Inauguration

10.03.2022

The inauguration of the next commander-in-chief is marked by an official swearing in ceremony for both the vice president–elect and the president–elect, followed by the inaugural address. The inauguration, which takes place on the West Lawn of the Capitol, is just the first event in a truly jammed packed day. The Presidential Inaugural Committee or the PIC has put together a comprehensive list of the day’s events, including the inaugural address, parade, and ball — just to name a few. Since every inauguration of a president marks a historic part of American history, it comes as no surprise that the day itself boasts some pretty interesting history of its own.

All but two elected presidents took the oath of office in Washington. Washington, DC, did not become the nation’s capital until 1800, just before Thomas Jefferson was sworn in president. George Washington was sworn into office for his first term in Federal Hall in New York City in 1789, because what we know today as the Big Apple was the first home of the U.S. government. The capital moved to Philadelphia the next year, so Washington was sworn into office for his second term in the Senate Chamber of Congress Hall in the City of Brotherly Love in 1793. John Adams was sworn in as president in the House Chamber in Congress Hall in Philadelphia in 1797.

Today, we know January 20 as Inauguration Day, but that wasn’t always the case. Following Washington’s first inauguration, the Continental Congress declared March 4 as Inauguration Day. That date remained in place until the ratification of the 20th Amendment in 1933

One day after his inauguration on March 4, 1809, James Madison was the guest of honor at history’s first Inaugural Ball. It all went down at Long’s Hotel, and tickets cost $4 apiece.

When Andrew Johnson was inaugurated as vice president in 1865, he was totally trashed. He was very ill from typhoid fever and drank whiskey to try to numb the aches and pains a little—except he overdid it and ended up slurring his way through his oaths.

Wearing hats, in particular top hats, used to be tradition. JFK wore a stovepipe hat to his inauguration, but took it off when he took the oath of office. No president since has worn a hat to the inauguration.