As we prepare for President Obama's second inauguration on Monday, we've been looking back through our coverage of inaugurations past. (And it's reminded us that a lot has changed,
even from just four years ago.) Along the way, we ran across a few memorable features that we thought worth revisiting.
Inaugural Firsts
1 of 22 — April 30, 1789: George Washington was inaugurated in New York City as the first U.S. president. He set various precedents, including the use of a Bible for the oath, the use of the phrase "so help me God," and the tradition of an inaugural address. During his second inauguration, in Philadelphia on March 4, 1793, Washington gave the shortest address in history, consisting of a mere 135 words.
April 30, 1789: George Washington was inaugurated in New York City as the first U.S. president. He set various precedents, including the use of a Bible for the oath, the use of the phrase "so help me God," and the tradition of an inaugural address. During his second inauguration, in Philadelphia on March 4, 1793, Washington gave the shortest address in history, consisting of a mere 135 words.
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2 of 22 — March 4, 1801: Thomas Jefferson was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C. His horseback ride from the Capitol to the president's house after his second inauguration set the example for future inaugural parades.
March 4, 1801: Thomas Jefferson was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C. His horseback ride from the Capitol to the president's house after his second inauguration set the example for future inaugural parades.
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3 of 22 — March 4, 1841: William H. Harrison, the first president to arrive in Washington by train, delivered the longest inaugural address in history. He delivered a 90-minute speech in a snowstorm. The 68-year-old died from pneumonia about a month later.
March 4, 1841: William H. Harrison, the first president to arrive in Washington by train, delivered the longest inaugural address in history. He delivered a 90-minute speech in a snowstorm. The 68-year-old died from pneumonia about a month later.
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4 of 22 — Following Harrison's death on April 4, 1841, John Tyler was the first vice president to assume the presidency by succession.
Following Harrison's death on April 4, 1841, John Tyler was the first vice president to assume the presidency by succession.
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5 of 22 — March 4, 1845: James Polk's inauguration was the first to be covered by telegraph.
March 4, 1845: James Polk's inauguration was the first to be covered by telegraph.
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6 of 22 — Polk's was also the first known inauguration to be depicted by newspaper illustration.
Polk's was also the first known inauguration to be depicted by newspaper illustration.
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7 of 22 — March 4, 1857: James Buchanan's inauguration was the first known to be photographed.
March 4, 1857: James Buchanan's inauguration was the first known to be photographed.
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8 of 22 — March 4, 1865: African-Americans were allowed to participate for the first time during Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration parade.
March 4, 1865: African-Americans were allowed to participate for the first time during Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration parade.
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9 of 22 — March 3, 1877: Rutherford B. Hayes was the first president to take the oath of office at the White House.
March 3, 1877: Rutherford B. Hayes was the first president to take the oath of office at the White House.
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10 of 22 — March 4, 1897: William McKinley's inauguration was the first to be captured by a movie camera.
March 4, 1897: William McKinley's inauguration was the first to be captured by a movie camera.
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11 of 22 — March 5, 1909: After William Howard Taft's inauguration, the first lady accompanied the president in the inaugural procession for the first time.
March 5, 1909: After William Howard Taft's inauguration, the first lady accompanied the president in the inaugural procession for the first time.
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12 of 22 — March 5, 1917: Women participated in the inaugural parade for the first time, after Woodrow Wilson's second inauguration.
March 5, 1917: Women participated in the inaugural parade for the first time, after Woodrow Wilson's second inauguration.
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13 of 22 — March 4, 1925: Calvin Coolidge's inauguration was the first to be broadcast nationally by radio.
March 4, 1925: Calvin Coolidge's inauguration was the first to be broadcast nationally by radio.
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14 of 22 — March 4, 1929: Herbert Hoover's inauguration was the first to be recorded by a talking newsreel.
March 4, 1929: Herbert Hoover's inauguration was the first to be recorded by a talking newsreel.
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15 of 22 — Franklin D. Roosevelt's inauguration in 1937 was the first to take place on Jan. 20. First inaugurated in 1933 and serving four terms through 1945, Roosevelt was the only U.S. president to serve more than two terms.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's inauguration in 1937 was the first to take place on Jan. 20. First inaugurated in 1933 and serving four terms through 1945, Roosevelt was the only U.S. president to serve more than two terms.
