 Harry Truman delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in for his second term in office. | |
| Date | January 20, 1949; 76 years ago (1949-01-20) |
|---|---|
| Location | United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. |
| Organized by | Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies |
| Participants | Harry S. Truman 33rd president of the United States — Assuming office Fred M. Vinson Chief Justice of the United States — Administering oath Alben W. Barkley 35th vice president of the United States — Assuming office Stanley Forman Reed Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States — Administering oath |
The secondinauguration ofHarry S. Truman aspresident of the United States was held on Thursday, January 20, 1949, at the East Portico of theUnited States Capitol inWashington, D.C. This was the 41st inauguration and marked the commencement of the second and only full term of Harry S. Truman as president as well as the only term ofAlben W. Barkley asvice president.Chief JusticeFred M. Vinson administered thepresidential oath of office whileJusticeStanley Forman Reed administered thevice-presidential oath of office.
It was the first televised U.S. presidential inauguration[1] and the first with an air parade.[2] Truman also restarted the tradition of an official inaugural ball, which had disappeared sincethe inauguration of William Howard Taft in 1909.[1]
The inaugural celebration, organized by Melvin D. Hildreth, lasted the full week from January 16–23.[3][4] TheNew York Times described it as "the most splendiferous since Franklin D. Roosevelt tried to lift the pall of gloom of 1933 with brave words proclaiming the New Deal".[5] Some confusion was generated when thousands of people received souvenir "invitations" that were in fact not valid tickets to inaugural events.[6][7]
1.3 million people reportedly stood on Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues in Washington, D.C., to watch the inaugural parade. Six hundred warplanes flew overhead, and army soldiers marched with new weaponry on display. Some of the marching units were racially mixed.[8] During the parade, Truman was saluted by retired general and future presidentDwight D. Eisenhower, then the president ofColumbia University.[9] Truman drew media attention for 'snubbing' southern GovernorsStrom Thurmond andHerman Talmadge during the parade.[10][11]
Lena Horne,Dorothy Maynor andLionel Hampton performed at the inaugural gala—the first African Americans to appear at this type of performance.[12]
The inaugural ceremony took place on January 20, 1949. Truman took theoath of office administered by Chief Justice of the United States Fred Vinson.[13] Truman then delivered an address and departed with the parade.[14]
According to one analysis, the delayed arrival of members of Congress created a break in succession of Truman's terms as president: theTwentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1933, states that a president's term ends at noon on January 20 after the election.
As some members of Congress arrived 10 minutes late, and took another 10 minutes to take their seats, Vice PresidentAlben W. Barkley was inaugurated at 12:23, technically serving as president for six minutes until Truman was inaugurated at 12:29.[7][15]
In the inaugural address, sometimes called theFour Point speech, Truman discussed economic growth and opposition to Communism across the globe.[13][16] This moment is often identified as the beginning ofdevelopment policy in relation toThird World.[17][18]
Millions of people watched the inauguration, broadcast as a single live program that aired on every network. (Millions more listened on radio).[19] Many schoolchildren watched from their classrooms.[20] Truman authorized a holiday for federal employees so that they could also watch.[5] The ceremony, and Truman's speech, were also broadcast abroad through theVoice of America, and translated into other languages including Russian and German.[21] According to some calculations, the 1949 inauguration had more witnesses than all previous presidential inaugurations combined.[20][22]
Weather conditions for 12 noon atWashington National Airport, located 3.1 miles from the ceremony, were: 39 °F (4 °C), wind 16 mph, and no precipitation.[23]
Despite being widely attacked as communists, thousands of members of theCivil Rights Congress arrived in Washington, D.C., to protest the inauguration.[24] The group protestedSmith Act trials of communist leaders, as well as unfair death penalty sentences for African Americans.[25][26] They also called for a permanentFair Employment Practices Commission and the abolition of theHouse Un-American Activities Committee.[27]
