Traditions of Inaugurating Presidents of the United States

U.S. presidents are traditionally sworn in at the U.S. Capitol.

Presidents from Washington to Adams, Eisenhower to Obama have each received an inauguration ceremony filled with many traditions. According to the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the date of the presidential inauguration was moved from March 4th to January 20th, a few weeks after the certification of votes of the Electoral College. Since 1801, all inauguration ceremonies have taken place in Washington D.C., when D.C. became the nation's capital.

Morning Church Service

From FDR on, all U.S. presidents attend worship service on inauguration morning.

Church bells clang across Washington, D.C. the morning of a president's inauguration. Franklin D. Roosevelt started the tradition when, on his March 4, 1933 inauguration day, he and his wife attended the St. John's Episcopal Church for morning church service. While FDR was not the first president to attend a religious service on inauguration day, all proceeding presidents have attended some sort of worship service before the swearing-in ceremony.

Procession

The president originally rode a horse and carriage to the U.S. Capitol.

According to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) website, the outgoing president traditionally accompanies the president-elect to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony. Members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies lead the president-elect, vice president-elect and their spouses to the White House. After a brief meeting, the president-elect and the outgoing president proceed together to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremonies.

Although most presidents rode in a carriage and later an automobile, the Constitution does not state exactly by what means a president and president-elect need to arrive. Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson each walked to their swearing-in ceremonies and in 1825, outgoing President James Monroe proceeded to the Capitol in his own carriage behind President-elect John Quincy Adams' carriage.

Swearing-In Ceremonies

Lincoln's Bible is part of the Library of Congress collection.

According to Constitution, both the vice president-elect and president-elect must be sworn into office by oath. Before the president-elect takes oath, the vice president-elect steps forward on the inaugural platform and repeats the oath of office. The location of the vice president's oath-taking ceremony changed since John Adams became vice president in 1789. According to the JCCIC, until 1937 the vice president-elect was sworn into office in the Senate chamber. Today, the vice president recites the oath on the west front terrace of the U.S. Capitol.

The president's swearing in has taken place at more than 10 locations in Washington, D.C. However, the traditional location is the same as the vice president's, the west front of the U.S. Capitol. The chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court traditionally administers the oath.

The first U.S. president, George Washington, repeated the famous oath, read by Chancellor Robert Livingston of New York, with one hand on the Bible, starting with the words, "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States...." The custom that trickled down to all future presidents includes Washington's final added statement, "So help me God."

The Bible each president uses is his choice. Lincoln's Bible, as it is now called, is the one in which Abraham Lincoln laid his palm on at his presidential inauguration in 1861. President Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, was sworn in with Lincoln's Bible. According to his own version of his inauguration ceremony, John Quincy Adams took the oath upon a volume of law.

Inaugural Address

The president's inaugural speech is his first official address to the nation.

The president-elect's inaugural speech is the first proclamation the nation hears from its new leader. Since George Washington addressed the public in 1789, all presidents recite a speech written especially for the occasion.

Outgoing President's Departure

No matter what the president-elect's feelings are toward the departing president, their relations are typically civil on inauguration day. Per tradition, following the inaugural ceremony, the outgoing president and First Lady are to leave the Capitol and receive only a slight recognition, as it is their day to celebrate, not to be celebrated. According to the JCCIC, an 1889 "Handbook of Official and Social Etiquette and Public Ceremonies at Washington" described the outgoing president's departure like this: "His departure from the Capital is attended with no ceremony, other than the presence of the members of his late Cabinet and a few officials and personal friends. The president leaves the Capital as soon as practicable after the inauguration of his successor."

In the late 20th century and early 21st century, the newly sworn in president and vice president escort their predecessors out of the Capitol and the members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies gather on the stairs as presidential escorts.

Presidential Luncheon

At the inaugural luncheon, guests toast to the new administration.

Since 1953, the JCCIC has hosted a luncheon at the U.S. Capitol for the new president, vice president and selected guests. JCCIC members escort the presidential party to Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol. The luncheon includes speeches, toasts and gift-giving for the new administration. Often, chefs prepare traditional dishes from the home states of the new president and vice president.

Parade & Inaugural Ball

The parade celebrates the president's accomplishment with music and processions.

The inaugural parade follows the swearing-in ceremony and luncheon. Originally, the parade consisted of military companies, bands, the president's Cabinet, elected officials and friends who escorted the new president from the U.S. Capitol down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. In 1873, President Ulysses S. Grant altered the tradition when he viewed the parade from the White House after the inaugural ceremony, rather than being in the parade. Today, most presidents ride in a car in the parade while walking part of the parade route.

For further celebration, the President's Inaugural Ball is an event in which the new president invites family, friends, performers and Washington dignitaries to celebrate the new administration. The first ball was thrown for James and Dolley Madison in 1809 at Long's Hotel. While not every president has had a ball, after the inauguration of James Madison, the tradition became part of the schedule of events. A president can have one main inaugural ball or a series of music and dance events throughout his first week in Washington.

References

• Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Events: Inauguration Day Events
• National Archives and Records (NARA): The First Inauguration

Resources

• JCCIC Announces Inaugural Program
• ABC News: Inaguration Traditions: Dude, Where's My Hat?
• NPR Transcript: Poet Calls Writing Inaugural Poem a Challenge
• MTV: Barack Obama Inaugural Lineup