Presidential Inaugurations: 1969-1997

This page contains primary source materials related to presidential inaugurations from 1969 to 1997. 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.

37. Richard Nixon	38. Gerald Ford	39. Jimmy Carter
40. Ronald Reagan	41. George H. W. Bush	42. Bill Clinton

Richard Nixon

The thirty-seventh president of the United States, Richard Nixon was elected president in 1968 and 1972. On August 8, 1974, Nixon resigned from office due to the Watergate scandal.

First Inauguration - January 20, 1969

Facts*

Took the oath of office on two Bibles; both family heirlooms.
Nixon's Inauguration included an official, three-faith prayer service, open to the public, in the West Auditorium of the State Department.

[Richard M. Nixon, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]. [between 1969 and 1974]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[Chief Justice Earl Warren administering the oath of office to Richard M. Nixon on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1969]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[President Nixon delivering his inaugural address on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1969]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Second Inauguration - January 20, 1973

Facts*

Richard Nixon became the first President to resign on August 9, 1974.

[Chief Justice Warren E. Burger administering the oath of office to Richard M. Nixon on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1973]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[Rear view of President Nixon delivering his inaugural address on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1973]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[President Richard M. Nixon delivering his inaugural address on east portico of U.S. Capitol, Januray 20, 1973]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Gerald Ford

The thirty-eighth president of the United States (1974-77), Gerald Ford assumed the presidency upon the resignation of Richard Nixon on August 9, 1974.

Oath of Office - August 9, 1974

Facts*

First unelected vice president to assume the presidency.
First vice president to assume the presidency under the provisions of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, which specifies that, upon the resignation of the president, the vice president shall become president.

[Gerald R. Ford, half-length portrait, facing front, with arms crossed]. 1974. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Remarks by Gerald R. Ford upon being sworn in as 38th President of the United States. Congressional Record, 120 Cong. Rec. 27708 (1974).

Thomas J. O'Halloran and Warren K. Leffler, photographers. [President Gerald Ford speaking into microphones]. 1974. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Jimmy Carter

The thirty-ninth president of the United States, Jimmy Carter served one term as president (1977-81).

Inauguration - January 20, 1977

Facts*

Folding chairs replaced wooden benches on the East Plaza.
Recited the oath of office with his family Bible, and the second bible used by George Washington was on the podium.
At Carter's request, the traditional inaugural luncheon was not held.
First president to exit his limousine just outside the Capitol grounds and walk along Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House with his family after the ceremony.
Gerald Ford, outgoing President, was the first to leave the Capitol grounds by helicopter.
Solar heating warmed the reviewing stand.
Parade viewing stands included handicap accessibility.

Karl Schumacher, photographer. [Jimmy Carter, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front, next to an American flag]. 1977. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[Chief Justice Warren E. Burger administering the oath of office to Jimmy Carter on the east portico of U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1977]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Marion S. Trikosko, photographer. [Peanut-shaped float passes by reviewing stand for the inauguration of Jimmy Carter to President, Washington, D.C.] Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Thomas J. O'Halloran, photographer. [President-elect Jimmy Carter with Rosalynn and Amy Carter on Inauguration Day]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Ronald Reagan

The fortieth president of the United States, Ronald Reagan served two terms as president (1981-89).

First Inauguration - January 20, 1981

Facts*

First Inauguration held on the west front of the U.S. Capitol.
Reagan's first Inauguration was also the warmest on record with a noon temperature of 55.

[Chief Justice Warren E. Burger administering the oath of office to Ronald Reagan on the west front of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1981]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[President Ronald Reagan delivering his inaugural address on the west front of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1981]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[Inauguration of Ronald Reagan on the west front of the U.S. Capitol, with the Washington Monument in the distance, January 20, 1981]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[President Reagan's inaugural luncheon in the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1981]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Second Inauguration - January 21, 1985

Facts*

Coldest Inauguration day on record, with a noon temperature of 7°F.
January 20th fell on Sunday, so Reagan was privately sworn in that day at the White House; public Inauguration on January 21st took place in the Capitol Rotunda, due to freezing weather.

[Fish-eye view of the rotunda in the U.S. Capitol, just prior to the swearing-in ceremony of Ronald Reagan, January 21, 1985]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[President Reagan speaking at his inaugural luncheon in the U.S. Capitol, January 21, 1985]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

United States. Congress. Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. [Souvenirs of President Reagan's second inauguration]. Library of Congress Rare Book and Special Collections Division.

George H.W. Bush

The forty-first president of the United States, George H.W. Bush served one term as president (1989-93).

Inauguration - January 20, 1989

David Valdez, photographer. [George Bush, half-length portrait, facing front] / David Valdez. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Memo on Inauguration activities to the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court, January 6, 1989. Thurgood Marshall Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.

Memo on Swearing-In Ceremonies for the Inauguration of George Bush on January 20, 1989, from Alfred Wong, Marshal of the Supreme Court of the United States, to the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court, January 19, 1989. Thurgood Marsha

[Inauguration of George Bush on the west front of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1989]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[Chief Justice William Rehnquist administering the oath of office to George Bush on the west front of the U.S. Capitol, with Dan Quayle and Barbara Bush looking on, January 20, 1989]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[Chief Justice William Rehnquist administering the oath of office to George Bush on the west front of the U.S. Capitol, with Barbara Bush smiling and looking on, January 20, 1989]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Carol M. Highsmith, photographer. Presidential reviewing stand at the Inaugural Parade for President George H.W. Bush on January 20, 1989, Washington, D.C. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Bill Clinton

The forty-second president of the United States, Bill Clinton served two terms as president (1993-2001).

First Inauguration - January 20, 1993

[Bill Clinton, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front]. 1992. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[Chief Justice William Rehnquist administering the oath of office to Bill Clinton on the west front of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1993]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton, full-length portrait, dancing(?) at inaugural ball, in front of group of people] Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[Bill Clinton, standing between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton, taking the oath of office of president of the United States]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Second Inauguration - January 21, 1997

Facts*

First Inaugural ceremony broadcast live on the Internet

Inauguration Ceremonies. Congressional Record - Senate (Vol. 143, No. 4), S119 - S122. January 21, 1997.

[Chief Justice William Rehnquist administering the oath of office to Bill Clinton on the west front of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1997]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[President Bill Clinton delivering his inaugural address on the west front of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1997]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

[President Bill Clinton embracing his daughter, Chelsea, and kissing his wife, Hillary, after inaugural ceremonies on west front of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1997]. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

*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.

U.S. Presidential Inaugurations: A Resource Guide

History, Humanities & Social Sciences: Ask a Librarian

Presidential Inaugurations: 1969-1997

Richard Nixon

First Inauguration - January 20, 1969

Facts*

Second Inauguration - January 20, 1973

Facts*

Gerald Ford

Oath of Office - August 9, 1974

Facts*

Jimmy Carter

Inauguration - January 20, 1977

Facts*

Ronald Reagan

First Inauguration - January 20, 1981

Facts*

Second Inauguration - January 21, 1985

Facts*

George H.W. Bush

Inauguration - January 20, 1989

Bill Clinton

First Inauguration - January 20, 1993

Second Inauguration - January 21, 1997

Facts*