The inauguration of President Barack Obama was a historic moment that many Americans had been dreaming of. President Obama was the first president of African American descent, a milestone that made him a role model that it is possible to hold any position, regardless of your race. In The Enterprise, published in Leonardtown, Maryland on January 21st, 2009, they shared the story of people flocking to the bus station in the early morning hours to witness that day in person. They share that starting at 4:30 am, residents of southern Maryland were able to pay $10 round trip to take a bus to Washington D.C to watch the inauguration.
One resident planned the trip as a birthday celebration. Another brought his daughter with him, sharing a sense of pride as an African American held the presidency for the first time. However, the one thing they all had in common was a bi-partisan hope for the future and exciting new history.
While many inauguration days are cold and windy, President Ronald Reagan described his inauguration as “the perfect day”. In an article published in The Montgomery News Messenger on January 21st, 1981, they reflect on the prior day’s events as a new president entered the office. Reagan is quoted as saying that it was a “perfect day”, as he stepped into office for his first presidential term. The article highlights how the work put in by former President Jimmy Carter (who has recently passed), left a clean slate for Reagan to begin his presidency. The Iranian Hostage crisis was a major issue during Carter’s presidency, and he worked hard to return the captive Americans home to the United States. He succeeded, and on the same day his presidency ended, the hostages began their journey home, concluding the crisis and providing a new slate for Reagan to work on. The day was full of celebrations both for the new president and the American’s return home.
President John F. Kennedy was sworn into office on January 20th, 1961. The day, recounted in the Newark Evening News in New Jersey, was near freezing with bitter winds. This didn’t stop the new president from addressing the country, delivering a speech calling for a transition to peace. Kennedy calls upon not just Americans, but other countries to engage in peace negotiations with the United States, making it explicitly clear that the United States will continue to defend itself while also pursuing peace. In this speech is where one of his most iconic quotes is shared; he calls upon Americans to “ask not what your country will do for you–ask what you can do for your country”.
If you look underneath the article telling of his inauguration, you may have been caught by the words “Kennedy luck” like I was. Another article printed on the page shared that the new president experienced “Kennedy luck” when it came to the weather on his inauguration day. While the weather had been snowy before, the sun came out on that day to warm spectators watching the ceremony. In modern-day reflections, many would say the Kennedy family has been anything but lucky. From President Kennedy’s assassination to his brother Robert F. Kennedy being assassinated on his political campaign to the plane crash that killed Robert Kennedy Jr, the Kennedy family is known not for “Kennedy luck”, but rather for the “Kennedy curse”.
On January 20th, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt made history, not for the first time and certainly not for the last. As shared in the Newark Evening News, FDR was sworn into office for his third term, the first and only president to hold the position more than two times. Before the passing of the 22nd Amendment, an individual was technically allowed to hold office for more than two terms. Most presidents chose to follow the precedent set by the first president George Washington. However, as World War two was ramping up and the United States entered the conflict, FDR was called to continue his presidency. He had been in office through some of the darkest moments in the Great Depression and had helped to bring America out of the dark pit of economic disaster. Americans had faith that he would be the best leader to see them through World War II, as he had helped them through their previous struggles. He was even elected for a fourth term, that’s how much the general population approved of him and his administration. FDR was truly one of the most influential presidents, both for his actions and historical achievements.
FDR didn’t just make history for his unprecedented third and fourth terms. Did you know that Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to start this tradition of holding the presidential inauguration on January 20th? Roosevelt was sworn in for his second term on January 20th, 1937. The 20th Amendment to the US Constitution was passed in January of 1933 and changed the date on which each presidential term would conclude from March 4th to January 20th. Each regular presidential term before FDR’s second term would begin or end every 4 years on March 4th, with exceptions for cases in which the president could no longer serve and a new president was inaugurated. For example, Theodore Roosevelt’s first inauguration was on September 14th, 1901, when President William McKinley was assassinated and Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as his replacement.
I thought it would be interesting to look back on what inauguration day was like before it got moved to January 20th. In The Fort Smith News Record, published on March 4th, 1901, they recounted the inauguration of President William McKinley’s second term. They shared that there was a large crowd in attendance, larger than prior inauguration days, to watch him take the oath of office. From reading this piece, I didn’t notice much difference between the elections that took place in March compared to January. Other than having better weather, traditions like the inaugural address and oath of office remained the same. Nonetheless, it was interesting to compare the inauguration of President McKinley with more modern presidential inaugurations!
I hope you learned something new about the history of inauguration day! Join me again next week to discover more of history’s hidden gems and timeless tales.
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