Inaugurations of U.S. Presidents: 10 Facts

21st January 2025

3 minutes read

Inaugurations of U.S. Presidents: 10 Facts

A few hours are left before the inauguration ceremony of the 47th U.S. president, Donald Trump.

However, the inauguration ceremonies of U.S. presidents have never been just an official celebration. Since the inauguration of George Washington as the first president of the United States in 1789, these ceremonies have carried a distinctive character reflecting the spirit of the era and its circumstances, according to the “Troy Today” website.
Over time, inauguration events have witnessed numerous historic moments that encapsulate the political, social, and technological development of the nation.

From the change in the date of the inauguration to the diversity of rituals, from the growing role of technology to the unique stories tied to each president, these ceremonies remain a significant milestone in U.S. history, reminding the world of the values of peaceful transitions of power and the strength of constitutional institutions.

Here are the 10 facts compiled by Dr. Scout Bloom, a professor in the History and Philosophy Department at Troy University:

1 – Change of the Inauguration Date:
Presidents haven’t always taken the oath on the same date. According to the 20th amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1933, the inauguration date was moved from early March to January 20.
If this date falls on a Sunday, the oath is taken at a private ceremony, with public events the following day.

2 – Presidents’ Ages:
Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest president, inaugurated at 42 years old after the death of William McKinley in 1901. Biden was the oldest, being 78 years old when inaugurated.

3 – Transition Between Presidents:
The transfer of power was not always amicable between political rivals. Typically, outgoing presidents accompany their successors to the inauguration, a tradition started by Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren in 1837.
However, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Johnson, and Richard Nixon did not attend the inauguration of their successors.

4 – Role of Technology:
Technology played a role in how Americans received news of the inauguration. James Buchanan’s (1857) inauguration was the first to be photographed; William McKinley’s (1897) was the first filmed; Calvin Coolidge’s (1925) was the first broadcast on the radio.
Herbert Hoover’s (1929) inauguration was the first broadcast on television, Jimmy Carter’s (1977) utilized solar panels for heating, and Bill Clinton’s (1997) was the first streamed on the internet.

5 – Who Oversees the Oath?
There are no strict rules regarding who administers the presidential oath, but it’s traditionally the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
For example, Calvin Coolidge took the oath before his father, a notary public, after the death of Warren Harding in 1923.

6 – The Book Used During the Oath:
Presidents are not required to take the oath on a sacred book, although this has become a tradition since George Washington’s inauguration.
John Quincy Adams and Franklin Pierce placed their hands on the Constitution, while Donald Trump used the same Bible that Abraham Lincoln used during his first inauguration, as did Barack Obama.

7 – The Oath Formula:
Presidents are not required to “swear” the oath. Franklin Pierce and Herbert Hoover used an “affirmation” instead of an “oath.”

8 – Unelected Presidents:
Only one president has not gone through the election process: Gerald Ford, who became president in 1974 after Richard Nixon’s resignation.

9 – Inaugural Parades:
Inauguration ceremonies often include a parade. Abraham Lincoln’s 1865 parade was the first to include African Americans.
Woodrow Wilson’s 1917 parade was the first to include women, and Dwight Eisenhower’s 1953 parade is considered the most lavish, with about 30,000 participants, 50 floats, 65 bands, dogs, horses, and even elephants.

10 – Inaugural Parties:
Inauguration celebrations often last into the night, with parties and gatherings.
After his inauguration, Andrew Jackson opened the White House to the public, where about 20,000 people gathered, causing damage to furniture and thefts.
Bill Clinton attended 14 inaugural parties after his second term, a record for any president.