Presidential Inaugurations: The Peaceful Transition of Power (Encore)

Summary

Everything Everywhere Daily: Presidential Inaugurations – The Peaceful Transition of Power (Encore) Release Date: January 19, 2025

Host: Gary Arndt
Guest: Chris Christensen

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Introduction to Presidential Inaugurations

In this encore episode of Everything Everywhere Daily, Chris Christensen dives deep into the history and traditions surrounding the United States Presidential Inaugurations. He explores why January 20th was chosen as the inauguration date and traces the origins of various inaugural traditions that have stood the test of time.

The Oath of Office

Chris begins by presenting the solemn commitment a president makes during the inauguration:

"I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." (00:22)

This oath, central to the inauguration, emphasizes the president's duty to uphold the Constitution.

Historical Evolution of the Inauguration Date

Originally, Presidential Inaugurations took place on March 4th, aligning with the Constitution's establishment. However, logistical challenges arose as the nation expanded westward:

• Transportation Delays: With the reliance on horseback and the absence of a transcontinental railroad until 1862, travel times to Washington, D.C., were lengthy.
• Staggered Elections: Early elections lacked a uniform voting day, with some states casting votes as early as September.

To accommodate these factors, March 4th provided a buffer between the Electoral College's vote and the incoming president's arrival and cabinet formation.

The shift to January 20th occurred with the 20th Amendment, known as the Lame Duck Amendment, to reduce the transition period. Franklin Roosevelt was the first president inaugurated on January 20th during his second term in 1937:

"Needless to say, inauguration suddenly got a lot colder." (03:50)

This change not only expedited the transition but also introduced varying weather conditions, with Ronald Reagan's second inauguration experiencing a frigid 7°F (-14°C).

Traditions Initiated by George Washington

Several inaugural traditions trace back to the nation's first president:

• Bible Usage: Washington placed his hand on a Bible from the St. John's Lodge, number one of the ancient York Masons. Although the verse chosen, Genesis 47, was random and unrelated to the presidency, it set a precedent for future presidents:

  "The Bible which was used was taken from the St. John's Lodge... It was randomly opened to a page which turned out to be Genesis 47." (04:50)

• Adding "So Help Me God" and Kissing the Bible:

  Washington ad-libbed these elements, which have since become customary for many presidents. However, it's not mandatory—some presidents, like John Quincy Adams and Franklin Pierce, opted to place their hand on a book of law or omitted the Bible altogether.

Notable Oath Mistakes and Adjustments

Over the years, several presidents have stumbled during their oaths:

• William Howard Taft: In 1909 and 1929, Taft incorrectly repeated the oath, leading to minor discrepancies in wording.

  "In 1909, William Howard Taft repeated the oath incorrectly as given by the Chief Justice." (05:30)

• Herbert Hoover: Repeated a similar mistake without retaking the oath.

• Lyndon Johnson: Added the word "Presidency" upon prompt from Chief Justice Earl Warren.

• Barack Obama: Initially faltered but retook the oath the following day for assurance.

Despite these hiccups, the essence of the oath remains unbroken, ensuring a peaceful transition of power.

Inaugural Addresses: Length and Impact

Presidential inaugural addresses vary widely in length and substance:

• Shortest: Franklin D. Roosevelt's second address at 135 words.
• Longest: William Henry Harrison's extensive 8,445-word speech, lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes.

These addresses reflect the individual styles and priorities of each administration, shaping public perception from day one.

Modern Inauguration Traditions in the 20th Century

The 20th century introduced several new traditions to the inauguration ceremony:

• Automobile Entrance: Warren Harding was the first to arrive at the Capitol by car in 1921.
• Televised Ceremonies: Harry Truman's 1949 inauguration was the first to be broadcast on television, broadening public access.
• Inaugural Luncheon: Since 1953, a luncheon hosted by Congress honors the incoming president.
• Active First Ladies: In 1965, Lady Bird Johnson held the Bible during the ceremony, marking a more prominent role for first ladies.
• Interfaith Prayer Service: Initiated in 1985, this service reflects America's religious diversity.

