete collections of presidential medals in the United States.[citation needed]

Gerald Ford's unscheduled inauguration also had a medal.[77]

## List of inauguration ceremonies

[edit]

For a listing of all U.S. presidential swearing-in events, see Oath of office of the president of the United States.

The 60 inauguration ceremonies marking the start of a new four-year presidential term of office and also the nine marking the start of a partial presidential term following the intra-term death or resignation of an incumbent president are listed in the table below.

No. | Date | Event[b] | Location | Oath administered by | Address length[78]

|
|
|
|
|

1st | April 30, 1789
(Thursday) | First inauguration of George Washington | Front balcony,
Federal Hall
New York, New York | Robert Livingston,
Chancellor of New York | 1431 words
Full text
2nd | March 4, 1793
(Monday) | Second inauguration of George Washington | Senate Chamber,
Congress Hall
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | William Cushing,
Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court | 135 words
Full text
3rd | March 4, 1797
(Saturday) | Inauguration of John Adams | House Chamber,
Congress Hall | Oliver Ellsworth,
Chief Justice of the United States | 2308 words
Full text
4th | March 4, 1801
(Wednesday) | First inauguration of Thomas Jefferson | Senate Chamber,
U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C. | John Marshall,
Chief Justice | 1730 words
Full text
5th | March 4, 1805
(Monday) | Second inauguration of Thomas Jefferson | Senate Chamber,
U.S. Capitol | John Marshall,
Chief Justice | 2166 words
Full text
6th | March 4, 1809
(Saturday) | First inauguration of James Madison | House Chamber,
U.S. Capitol | John Marshall,
Chief Justice | 1177 words
Full text
7th | March 4, 1813
(Thursday) | Second inauguration of James Madison | House Chamber,
U.S. Capitol | John Marshall,
Chief Justice | 1211 words
Full text
8th | March 4, 1817
(Tuesday) | First inauguration of James Monroe | Front steps,
Old Brick Capitol | John Marshall,
Chief Justice | 3375 words
Full text
9th | March 5, 1821[c]
(Monday) | Second inauguration of James Monroe | House Chamber,
U.S. Capitol | John Marshall,
Chief Justice | 4472 words
Full text
10th | March 4, 1825
(Friday) | Inauguration of John Quincy Adams | House Chamber,
U.S. Capitol | John Marshall,
Chief Justice | 2915 words
Full text
11th | March 4, 1829
(Wednesday) | First inauguration of Andrew Jackson | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | John Marshall,
Chief Justice | 1128 words
Full text
12th | March 4, 1833
(Monday) | Second inauguration of Andrew Jackson | House Chamber,
U.S. Capitol | John Marshall,
Chief Justice | 1176 words
Full text
13th | March 4, 1837
(Saturday) | Inauguration of Martin Van Buren | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Roger B. Taney,
Chief Justice | 3843 words
Full text
14th | March 4, 1841
(Thursday) | Inauguration of William Henry Harrison | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Roger B. Taney,
Chief Justice | 8460 words
Full text

| April 6, 1841[d]
(Tuesday) | Inauguration of John Tyler
(Extraordinary inauguration) | Brown's Indian Queen Hotel,
Washington, D.C. | William Cranch
Chief Judge, U.S. Circuit Court of the District of Columbia |

15th | March 4, 1845
(Tuesday) | Inauguration of James K. Polk | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Roger B. Taney,
Chief Justice | 4809 words
Full text
16th | March 5, 1849[c]
(Monday) | Inauguration of Zachary Taylor | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Roger B. Taney,
Chief Justice | 1090 words
Full text

| July 10, 1850[e]
(Wednesday) | Inauguration of Millard Fillmore
(Extraordinary inauguration) | House Chamber,
U.S. Capitol | William Cranch
Chief Judge, U.S. Circuit Court of the D.C. |

