January 20: Inauguration Day for U.S. Presidents
Prayer Idea
Pray for President Trump, his family, his staff, and new incoming leaders of federal departments and agencies.
History Note
The original date for presidential inaugurations was March 4. The 20th amendment to the U.S. Constitution changed the date to January 20 in 1933. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated for his second term on January 20, 1937.
On Inauguration Day, the president recites the oath of office specified in the U.S. Constitution:
I do solemnly swear 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 of Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017. Photo by Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock.com.
George Washington began the tradition of delivering an inaugural address on Inauguration Day. In these speeches, presidents outline their goals for America in the coming years. Inaugural ceremonies also include songs and prayers.
Other common events on Inauguration Day include luncheons, parades, and balls. The largest inaugural parade on record was in 1953 after Dwight D. Eisenhower was sworn into office. That parade had so many participants that it lasted over four and a half hours. Bill Clinton’s second inauguration in 1997 was followed by a record-setting fourteen balls!
Learn More
Watch presidents take the oath of office on Inauguration Day through these video clips from a century of history.
Find more resources about presidential inaugurations at Homeschool History.
