The Inauguration of the US President Through Time
2025-01-19
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1On January 20, the United States president is sworn into office in Washington D.C.
2The inauguration is an important ceremony that officially marks the start of an administration.
3As part of the event, the incoming president speaks to the nation and announces U.S. policy goals.
4This year, expanded security measures will stretch across much of Washington.
5The city's mayor, Muriel Bowser, announced major street closures and special transportation measures to increase security during inauguration events.
6The Associated Press reports Washington D.C.'s National Guard will deploy 7,800 soldiers to help with security.
7The Secret Service is reportedly under additional pressure because of two attempts on the life of incoming President Donald Trump last year.
8In one of those attempts, Trump received minor injuries.
9The Library of Congress has saved many historical documents and objects from past ceremonies.
10Here are some facts and firsts about U.S. presidential inaugurations:
11George Washington did not take the oath to become the first U.S. president in January nor was the event held in Washinton, D.C.
12His first inaugural address was given to a joint session of Congress gathered in Federal Hall in New York City, on April 30, 1789.
13New York City was the nation's first capital.
14Washington began a tradition that stood for many years of kissing The Bible after taking the oath of office.
15The Museum of the Bible says on its website that four other presidents - Warren Harding,
16Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter and George H. W. Bush - used Washington's Bible in their ceremonies.
17Bush had hoped to use Washington's Bible for his first inauguration in 2001,
18but weather delayed shipping so he ended up using a family Bible instead.
19Washington's second inaugural address set another mark: it was the shortest at 135 words.
20For 144 years, the inauguration was not held in the winter, but mostly in March.
21John Adams, the nation's second president, was the first to receive the oath from the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
22His swearing in took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the nation's second capital.
23Thomas Jefferson was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C.
24He walked to and from the ceremony instead of riding in a carriage.
25The U.S. Marine Band played at the event for the first time and has done so in every ceremony since.
26In 1825, John Quincy Adams, son of John Adams, broke with tradition.
27He was the first president to long wear pants instead of traditional shorter pants with stockings.
28The man who replaced Adams, Andrew Jackson, was the first to receive the oath on the East Portico of the Capitol Building.
29John Quincy Adams refused to attend.
30In 1837, Martin Van Buren was the first of a new generation of presidents to not have British ancestry.
31His parents were Dutch and he was born a citizen of the United States.
32William Henry Harrison set an unhappy first: On Inauguration Day in 1841, he gave the longest-ever speech without wearing warm clothes.
33He became sick and died weeks into his term.
34Abraham Lincoln gave his first inaugural speech surrounded by heavy security as the nation neared war between the North and South.
35His second address, in 1865, was shortly after the end of the U.S. Civil War.
36He urged Americans "With malice towards none; with charity for all" to "bind up the nation's wounds."
37In 2009 and 2013, Barrack Obama took his oath on Lincoln's Bible.
38In 1909, William Howard Taft's inauguration was notable for taking place inside the Senate Chamber because of a huge snowstorm.
39It took about 6,000 men to clear snow for the parade.
40The inaugural ceremony of Calvin Coolidge in 1925 was the first to be broadcast on radio.
41And the first president to have a televised inaugural ceremony was Harry Truman in 1949.
42Franklin D. Roosevelt's second inauguration was the first to take place on January 20th.
43The 20th Amendment to the Constitution moved the event's date because of improved transportation methods.
44In 1953, Dwight Eisenhower broke the tradition of kissing The Bible and instead gave a prayer.
45Robert Frost was the first poet to every speak at an inaugural event.
46Frost recited his poem The Gift Outright for John Kennedy's 1961 swearing-in.
47Kennedy was the first Roman Catholic president. Joe Biden was the second.
48After Jimmy Carter's inauguration, he and first lady Rosalynn Carter walked down Washington D.C.'s Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House instead of riding inside a car.
49Ronald Reagan's inaugurations set two marks that may also never be equaled.
50At noon on Reagan's first inauguration, the temperature was nearly 13 degrees Celsius.
51That was the warmest Inauguration Day ever.
52Then, on his second in January 1985, the temperature was nearly minus 14 degrees Celsius - the coldest day ever for the event.
53This year, January 20 will mark only the second time a U.S. president has been inaugurated for a second term that did not follow the first.
54Donald Trump first took the oath of office in 2017.
55He joins Grover Cleveland, who was inaugurated in 1885 and 1893.
56Cleveland is known as the 22nd and 24th President.
57Trump is set to be both the 45th and 47th President of the United States.
58I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. And I'm Caty Weaver.