17th | March 4, 1853
(Friday) | Inauguration of Franklin Pierce | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Roger B. Taney,
Chief Justice | 3336 words
Full text
18th | March 4, 1857
(Wednesday) | Inauguration of James Buchanan | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Roger B. Taney,
Chief Justice | 2831 words
Full text
19th | March 4, 1861
(Monday) | First inauguration of Abraham Lincoln | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Roger B. Taney,
Chief Justice | 3637 words
Full text
20th | March 4, 1865
(Saturday) | Second inauguration of Abraham Lincoln | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Salmon P. Chase,
Chief Justice | 700 words
Full text

| April 15, 1865
(Saturday) | Inauguration of Andrew Johnson
(Extraordinary inauguration) | Kirkwood House,
Washington, D.C. | Salmon P. Chase,
Chief Justice |

21st | March 4, 1869
(Thursday) | First inauguration of Ulysses S. Grant | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Salmon P. Chase,
Chief Justice | 1127 words
Full text
22nd | March 4, 1873
(Tuesday) | Second inauguration of Ulysses S. Grant | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Salmon P. Chase
Chief Justice | 1339 words
Full text
23rd | March 5, 1877[c]
(Monday) | Inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Morrison Waite,
Chief Justice | 2486 words
Full text
24th | March 4, 1881
(Friday) | Inauguration of James A. Garfield | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Morrison Waite,
Chief Justice | 2979 words
Full text

| September 20, 1881[f]
(Tuesday) | Inauguration of Chester A. Arthur
(Extraordinary inauguration) | Chester A. Arthur Home,
New York, New York | John R. Brady,
Justice of the New York Supreme Court |

25th | March 4, 1885
(Wednesday) | First inauguration of Grover Cleveland | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Morrison Waite,
Chief Justice | 1686 words
Full text
26th | March 4, 1889
(Monday) | Inauguration of Benjamin Harrison | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Melville Fuller,
Chief Justice | 4392 words
Full text
27th | March 4, 1893
(Saturday) | Second inauguration of Grover Cleveland | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Melville Fuller,
Chief Justice | 2015 words
Full text
28th | March 4, 1897
(Thursday) | First inauguration of William McKinley | Front of original Senate Wing
U.S. Capitol | Melville Fuller,
Chief Justice | 3968 words
Full text
29th | March 4, 1901
(Monday) | Second inauguration of William McKinley | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Melville Fuller,
Chief Justice | 2218 words
Full text

| September 14, 1901
(Saturday) | First inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt
(Extraordinary inauguration) | Ansley Wilcox Home,
Buffalo, New York | John R. Hazel,
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York |

30th | March 4, 1905
(Saturday) | Second inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Melville Fuller,
Chief Justice | 984 words
Full text
31st | March 4, 1909
(Thursday) | Inauguration of William Howard Taft | Senate Chamber,
U.S. Capitol | Melville Fuller,
Chief Justice | 5434 words
Full text
32nd | March 4, 1913
(Tuesday) | First inauguration of Woodrow Wilson | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Edward D. White,
Chief Justice | 1704 words
Full text
33rd | March 5, 1917[c]
(Monday) | Second inauguration of Woodrow Wilson | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Edward D. White
Chief Justice | 1526 words
Full text
34th | March 4, 1921
(Friday) | Inauguration of Warren G. Harding | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Edward D. White
Chief Justice | 3329 words
Full text

| August 3, 1923[g]
(Friday) | First inauguration of Calvin Coolidge
(Extraordinary inauguration) | Coolidge Homestead,
Plymouth Notch, Vermont | John Calvin Coolidge
Vermont justice of the peace |

35th | March 4, 1925
(Wednesday) | Second inauguration of Calvin Coolidge | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | William H. Taft
Chief Justice | 4055 words
Full text
36th | March 4, 1929
(Monday) | Inauguration of Herbert Hoover | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | William H. Taft
Chief Justice | 3672 words
Full text
37th | March 4, 1933
(Saturday) | First inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Charles E. Hughes
Chief Justice | 1880 words
Full text
38th | January 20, 1937
(Wednesday) | Second inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Charles E. Hughes
Chief Justice | 1800 words
Full text
39th | January 20, 1941
(Monday) | Third inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Charles E. Hughes
Chief Justice | 1359 words
Full text
40th | January 20, 1945
(Saturday) | Fourth inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt | South Portico,
White House | Harlan F. Stone
Chief Justice | 559 words
Full text

| April 12, 1945
(Thursday) | First inauguration of Harry S. Truman
(Extraordinary inauguration) | Cabinet Room,
White House | Harlan F. Stone
Chief Justice |

