 Eisenhower delivers his first inaugural address on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1953 | |
| Date | January 20, 1953; 72 years ago (1953-01-20) |
|---|---|
| Location | United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. |
| Organized by | Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies |
| Participants | Dwight D. Eisenhower 34th president of the United States — Assuming office Fred M. Vinson Chief Justice of the United States — Administering oath Richard Nixon 36th vice president of the United States — Assuming office William Knowland United States Senator — Administering oath |
The firstinauguration ofDwight D. Eisenhower as the 34thpresident of the United States was held on Tuesday, January 20, 1953, at the East Portico of theUnited States Capitol inWashington, D.C. This was the 42nd inauguration and marked the commencement of the first term of Dwight D. Eisenhower as president and ofRichard Nixon asvice president.Chief JusticeFred M. Vinson administered thepresidential oath of office to Eisenhower. During the oath, Eisenhower said the line "the office of President of the United States" as "the office ofthe President of the United States," even as chief justice Vinson said the line correctly. Thevice presidential oath was administered to Nixon bySenatorWilliam Knowland.
Eisenhower placed his hand on twoBibles when he recited the oath: theBible used by George Washington in 1789, opened to II Chronicles 7:14; and his own personal "West Point Bible," opened to Psalm 33:12. Afterward, he recited his own prayer at the start of his inaugural address, rather than kissing the Bible.[1]George H. W. Bush would also compose his own prayer to recite duringhis inaugural speech in 1989. After the oath, rodeo trick riderMontie Montana,lassoed Eisenhower, in a display attributed to America's peak fascination withWestern films.[2][3]
Weather conditions for 12 noon atWashington National Airport, located 3.1 miles from the ceremony, were: 49 °F (9 °C), wind 5 mph, and no precipitation.[4]
The 1953United States Congress Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the group responsible for the planning and execution of the Inauguration, was composed of:[1]
