New Delhi: The US will get its 47th President in just a few hours. Donald Trump is all set for the oath-taking ceremony, which will start sometime. After taking the oath, he will become the second president after Grover Cleveland to serve two non-consecutive terms as the US President. All of the living former presidents will attend the ceremony. Let us learn some interesting facts about Inauguration Day, held on January 20 every four years.
A History of US Presidential Inauguration Day Ceremonies
- Washington’s first inauguration was improvised. On April 30, 1789, George Washington arrived in New York City to a large crowd and parade. When he got to Federal Hall, someone realised they had forgotten a Bible and quickly got one from a nearby Masonic Lodge. Washington also started the tradition of giving an inaugural address.
- After Washington’s first inauguration, March 4 became the official day for a new administration to start. The 20th Amendment later moved this date to January 20 to be closer to the start of a new Congress.
- If January 20 falls on a Sunday, the President takes the oath on January 21, but the oath is done privately.
Key Moments and Traditions from Past Inaugurations
- The inaugural ball tradition began with James Madison in 1809, when he and his wife, Dolley, hosted it. Over time, these celebrations expanded. William Henry Harrison held three inaugural balls in 1841, and modern presidents often host multiple events to include more people.
- The longest inaugural address was given in 1841 by William Henry Harrison, the ninth US president. He spoke for 1 hour and 45 minutes, delivering 8,445 words. Harrison died a month later from pneumonia, making his presidency the shortest in American history at just 32 days.
- John Quincy Adams took his oath on a law book instead of a Bible, using one that contained the Constitution.
- At Abraham Lincoln’s second inauguration in 1865, Black men and women marched in the inaugural parade for the first time.
- Usually, the Chief Justice administers the inaugural oath. After Washington’s inauguration, the Chief Justice has read the oath at public ceremonies. There have been exceptions, especially when a president dies, and there is an urgent need for a new president to take over. The last non-Chief Justice to administer the oath was Federal Judge Sarah T Hughes in 1963 after President Kennedy’s death.
- Barack Obama’s 2008 inauguration had the largest attendance of any event in Washington, DC history, with 1.8 million people.
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only president to be elected and sworn in four times, winning elections in 1932, 1936, 1940 and 1944 before presidential term limits were established.
- Barack Obama was also sworn in four times but for different reasons. He retook his oath in 2009 because some words in his inauguration ceremony were out of order. His second inaugural oath fell on a Sunday, so he took it privately that day before doing it again during the public ceremony on Monday.
- This year is only the second time that Inauguration Day falls on Martin Luther King Jr Day, which became a holiday in 1983. The first time was for Bill Clinton’s second inauguration on January 20, 1997.
Weather and Attendance Records of US Inaugurations
- Temperatures can vary on Inauguration Day. Ronald Reagan’s first inauguration in 1981 was the warmest on record at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. His second in 1985 was the coldest, with public events cancelled due to temperatures dropping to 7 degrees Fahrenheit. Instead, Reagan’s public inauguration was held inside the US Capitol rotunda.
- Franklin D Roosevelt’s inauguration in 1937 was the wettest on record, with 1.77 inches of rain. Despite the rain, FDR insisted on riding back to the White House in an open car with half an inch of water on the floor.
- John F Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961 had the most snow on the ground, 8 inches, but it fell the night before.
Donald Trump Oath-Taking Ceremony: This article explores the rich history and traditions surrounding US Presidential Inauguration Day, held annually on January 20. It details fascinating facts about past inaugurations, including the improvisational first ceremony for George Washington, the longest inaugural address by William Henry Harrison, and the record-breaking attendance at Barack Obama’s 2008 inauguration. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