41st | January 20, 1949
(Thursday) | Second inauguration of Harry S. Truman | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Fred M. Vinson
Chief Justice | 2273 words
Full text
42nd | January 20, 1953
(Tuesday) | First inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Fred M. Vinson
Chief Justice | 2459 words
Full text
43rd | January 21, 1957[h]
(Monday) | Second inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Earl Warren
Chief Justice | 1658 words
Full text
44th | January 20, 1961
(Friday) | Inauguration of John F. Kennedy | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Earl Warren
Chief Justice | 1366 words
Full text

| November 22, 1963
(Friday) | First inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson
(Extraordinary inauguration) | Air Force One,
Dallas Love Field,
Dallas, Texas | Sarah T. Hughes
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas |

45th | January 20, 1965
(Wednesday) | Second inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Earl Warren
Chief Justice | 1507 words
Full text
46th | January 20, 1969
(Monday) | First inauguration of Richard Nixon | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Earl Warren
Chief Justice | 2128 words
Full text
47th | January 20, 1973
(Saturday) | Second inauguration of Richard Nixon | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Warren E. Burger
Chief Justice | 1803 words
Full text

| August 9, 1974
(Friday) | Inauguration of Gerald Ford
(Extraordinary inauguration) | East Room,
White House | Warren E. Burger
Chief Justice | 850 words
Full text
48th | January 20, 1977
(Thursday) | Inauguration of Jimmy Carter | East Portico,
U.S. Capitol | Warren E. Burger
Chief Justice | 1229 words
Full text
49th | January 20, 1981
(Tuesday) | First inauguration of Ronald Reagan | West Front,
U.S. Capitol | Warren E. Burger
Chief Justice | 2427 words
Full text
50th | January 21, 1985[h]
(Monday) | Second inauguration of Ronald Reagan | Rotunda,
U.S. Capitol | Warren E. Burger
Chief Justice | 2561 words
Full text
51st | January 20, 1989
(Friday) | Inauguration of George H. W. Bush | West Front,
U.S. Capitol | William Rehnquist
Chief Justice | 2320 words
Full text
52nd | January 20, 1993
(Wednesday) | First inauguration of Bill Clinton | West Front,
U.S. Capitol | William Rehnquist
Chief Justice | 1598 words
Full text
53rd | January 20, 1997
(Monday) | Second inauguration of Bill Clinton | West Front,
U.S. Capitol | William Rehnquist
Chief Justice | 2155 words
Full text
54th | January 20, 2001
(Saturday) | First inauguration of George W. Bush | West Front,
U.S. Capitol | William Rehnquist
Chief Justice | 1592 words
Full text
55th | January 20, 2005
(Thursday) | Second inauguration of George W. Bush | West Front,
U.S. Capitol | William Rehnquist
Chief Justice | 2071 words
Full text
56th | January 20, 2009
(Tuesday) | First inauguration of Barack Obama | West Front,
U.S. Capitol | John Roberts
Chief Justice | 2395 words
Full text
57th | January 21, 2013[h]
(Monday) | Second inauguration of Barack Obama | West Front,
U.S. Capitol | John Roberts
Chief Justice | 2096 words
Full text
58th | January 20, 2017
(Friday) | First inauguration of Donald Trump | West Front,
U.S. Capitol
| John Roberts
Chief Justice | 1433 words
Full text
59th | January 20, 2021
(Wednesday) | Inauguration of Joe Biden | West Front,
U.S. Capitol
| John Roberts
Chief Justice | 2514 words
Full text
60th | January 20, 2025
(Monday) | Second inauguration of Donald Trump | Rotunda,
U.S. Capitol
| John Roberts
Chief Justice | 2885 words
Full text

### Notes

[edit]

1. ^ In private ceremonies, both Reagan in 1985 and Obama in 2013, began their second terms taking the oath of office at the White House.
2. ^ Events (inaugurations) sort alphabetically by president's last name.
3. ^ a b c d Term began Sunday, March 4.
4. ^ Term began when President Harrison died on April 4.
5. ^ Term began when President Taylor died on July 9.
6. ^ Term began when President Garfield died on September 19.
7. ^ Term began when President Harding died on August 2.
8. ^ a b c Term began Sunday, January 20.