Conversely, some traditions didn't endure. Andrew Jackson's attempt in the 1830s to invite the public to the White House resulted in overcrowding, forcing him to flee through a window, illustrating the challenges of managing public enthusiasm.

The Role of the Chief Justice and Oath Administration

While traditionally administered by the Chief Justice, the oath can be bestowed by anyone qualified:

"Technically, anyone can administer the oath of office." (07:30)

Instances where the Chief Justice was unavailable led to alternative officials, such as Warren Harding's father—a notary public—or judges stepping in during unexpected vacancies.

Conclusion

Over 232 years and 59 inaugurations, the Presidential Inauguration has evolved, balancing enduring traditions with adaptations to modern realities. Despite variations in execution and personal touches from each president, the ceremony consistently symbolizes the peaceful transfer of power and the continuity of governance in the United States.

As Chris Christensen aptly summarizes:

"Every inauguration is different, but they all share common traditions that have tied them together throughout American history." (09:00)

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Notable Quotes:

• “I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States...” – Chris Christensen (00:22)
• “Needless to say, inauguration suddenly got a lot colder.” – Chris Christensen (03:50)
• “The Bible which was used was taken from the St. John's Lodge...” – Chris Christensen (04:50)
• “Technically, anyone can administer the oath of office.” – Chris Christensen (07:30)
• “Every inauguration is different, but they all share common traditions...” – Chris Christensen (09:00)

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This summary captures the essence of Chris Christensen's exploration of Presidential Inaugurations, providing a comprehensive overview for those unable to listen to the full episode.

Transcript

[Gary]

Hey everyone, this is Gary. I'm going to be gone the next few days because I have the privilege of inducting my friend Chris Christensen into the Podcasting hall of Fame. Chris is the host of the Amateur Traveler Podcast on which I've appeared as a guest over 20 times. So until I come back, please enjoy these encore episodes.

[Chris Christensen]

Every four years on January 20th, the United States holds a ceremony for the inauguration of the President of the United States. There are traditions for the inauguration, some of which have been passed down since the very first. But why do we use January 20th as the date of the inauguration? And how did many of these traditions get started? Learn more about the history and traditions of the Presidential inauguration on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.

[Gary]

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[Chris Christensen]

