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US presidential inaugurations: A timeline in pictures

EL PAÍS looks back at the swearing-in ceremony, which is held every four years at the Capitol in Washington

Jan 20, 2025 - 12:56CET

The first presidential inauguration to be photographed was that of James Buchanan on March 4, 1857. At the time, the Capitol was still under construction, and the photograph was taken by John Wood, a photographer who had been documenting the building’s progress.John Wood (BIBLIOTECA DEL CONGRESO DE EEUU)

On March 4, 1897, President William McKinley was inaugurated, marking the first inauguration captured in moving images. The footage includes the hall where the inaugural ball took place. The tradition of the inaugural ball dates back to 1809, during James Madison’s presidency.BIBLIOTECA DEL CONGRESO DE EEUU

McKinley was sworn in for his second term at the Capitol on March 4, 1901. However, on September 14 of that year, he was assassinated by an anarchist.Heritage Images /Getty Images

Theodore Roosevelt became president of the United States in 1901, when, as vice president, he took office after McKinley's assassination. Roosevelt, at the age of 42, became the youngest president in history. He was reelected in 1904. The photograph shows Roosevelt delivering his inaugural address on March 4, 1904.George Rinhart (Corbis/Getty Images)

A parade followed the swearing-in of William Howard Taft on March 4, 1909. Thomas Jefferson was the first president-elect to be inaugurated in the capital, Washington, and the first to walk from the Capitol after his swearing-in in 1801, escorted by a group of district marshals, soldiers, and congressmen.

Outgoing president Howard Taft and incoming president Woodrow Wilson pose during the inauguration on March 4, 1913. Wilson served as president for two terms (1913 to 1921), which were marked by World War I. Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

On March 4, 1921, Warren G. Harding became the first president to use a motor vehicle — a Packard Twin Six Touring — during the parade following his inauguration. Harding died of natural causes while in office in 1923Heritage Images/Getty Images

Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as president of the United States on March 4, 1925. It was the first inauguration to be broadcast live on the radio. He took the oath of office from Chief Justice William Howard Taft, who had also served as president of the United States.Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

Herbert Hoover's inauguration on March 4, 1929, was marked by rain in Washington. The bad weather was a harbinger of the economic crisis that would mark his term in office with the Wall Street crash of October 29, 1929. Hoover was not reelected.AP

Franklin D. Roosevelt took office on March 4, 1933. He is the longest serving president: 12 years and 39 days. Roosevelt broke the unwritten tradition of not running for a third term in 1940 because of the war in Europe. He died a natural death in office on April 12, 1945 (already in his fourth term). In 1947, Congress enacted the 22nd Amendment to limit presidential terms to two. This reform was ratified in 1951. In the picture, Roosevelt arrives at the White House accompanied by his mother, Sara Delano Roosevelt.ASSOCIATED PRESS

Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers his inaugural address on January 20, 1937, following his first re-election. During Roosevelt’s second term, the date of the inauguration was moved from March 4 to January 20. Previously, the ceremony was held in March to allow attendees time to arrive after the winter months. However, advancements in transportation, particularly railroads, made it possible to move the swearing-in to January.AP

President Harry S. Truman watched the inaugural parade at the White House on January 20, 1949. Pictured is a mule-drawn carriage from Lamar, a town in his native Missouri. Truman's inauguration was the first in history to be broadcast live on television.AP

Seasoned cowboy Montie Montana lassos president Dwight D. Eisenhower after the inauguration ceremony for his first term on January 20, 1953. A five-star general, the Republican remains the highest-ranking military officer to ever occupy the White House.Bettmann (Bettmann Archive)

Marian Anderson sings the U.S. national anthem during Dwight D. Eisenhower’s inauguration ceremony for his second term on January 21, 1957. The opera singer became the first Black woman to participate in a presidential inauguration. Since January 20 fell on a Sunday that year, the public ceremony was moved to Monday. However, the president was sworn in privately the day before, as required by law.Anonymous (AP)

Democrat John F. Kennedy delivers his inaugural address on January 20, 1961. It remains one of the most memorable speeches in history, with the famous words: "Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country."Bettmann (Bettmann Archive)

Jackie Kennedy with her husband after the inauguration ceremony on Capitol Hill.HENRY BURROUGHS (AP)