### Graphical timeline of U.S. presidents

[edit]

## See also

[edit]

* United States presidential transition

## References

[edit]

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5. ^ "This year's Inauguration Day to mark rare occurrence. Here's why". NBC Chicago. Associated Press. January 3, 2025. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
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11. ^ Sullivan, Kate; Collins, Kaitlan (January 17, 2025). "Trump's inauguration to be moved indoors". CNN.
12. ^ Watson, Kathryn; Gómez, Fin (January 17, 2025). "Trump moves inauguration ceremony indoors due to freezing temperatures". CBS News.
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21. ^ Shafer, Ronald G. (January 8, 2021). "This impeached, one-term president refused to go to his successor's inauguration. Now Trump will do the same". The Washington Post.
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23. ^ "June 14, 1922 Harding becomes first president to be heard on the radio". This Day in History. A&E Television Networks. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
24. ^ Wallace, Tim; Parlapiano, Alicia (January 22, 2017). "Crowd Scientists Say Women's March in Washington Had 3 Times More People Than Trump's Inauguration". The New York Times. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
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26. ^ Edkins, Brett (January 24, 2017). "Record 6.8 Million Watched Trump's Inauguration On Twitter's Live Stream". Forbes. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
27. ^ a b "Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol". Architect of the Capitol. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
28. ^ 5 U.S.C. § 3331
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30. ^ Documentary History of the First Federal Congress, Vol. 15, pages 404–405
31. ^ "The New Administration: President Arthur Formally Inaugurated". The New York Times. September 22, 1881.
32. ^ Glenn D. Kittler, Hail to the Chief!: The Inauguration Days of our Presidents, 1965, page 167
33. ^ Porter H. Dale, The Calvin Coolidge Inauguration Revisited: An Eyewitness Account by Congressman Porter H. Dale, republished in Vermont History magazine, 1994, Volume 62, pages 214-222
34. ^ "U.S. Presidential Inaugurations: John Quincy Adams". Web guides. Library of Congress. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
35. ^ "U.S. Presidential Inaugurations: Theodore Roosevelt". Web guides. Library of Congress. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
36. ^ "U.S. Presidential Inaugurations: Franklin Pierce". Web guides. Library of Congress. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
37. ^ Glass, Andrew J. (February 26, 1967). "Catholic Church Missal, Not Bible, Used by Johnson for Oath at Dallas" (PDF). The Washington Post. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
38. ^ Usborne, Simon (November 16, 2013). "The LBJ missal: Why a prayer book given to John F Kennedy was used to swear in the 36th US President". The Independent. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
39. ^ "President-elect Barack Obama to be Sworn in Using Lincoln's Bible". Presidential Inaugural Committee. December 23, 2008. Archived from the original on January 19, 2009.
40. ^ Mettler, Katie (January 18, 2017). "The symbolism of Trump's two inaugural Bible choices, from Lincoln to his mother". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
41. ^ Schumaker, Erin (January 20, 2021). "The significance of the Bible Joe Biden is using on Inauguration Day". abcnews.go.com. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
42. ^ "Trump to use Bible given to him by his mother and Lincoln Bible for swearing-in". The Hill. January 17, 2025. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
43. ^ Hutchinson, Bill. "Trump doesn't place hand on Bible during swearing-in". ABC News. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
44. ^ "Presidential Inauguration 2017". United States Marine Corps. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
45. ^ "Gerald R. Ford's Remarks on Taking the Oath of Office as President". Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. Archived from the original on November 10, 2008. Retrieved November 18, 2008.
46. ^ "Presidential Inaugurations Past and Present: A Look at the History Behind the Pomp and Circumstance".
47. ^ Newdow. "Appendix D: Inaugural Clergy" (PDF).
48. ^ "Morning Worship Service".
