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U.S. Presidential Inaugurations: A Resource Guide

Presidential Inaugurations: 1789-1825

This page contains primary source materials related to presidential inaugurations from 1789 to 1825. Select a link below to jump directly to a description of that president's inauguration along with related digitized materials from the Library's collections.

1. George Washington 2. John Adams 3. Thomas Jefferson
4. James Madison 5. James Monroe 6. John Quincy Adams

George Washington

The first president of the United States, George Washington served two terms as president (1789-1797).

First Inauguration - April 30, 1789

Facts*

  • Oath of office recited outdoors.
  • Washington kissed the Bible after reciting the oath.
  • Fireworks concluded the day's celebration, thanks to private citizens.
  • Due to pressing public business, the inaugural ball was postponed to May 7.
  • Martha Washington, the president's wife, did not make the trip to New York.

Second Inauguration - March 4, 1793

Facts*

  • Shortest inaugural address (135 words).

John Adams

The second president of the United States, John Adams served one term as president (1797-1801).

Inauguration - March 4, 1797

Facts*

  • First president to receive the oath of office from a Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Thomas Jefferson

The third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson served two terms as president (1801-09).

First Inauguration - March 4, 1801

Facts*

  • First inauguration in Washington, D.C.
  • He broke precedent by walking to and from his swearing-in ceremony, rather than riding in a carriage as his predecessors did.
  • The Marine Band played at the Inauguration for the first time. (It has played at every Inauguration since).
  • For the first time, a newspaper (the National Intelligencer) printed the Inaugural address the morning of the Inauguration.
  • Began the custom of writing to Congress to accept the inauguration and arrange the time for the ceremonies.

Second Inauguration - March 4, 1805

Facts*

  • Inauguration held in the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives.

James Madison

The fourth president of the United States, James Madison served two terms as president (1809-1817).

First Inauguration - March 4, 1809

Facts*

  • The first Inaugural Ball was held the evening after the swearing-in ceremony. It took place at Long's Hotel and tickets cost $4 each.

Second Inauguration - March 4, 1813

James Monroe

The fifth president of the United States, James Monroe served two terms as president (1817-25).

First Inauguration - March 4, 1817

Facts*

  • First President to take the oath of office and deliver the Inaugural address outdoors; ceremony took place on platform in front of the temporary Brick Capitol (where Supreme Court now stands). The original plan for Monroe's first Inauguration called for a ceremony in the House chamber of the temporary Capitol, but when a small feud ensued between the Senate and the House of Representatives over what chairs would be used in the House chamber, the venue changed to an outdoor platform in front of the building.

Second Inauguration - March 5, 1821

Facts*

  • Monroe's second inauguration was the first inauguration to fall on a Sunday. Monroe decided to hold the Inaugural ceremony on Monday, March 5, after consulting with Supreme Court justices.

John Quincy Adams

The sixth president of the United States, John Quincy Adams served one term as president (1825-29).

First Inauguration - March 4, 1825

Facts*

  • John Quincy Adams was the first to wear long trousers, rather than knee breeches.
  • According to his own version of his Inauguration, Adams read the oath of office from a volume of laws. As noted in his Diary, Volume 33, 4 March 1825: External “I pronounced from a Volume of the Laws, held up to me by John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States, the Oath faithfully to execute the Office of President of the United States, and to the best of my ability, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Adams' version is supported by newspaper reports of the day, including an account in the Niles' Weekly Register, March 12, 1825, External which states, "The president elect then descended from the chair, and placing himself on the right hand of the judges’ table, received, from the chief justice, a volume of the laws of the United States, from which he read, in a loud and clear voice, the oath of office."

*Please note: This information is based on a compilation by the Office of the Curator, Architect of the Capitol, Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, from contemporary accounts and other sources. Additional research provided by Library of Congress staff.

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