The Kennedys leaves the White House for the inaugural ball.Bettmann (Bettmann Archive)

Lyndon B. Johnson, until then vice president, is sworn in as president on the presidential plane after the assassination of John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Throughout history, four U.S. presidents have been assassinated while in office: Abraham Lincoln (1865), James A. Garfield (1881), William McKinley (1901) and Kennedy. Bettmann (Bettmann Archive)

Lyndon B. Johnson was reelected as president in the 1964 elections, decisively defeating his rival, Republican Barry Goldwater. Johnson won 61% of the popular vote, securing 486 electoral votes compared to Goldwater’s 52. In the photograph, he takes the oath of office on January 20, 1965.AP

The Johnsons receive actress Sally Ann Howes at one of the pre-inauguration parties. Bettmann (Bettmann Archive)

President Lyndon Johnson and his wife Bird dance during the inaugural ball held at the Statler Hilton Hotel in Washington.Bettmann (Bettmann Archive)

White House movers remove furniture from the Oval Office on January 20, 1969. The movers remove the belongings of outgoing president Johnson to make way for those of incoming president Nixon while the latter's inauguration is being held. PhotoQuest (Getty Images)

President Richard M. Nixon, accompanied by his wife Pat, waves during his move from the Capitol to the White House after being sworn into office on Jan. 20, 1969. AP

President Richard Nixon and his vice president Spiro Agnew follow the military parade after Nixon is sworn in for his second term on January 20, 1973. Images Press (Getty Images)

Esta segunda investidura de Nixon estuvo marcada por las manifestaciones que pedían el final de la guerra de Vietnam. En la imagen, protestas en la avenida Pensilvania de la capital el 20 de enero de 1973. AP

On August 9, 1974, Richard Nixon resigned due to the accusations stemming from the Watergate scandal. He remains the only U.S. president to have resigned from office. In the image, Nixon makes the victory sign while aboard the helicopter that transports him out of the White House after submitting his resignation.BOB DAUGHERTY (AP)

Wide view of the east portico of the Capitol during the inauguration of president Jimmy Carter on January 20, 1977. Bettmann (Getty Images)

Democrat Jimmy Carter parades with his family after being sworn in on January 20, 1977. Carter was not reelected. He died in December last year at the age of 100. ASSOCIATED PRESS

John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, chat with boxer Muhammad Ali at a gala dinner in honor of president Carter on January 20, 1977. ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Reagans greet attendees at the inauguration ceremony on Capitol Hill on January 20, 1981. Reagan became the first professional actor to become president. Anonymous (AP)

President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan arrive at the inaugural ball at the Washington Hilton Hotel on January 21, 1985. Ira Schwarz (AP)

President-elect George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara pose with vice president-elect Dan Quayle and his wife Marilyn at the start of the inaugural ball Thursday, Jan. 19, 1989, in Washington, a day before the inauguration ceremony. Scott Applewhite (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

George and Barbara Bush bid farewell to the Reagans, who leave Washington by helicopter on January 20, 1989.J. Scott Applewhite (AP)

U.S. President George Bush, left, trades looks with Lee Atwater, chairman of the Republican National Committee, as they accompany a band during a rhythm and blues concert in Washington D.C., on Jan. 21, 1989. Bush was inaugurated one day earlier. J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Democrat Bill Clinton takes the oath of office on January 20, 1993, at the Capitol, accompanied by his wife, Hillary. With his election, Clinton ended the 12 years of Republican rule. On February 4, he became the first U.S. president to send an email from the Oval Office, addressed to then-Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt.Joe Sohm/Visions of America (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

View of the presidential inaugural gala at the Capitol Center in Landover, Maryland, January 19, 1993. The cast included Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, the Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe, comedians Chevy Chase and Bill Cosby, and actors Jack Lemmon and James Earl Jones. Mark Reinstein (Getty Images)

Bill and Hillary Clinton along with daughter Chelsea party the night away at the New England Ball during inauguration night festivities in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, January 20, 1993. GREG GIBSON (AP)

President Bill Clinton (l) playing saxophone at the inaugural ball.Diana Walker (Getty Images)