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16 of 22 — Jan. 20, 1949: Harry S. Truman's inauguration was the first to be televised.
Jan. 20, 1949: Harry S. Truman's inauguration was the first to be televised.
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17 of 22 — Jan. 20, 1961: John F. Kennedy's inauguration had many firsts: a poet (Robert Frost) participated in the ceremonies, a Catholic Bible was used for the oath, and the parade was televised in color.
Jan. 20, 1961: John F. Kennedy's inauguration had many firsts: a poet (Robert Frost) participated in the ceremonies, a Catholic Bible was used for the oath, and the parade was televised in color.
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18 of 22 — Following Kennedy's assassination on Nov. 22, 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson was the first president to be sworn in on an airplane. And it was the first time in history that the oath of office was administered by a woman, U.S. District Judge Sarah T. Hughes.
Following Kennedy's assassination on Nov. 22, 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson was the first president to be sworn in on an airplane. And it was the first time in history that the oath of office was administered by a woman, U.S. District Judge Sarah T. Hughes.
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19 of 22 — Following the resignation of Richard Nixon on Aug. 9, 1974, Gerald Ford, who had been appointed vice president, became the first U.S. president never to have won a national election.
Following the resignation of Richard Nixon on Aug. 9, 1974, Gerald Ford, who had been appointed vice president, became the first U.S. president never to have won a national election.
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20 of 22 — Jan. 20, 1977: Jimmy Carter was the first president to walk from the Capitol to the White House with his family after his inauguration.
Jan. 20, 1977: Jimmy Carter was the first president to walk from the Capitol to the White House with his family after his inauguration.
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21 of 22 — Jan. 20, 1997: Bill Clinton's second inauguration was the first to be broadcast live over the Internet.
Jan. 20, 1997: Bill Clinton's second inauguration was the first to be broadcast live over the Internet.
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22 of 22 — Jan. 20, 2009: Barack Obama is sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts as the 44th president and the first African-American to be elected to the office.
Jan. 20, 2009: Barack Obama is sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts as the 44th president and the first African-American to be elected to the office.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Four years ago, NPR's Becky Lettenberger put together a look at history-making moments from George Washington's inauguration to Barack Obama's. As you take a scroll through time, make sure to watch out for a photo from the first presidential inauguration known to have been photographed — James Buchanan's in 1857.
Inaugural Seconds
Charles Dharapak / AP
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AP
President Obama dances with first lady Michelle Obama on the night of his first inauguration, Jan. 20, 2009, in Washington.
After President Obama was re-elected last November, NPR's Linton Weeks asked:
Do we really need a second inauguration? "Obama's first inauguration in 2009 was historic and symbolic and arguably a meeting-up point for a lost nation. Now, four years later, we are still trying to get the danged compass to work. Do we really have time — and resources — to party?" he wrote. His story examines the pros and cons of ditching the pomp.
First Ladies: Dancing Through History
Hugh Talman / Courtesy of National Museum of American History
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Courtesy of National Museum of American History
The inaugural ensemble of Grover Cleveland's wife, Frances, a fashion icon during the late 1800s who was considered the Jackie Kennedy of her day.
If your favorite part of Inauguration Day is the glitz of the balls, NPR's Susan Stamberg has
the story for you. She visited the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History last year to view an exhibit of first ladies' gowns. Don't miss her favorite: "a simple spill of slate blue silk crepe" worn by a first lady rarely considered stylish. (Hint: That first lady later served as a delegate to the United Nations.)
JFK At 50
2011 marked the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's inauguration, "a day that would change the lives of many young Americans," as Nathan Rott put it in
a piece for
All Things Considered. He spoke to several people who reflected, five decades later, on the different paths their lives had taken because of the president's call to action that day. (The Kennedy presidential library also announced the digitizing of much of its collection for the 50th anniversary — including
photos, recordings and more.)
Taking The Oath
Quick: Where does the oath of office come from?
Stumped?
Morning Editionreminded us in 2009 that it's right there in the Constitution. "It's the only sentence in quotes in the entire Constitution," explained Marvin Pinkert, then-executive director of the National Archives Experience. Pinkert shares the back story of the oath in
an interview with Steve Inskeep.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
/ Courtesy of National Archives
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Courtesy of National Archives
The first printed copy of the draft Constitution, Aug. 6, 1787, annotated by George Washington and others. (Click for full page.)
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