Interesting facts about presidential inauguration in America:
- President Obama (2009 and 2013) and Franklin Delano Roosevelt took the oath of office four times.
- Inauguration 2013 is on Dr. Martin Luther King's, Junior's day, which is extremely symbolic.
- When Obama was first sworn into office, he used Abraham Lincoln’s former Bible. Obama used Michelle’s family Bible on 1/20/13. Then he used Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior’s “Traveling Bible” on 1/21/13.
- George Washington delivered the shortest inauguration address ever. His second inaugural address was 135 words long.
President Obama and Franklin Delano Roosevelt took the oath of office four times.
Photo credit:
Getty Images
- Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the second shortest inaugural speech. It was only 558 words long.
- William Henry Harrison died one month after his inaugural speech. He refused to have his ceremony indoors and failed to wear an overcoat, hat, or scarf. As a result, Harrison died one month later. In addition, his speech was the longest ever but his term was the shortest.
- Inaugurations are not held on Sundays. Therefore, if January 20 landed on a Sunday, the private oath will take place on Saturday or Sunday. However, the public celebrations will happen on Monday and the oath will be repeated.
- The “So help me God” part of the oath was first added by George Washington.
- Vice President Andrew Johnson was drunk when he stood to the podium to take his oath. Thus, he was rambling.
- George Washington was the first president to place his hand on a Bible for his first inauguration.
Comments