Hail to the Chief

Franklin D. Roosevelt

January 20, 1937: Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) takes his second oath of office as United States President. George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the US on April 30, 1789. He stood on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City as Robert Livingston administered the oath. Washington added “So help me God” to the oath and kissed the Bible after pledging his continued service to the new country. The date for future Presidential Inaugurations was set at March 4 – giving ample time for all votes to be counted.

Washington’s second inauguration was in Philadelphia. He gave the shortest speech ever – just 135 words. John Adams was the first to be sworn in by the Chief Justice of the US in 1797. The nation’s capital moved (although not yet officially opened) and Thomas Jefferson took the oath in Washington, D.C. for the first time in 1801. March 4 fell on a Sunday in 1821 so the event was changed to March 5 for James Monroe’s second term. William H. Harrison delivered the longest speech (8,445 words even though edited for length by Daniel Webster) in 1841 apparently refreshed from his train ride to the swearing in, the first to arrive by train.

John Tyler was the first Vice President to rise to office mid-term and took his oath on April 6, 1841. Franklin Pierce became President in 1853 and was a party-pooper, canceling the inaugural ball. FDR instituted the now-traditional morning worship service. He also is the only President to serve four terms. His fourth inauguration, during World War II, was a simple, quiet ceremony at the White House.

Harry S Truman’s big day was the first televised while Bill Clinton’s was the first broadcast over the Internet. The day begins with the newly elected heads of state taking oaths on a specially constructed platform. The Vice President takes his oath of office prior to the President (since 1937). The day continues with a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue as the President (and his wife since 1909 when Mrs. Taft was included) stroll from the Capitol Building to the White House. For security reasons, the President walks only part way. The Twentieth Amendment to the US Constitution changed the date from March 4 to January 20 (along with other issues of governance) and was ratified on January 23, 1933.

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. – oath of office for President

I do solemnly swear 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 I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. – oath of office for Vice President

I AM again called upon by the voice of my country to execute the functions of its Chief Magistrate. When the occasion proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavor to express the high sense I entertain of this distinguished honor, and of the confidence which has been reposed in me by the people of united America. – first half of George Washington’s second inaugural speech

Previous to the execution of any official act of the President the Constitution requires an oath of office. This oath I am now about to take, and in your presence: That if it shall be found during my administration of the Government I have in any instance violated willingly or knowingly the injunctions thereof, I may (besides incurring constitutional punishment) be subject to the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony. – second half of George Washington’s speech

Also on this day:

Eeeeeeeeek – In 1885, LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented his roller coaster structure.
Game of the Century – In 1968, the UCLA Bruins met the Houston Cougars for a game of basketball.
Pearl Harbor – In 1887, the US Senate approved the Navy’s leasing Pearl Harbor.

Advertisement