Presidential inaugurations mark some of the most defining moments in U.S. history, allowing presidents to establish traditions and reinvigorate the American people. Some inaugurations make history, while others are remembered for comical blunders and even brawls.
George Washington’s first inaugural address was a 10-minute speech that noted the “divine blessing” of the nation’s founding and expressed gratitude to “the benign parent of the human race” for the deliberations that led to the founding and the unity of the American people.
Andrew Jackson’s first inauguration was marred by a mob of 20,000 supporters who stormed the White House, causing fights to break out and furniture to be destroyed. Jackson ultimately fled out a window to the safety of a nearby hotel.
William Henry Harrison delivered his inaugural address on a bitterly cold day in March 1841, speaking for more than two hours without wearing a coat. He later died of pneumonia just a month after taking office.
Franklin D. Roosevelt first took the oath of office in 1933 in the midst of the Great Depression, delivering a line that would become famous: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address in 1961 urged Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”
Barack Obama’s first inauguration in 2009 was notable not only because he was the first Black American to become president, but also for the historical quirk that he had to be sworn in twice.