Inauguration Day is the day the President of the United States takes the Oath of Office and begins a new presidential term. Because it's so short, I'll read the Oath of Office for you right now. I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States Inauguration Day wasn't always on January 20th. In fact, for most of American history, the day fell on March 4, when the Constitution was first written. One of the issues which had to be dealt with was the time it took to get information and people from the various states to Washington. Everything was done by horseback, and as the nation grew westward, the length of time it took to get to Washington increased. California was admitted to the Union in 1850, 12 years before the transcontinental railroad was completed. Likewise, the nation didn't always vote on the same day. For the first presidential elections, there was no popular vote. State legislatures selected electors and they often voted as early as September, so the March 4th date was to give ample time between the Electoral College voting and for the incoming President to assemble a cabinet and get everyone to Washington. The first presidential inauguration didn't actually take place on March 4, however, due to a bad winter. Washington's first inauguration took place on April 30, 1789 in New York City. It was held on the balcony of Federal hall on Wall Street. You can visit the Federal Hall National Monument today. However, it isn't the same building and there's no longer a balcony. There are several traditions that started with George Washington. The first was putting his hand on a Bible when taking the oath of office. The Bible which was used was taken from the St. John's Lodge, number one of the ancient York Masons. The Bible was randomly opened to a page which turned out to be Genesis 47, which says, Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea, and he shall be a haven of ships, and his border shall be unto Zidon. The passage was totally random and has no meaning whatsoever dealing with the presidency. The same Washington Bible has been used in the inaugurations of several other presidents, Warren Harding, Dwight Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter, and George H.W. bush all used the Washington Bible. There's no requirement about the use of a Bible. It's just a tradition. Some presidents haven't used a Bible at all. John Quincy Adams and Franklin Pierce put their hands on a book of law. Theodore Roosevelt, having taken the oath after the death of William McKinley, didn't put his hand on anything. Lyndon Johnson put his hand on a Catholic missile because that's all they could find on Air Force One and they didn't want to waste time looking for a Bible. Franklin Pierce is the only president to use the words affirm rather than swear when taking the Presidential oath. Washington also ad libbed the phrase so help me God at the end of the oath and then kiss the Bible, both of which have been done by subsequent presidents. There have been several cases of presidents flubbing the oath. In 1909, William Howard Taft repeated the oath incorrectly as given by the Chief Justice. In 1929, Taft, this time acting as the Chief justice, did the same thing to Herbert Hoover when he said preserve, maintain and defend the Constitution. Instead of preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. Hoover did not retake the oath. Eisenhower inserted the word the in front of President and Lyndon Johnson was prompted to say Presidency by Chief Justice Earl Warren. Chief Justice John Roberts moved the word faithfully to and President Obama, after pausing, followed his lead. He retook the oath again the next day. Just to be safe. Washington also gave the first inaugural address. He didn't give it to the public, however, which had gathered for the inauguration. Rather, he went inside and gave it to Congress. His second inaugural address was the shortest in history at only 135 words. This time he took the oath of office in Philadelphia. The longest inaugural address in history was given by William Henry Harrison, who gave a marathon 1 hour 45 minute speech which was 8,445 words long. To put that in perspective, the scripts I create for this podcast are usually between 1000 and 2500 words long. No president who ascended to the office after the death or resignation of a predecessor has ever given an inaugural address, but they all have addressed Congress soon after John Adams became the first President to have the oath administered by the Chief justice of the Supreme Court. This too is not required by law, and technically anyone can administer the oath of office. There have been several oaths that have been administered since then by someone other than the Chief Justice. Usually upon the death of a President, they try to get anyone who is a judge. In the case of Calvin Coolidge When Warren Harding died, the oath was administered by his father, who was a notary public. The change in the inauguration date occurred with the 20th Amendment, which was known as the Lame Duck Amendment. Prior to this, both the Congress and the President were inaugurated on the same date, March 4th. The first president to be inaugurated on January 20th was Franklin Roosevelt during his second inauguration in 1937. Needless to say, inauguration suddenly got a lot colder. The warmest January 20th inauguration was Ronald Reagan's first inauguration when the temperature was 55 degrees Fahrenheit or 13 Celsius. The coldest inauguration was Reagan's second, when the temperature was 7 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 14 degrees Celsius. There have been other traditions that have started in the 20th century. In 1921, Warren Harding traveled to the Capitol for the first time in an automobile. The first televised inauguration was Harry Truman in 1949. Since 1953, Congress has hosted a luncheon for the incoming president. In 1965, Lady Bird Johnson held the Bible, becoming the first first lady to have an active role in the inauguration. An interfaith prayer service was started in 1985. One tradition which never got off the ground was adopted by Andrew Jackson. He invited the public to the White House and had over 20,000 people show up. There were so many people, Jackson had to flee the White House through a window. To date, There have been 59 presidential inaugurations over a period of 232 years. Every inauguration is different, but they all share common traditions that have tied them together throughout American history.

[Gary]

The executive producer of Everything Everywhere Daily is Charles Daniel. The associate producers are Benji Long and Cameron Keever. I want to give a big shout out to everyone who supports the show over on Patreon, including the show's producers. Your support helps me put out a show every single day and also Patreon is currently the only place where Everything Everywhere Daily merchandise is available to the top tier of supporters. If you'd like to talk to other listeners of the show and members of the Completionist Club, you can join the Everything Everywhere Daily Facebook group or Discord server. Links to Everything are in the show Notes.