1On January 20, the United States president is sworn into office in Washington D.C. 2The inauguration is an important ceremony that officially marks the start of an administration. As part of the event, the incoming president speaks to the nation and announces U.S. policy goals. 3This year, expanded security measures will stretch across much of Washington. The city's mayor, Muriel Bowser, announced major street closures and special transportation measures to increase security during inauguration events. 4The Associated Press reports Washington D.C.'s National Guard will deploy 7,800 soldiers to help with security. The Secret Service is reportedly under additional pressure because of two attempts on the life of incoming President Donald Trump last year. In one of those attempts, Trump received minor injuries. 5The Library of Congress has saved many historical documents and objects from past ceremonies. Here are some facts and firsts about U.S. presidential inaugurations: 6Inaugural firsts: 7George Washington did not take the oath to become the first U.S. president in January nor was the event held in Washinton, D.C. His first inaugural address was given to a joint session of Congress gathered in Federal Hall in New York City, on April 30, 1789. New York City was the nation's first capital. 8Washington began a tradition that stood for many years of kissing The Bible after taking the oath of office. The Museum of the Bible says on its website that four other presidents - Warren Harding, 9Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter and George H. W. Bush - used Washington's Bible in their ceremonies. Bush had hoped to use Washington's Bible for his first inauguration in 2001, but weather delayed shipping so he ended up using a family Bible instead. 10Washington's second inaugural address set another mark: it was the shortest at 135 words. 11For 144 years, the inauguration was not held in the winter, but mostly in March. 12John Adams, the nation's second president, was the first to receive the oath from the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. His swearing in took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the nation's second capital. 13Thomas Jefferson was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C. He walked to and from the ceremony instead of riding in a carriage. The U.S. Marine Band played at the event for the first time and has done so in every ceremony since. 14In 1825, John Quincy Adams, son of John Adams, broke with tradition. He was the first president to long wear pants instead of traditional shorter pants with stockings. The man who replaced Adams, Andrew Jackson, was the first to receive the oath on the East Portico of the Capitol Building. John Quincy Adams refused to attend. 15In 1837, Martin Van Buren was the first of a new generation of presidents to not have British ancestry. His parents were Dutch and he was born a citizen of the United States. 16William Henry Harrison set an unhappy first: On Inauguration Day in 1841, he gave the longest-ever speech without wearing warm clothes. He became sick and died weeks into his term. 17Abraham Lincoln gave his first inaugural speech surrounded by heavy security as the nation neared war between the North and South. His second address, in 1865, was shortly after the end of the U.S. Civil War. He urged Americans "With malice towards none; with charity for all" to "bind up the nation's wounds." In 2009 and 2013, Barrack Obama took his oath on Lincoln's Bible. 18In 1909, William Howard Taft's inauguration was notable for taking place inside the Senate Chamber because of a huge snowstorm. It took about 6,000 men to clear snow for the parade. 19The inaugural ceremony of Calvin Coolidge in 1925 was the first to be broadcast on radio. And the first president to have a televised inaugural ceremony was Harry Truman in 1949. 20Franklin D. Roosevelt's second inauguration was the first to take place on January 20th. The 20th Amendment to the Constitution moved the event's date because of improved transportation methods. 21In 1953, Dwight Eisenhower broke the tradition of kissing The Bible and instead gave a prayer. 22Robert Frost was the first poet to every speak at an inaugural event. Frost recited his poem The Gift Outright for John Kennedy's 1961 swearing-in. Kennedy was the first Roman Catholic president. Joe Biden was the second. 23After Jimmy Carter's inauguration, he and first lady Rosalynn Carter walked down Washington D.C.'s Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House instead of riding inside a car. 24Ronald Reagan's inaugurations set two marks that may also never be equaled. At noon on Reagan's first inauguration, the temperature was nearly 13 degrees Celsius. That was the warmest Inauguration Day ever. Then, on his second in January 1985, the temperature was nearly minus 14 degrees Celsius - the coldest day ever for the event. 25This year, January 20 will mark only the second time a U.S. president has been inaugurated for a second term that did not follow the first. Donald Trump first took the oath of office in 2017. He joins Grover Cleveland, who was inaugurated in 1885 and 1893. Cleveland is known as the 22nd and 24th President. Trump is set to be both the 45th and 47th President of the United States. 26I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. And I'm Caty Weaver. 27Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted this story for VOA Learning English from Library of Congress materials. 28_______________________________________ 29Words in This Story 30oath -n. a public promise by a government official to fulfill his or her duty 31address -n. a speech before a lot of people for a major event in public life 32carriage -n. a vehicle with wheels that is pulled by horses 33malice -n. a desire to cause harm to others 34charity -n. the willingness to give to others with a good heart 35bind up -v. (phrasal) to wrap a wound in cloth or a bandage so it will heal 36recite -v. to give a speech or reading of a written work from memory and not to read it 37We want to hear from you. 38Our comment policy is here.