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50. ^ Michael E. Ruane (December 17, 2008). "Selection Provides Civil Rights Symmetry". Washington Post. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
51. ^ Tuten, Nancy Lewis; Zubizarreta, John (2001). The Robert Frost Encyclopedia. Greenwood Publishing Group, ISBN 9780313294648
52. ^ Kelloway, Kate. (January 24, 1993). "Poet for the New America," The Observer.
53. ^ Rosenthal, Harry (January 20, 1997). "Poet Addresses Inaugural Event". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
54. ^ Katharine Q. Seelye (December 21, 2008). "Poet Chosen for Inauguration Is Aiming for a Work That Transcends the Moment". The New York Times. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
55. ^ Bruce, Mary (January 21, 2013). "'One Today': Full Text of Richard Blanco Inaugural Poem". ABC News. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
56. ^ Domonoske, Camila (January 20, 2021). "Poet Amanda Gorman Reads 'The Hill We Climb'". NPR. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
57. ^ Foley, Thomas (January 25, 1973). "Thousands in Washington Brave Cold to Say Goodbye to Johnson". Los Angeles Times. p. A1.
58. ^ Elsen, William A. (January 25, 1973). "Ceremonial Group Had Busy 5 Weeks". The Washington Post. p. D3.
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61. ^ Bendat, Jim (2012). Democracy's Big Day: The Inauguration of Our President, 1789-2013. iUniverse. pp. 106–108\. ISBN 978-1-935278-47-4.
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65. ^ Hauser (January 19, 2017). "The Inaugural Parade, and the Presidents Who Walked It". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
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67. ^ "Reagan: Peace with mighty defense". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 22, 1985. p. A1.
68. ^ "Inauguration of President Ronald Wilson Reagan, 1985". Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
69. ^ Knowlton, Brian (January 21, 2009). "On His First Full Day, Obama Tackles Sobering Challenges". The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
70. ^ Sarah Pulliam Bailey, Some upset over National Cathedral's decision to participate in Trump’s inauguration, Washington Post (January 13, 2017).
71. ^ Laurie Goodstein, A Diverse First Presidential Morning Prayer, New York Times (January 22, 2009).
72. ^ Laurie Goodstein, A Post-Inaugural Prayer Service, New York Times (January 21, 2009).
73. ^ "Presidential Inaugural Committee Announces Inaugural Parade Participant Lineup". Retrieved January 12, 2017.
74. ^ MacNeil, Neil (1977). The President's medal, 1789–1977. New York: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.
75. ^ a b Levine, H. Joseph. "History of the Official Inaugural Medal". Lori Ferber Collectibles. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
76. ^ Levine, H. Joseph (1981). Collectors Guide to Presidential Medals and Memorabilia. Danbury, Conn.: Johnson & Jensen.
77. ^ "Gerald R. Ford Presidential Inaugural Medal". Smithsonian American Art Museum.
78. ^ Peters, Gerhard (ed.). "Inaugural Addresses (including length in words) Washington – Trump". University of California, Santa Barbara: The American Presidency Project. Retrieved August 3, 2017.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States. Bartleby.com. 1989. ISBN 1-58734-025-9.
* Bendat, Jim (2008). Democracy's Big Day: The Inauguration of Our President 1789–2009. New York: iUniverse Star. ISBN 9781583484661.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to U.S. presidential inaugurations.

* Inauguration Ceremonies, U.S. Senate
* U.S. Presidential Inaugurations: "I Do Solemnly Swear..." A Resource Guide from the Library of Congress
* Full texts of all U.S. Inaugural Addresses at Bartleby.com
* Historical Inauguration Speeches at YouTube from C-SPAN, 12 videos, spanning 1933 through 2013
* Corpus of Political Speeches Free access to political speeches by American and other politicians, developed by Hong Kong Baptist University Library

* v
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United States presidential inaugurations

18th century|

* Washington (1789)
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19th century|

* Jefferson (1801)
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* G. W. Bush (2001)
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*[No.]: Sequential numbering of quadrennial inaugurations
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