Bill Clinton was re-elected in the 1996 elections. In 1998, he was impeached for lying in the Lewinsky scandal, becoming the second president in history, after Andrew Johnson in 1868, to face impeachment. He was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice but was acquitted by the Senate. In the photograph, Clinton and his wife, Hillary, dance during the inauguration celebration on January 20, 1997.Cynthia Johnson (Getty Images)

Construction work for President Bush's Jan. 20, 2005 inauguration ceremony is under way on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2004. J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE (AP)

Ricky Martin and president-Elect Bush on stage at the Lincoln Memorial for the opening ceremony celebration for Bush's inauguration. Patrick Durand (Sygma via Getty Images)

In 2001, George W. Bush became the second president to be the son of a former U.S. president (the first being John Quincy Adams, who served as president in 1825 and was the son of John Adams). In the photograph, father and son are seen in the Oval Office on inauguration day.Greg Mathieson/Mai (Getty Images)

President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush depart the North Portico of the White House for the limousine ride to the Capitol where he will take the Oath of Office and begin his second term, in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005. They are joined by their daughters Barbara, far left, and Jenna. J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Bush was sworn in for his second term on January 20, 2005, a period marked by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks.Pool (Getty Images)

Fireworks burst above U.S. vice president Dick Cheney (l), wife Lynn Cheney, First Lady Laura Bush (3L) and U.S. president George W. Bush (4L) during the 'Celebration of Freedom' inaugural concert on the Ellipse south of the White House in Washington, DC. Brooks Kraft (Corbis via Getty Images)

On January 20, 2009, Democrat Barack Obama became the first African American president of the United States. During his swearing-in, the Bible and the Constitution were held by his wife, Michelle, with their daughters, Sasha (left) and Malia, present.Chuck Kennedy (AP)

Due to an error by Chief Justice John Roberts, who accidentally switched the word order when he administered the oath, Obama repeated the oath at the White House the following day, January 21, 2009, as a precaution.The White House (Getty Images)

The Obama family arrives at the White House after the inauguration ceremony. Charles Ommanney (Getty Images)

Several stars, such as Shakira, Stevie Wonder and Usher, performed at Obama's first term celebrations on January 18, 2009.Jeff Christensen (AP)

The Obamas dance during one of the parties after the first inauguration. Charles Dharapak (AP)

As January 20 fell on a Sunday, president Obama took the oath of office privately. The public festivities and swearing-in took place the following day. In the picture, the inauguration ceremony at the White House.Pool (Getty Images)

Barack Obama is inaugurated for a second term as president on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. Charles Ommanney (Getty Images)

Beyoncé was in charge of singing the U.S. anthem at Obama's second inauguration. Alex Wong (Getty Images)

Barack Obama and Michelle Obama dance together at the inaugural ball at the Washington Convention Center on January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. The president was sworn-in for his second term in office earlier in the day. Pool (Getty Images)

President-elect Donald J. Trump greets president Barack Obama moments before Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States, on the West Front of the Capitol, January 20, 2017. Tom Williams (CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Donald Trump greets his family after being sworn in on Jan. 20, 2017, as U.S. president. Jim Bourg (AP)

The Trumps escort the Obamas to the helicopter that will transfer them out of Washington after the inauguration on, Jan. 20, 2017. =John Angelillo (AP)

From left, Melania Trump, Donald Trump, Mike Pence and his wife Karen greet former president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama during a farewell ceremony on the East front of the Capitol. Rob Carr (AP)

Donald Trump and first lady Melania during the inauguration's Freedom Ball in Washington. Evan Vucci (AP)

Donald Trump gestures as he boards Marine One on January 20, 2021, to leave Washington. In a move with few precedents, Trump did not attend Joe Biden’s inauguration, refusing to acknowledge his electoral victory.Alex Brandon (AP)

President-elect Joe Biden, accompanied by his wife, Jill Biden, arrive at the inauguration ceremony on Capitol Hill on January 20, 2021. Chang W. Lee (AP)

Singer Lady Gaga performs the U.S. national anthem at a ceremony marked by strict anti-Covid preventive measures.Erin Schaff (AP)

The Biden family poses at the Lincoln Memorial, where they are attending a concert to celebrate his inauguration. Festivities were kept to a minimum to respect the social distancing measures due to the pandemic. Joshua Roberts (AP)