Hollywood, MD – The upcoming inauguration of Donald Trump as the USA’s 45th President is already controversial. But will it go down as the most provocative swearing-in ever? The truth is it may not measure up to some of the more memorable ceremonies of the past.
On March 4, 1801 Thomas Jefferson became the first U.S. president to be inaugurated in Washington, DC. Chief Justice John Marshall administered the oath to Jefferson, who had defeated incumbent John Adams in a contentious election. Legend had it that Adams was so miffed about it he left the capital city. Despite their dislike of one another at the time, both men eventually became good friends. Both died on the same day.
On March 4, 1829, Andrew Jackson, who had defeated incumbent John Quincy Adams, was sworn in as the nation’s seventh president. Marshall again administered the oath. Over 10,000 people, many of the them considered lower class arrived in DC for the festivities. Several historians reported that there was a wild reception at the White House, as several revelers packed the president’s home, proceeded to become drunk and disorderly and busted several household items, including several thousand dollars’ worth of china. The party started before Jackson arrived and legend had it Jackson ducked out the party, possibly by way of a window. There are conflicting accounts that indicate the house party wasn’t that wild. Jackson, who had lost his wife Rachel a few months before his inauguration, was reportedly not in a celebratory mood and didn’t attend any of the inaugural balls.
In March of 1861, despite murder and kidnapping threats, Abraham Lincoln arrived in the Nation’s Capital to be sworn in as the 16th president. Calvert County native Chief Justice Roger Taney administered the oath to Lincoln amid the backdrop of an unfinished Capitol Dome. Historians reported that while many came to the inauguration they were careful not to get too close to Lincoln lest they be in the line of fire. The Civil War was looming and the nation had never been more divided.
Adversity was the subtext of the March 4, 1933 inauguration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The nation was in the throes of the Great Depression and FDR had easily defeated President Herbert Hoover in the 1932 Election. The inauguration was broadcast nationwide and the new president delivered his “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself” speech. The Bible used for the swearing-in ceremony was FDR’s family Bible. It was the oldest one ever used for the historic ceremony. The book was published in 1686 and written in Dutch. FDR’s first inauguration was the last March 4 presidential inauguration as the date was moved to January.
On January 20, 1961, America’s 35th president, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was inaugurated. A nor’easter dumped eight inches of snow on the capital city. JFK, who would become noted for not wearing hats, was the last president to wear at top hat at his inauguration. There was no shortage of celebrities at the event. Famed poet Robert Frost spoke during the ceremony. Among the performers at JFK’s pre-inaugural gala were Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Gene Kelly, Tony Curtis, Milton Berle, Jimmy Durante and event organizer Frank Sinatra. Sammy Davis Jr. was asked not to perform at the gala by presidential father Joe Kennedy, who feared backlash due to Davis’ recent marriage to a Swedish actress. Herbert Hoover (see FDR’s inaugural) was not able to attend the inauguration due to the snow storm—his airline flight was cancelled.
Sinatra also had a hand in the pre-inauguration festivities in 1981 when Ronald Reagan became president. Reagan’s swearing-in was the first to be held on the Capitol’s West Portico. At 69 years and 349 days Reagan became the oldest person to assume the presidency—Trump will break that mark. During the ceremony, 52 Americans who had been held hostage for 444 days by disgruntled Iranians were released. Reagan made the announcement of the release to congressional leaders after the swearing in ceremony.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com