George Washington gave the shortest inaugural address.<\/strong><\/p>\n At his second inauguration, Washington’s address was a remarkably brief 136 words. Franklin D. Roosevelt\u2019s fourth and final inauguration speech ran for only 558 words \u2014 the second shortest so far.<\/p>\n William Henry Harrison gave\u00a0the longest inauguration speech. It lasted one hour, 40 minutes.<\/strong><\/p>\n William Henry Harrison<\/p>\n<\/div>\n William Henry Harrison decided to brave the elements and deliver the longest inauguration speech ever. His 8,445-word speech lasted a very long time, especially considering the\u00a0cold, blustery weather. Harrison did not\u00a0cut his speech short, nor did he wear a hat or overcoat. Right after the inauguration, he came down with a cold that developed into pneumonia. One month later, Harrison died.<\/p>\n Harry S. Truman’s 1949 Inaugural was the first presidential inaugural to be televised.<\/strong><\/p>\n The first president to have a poem read as part of the inauguration was John F. Kennedy in 1961.<\/b><\/p>\n Thomas Jefferson was the first president to take the oath of office in Washington, D.C.<\/b><\/p>\n George Washington\u2019s first inauguration was held in New York City, and his second was in Philadelphia, PA, as was John Adams’s inauguration.<\/p>\n Inauguration Day has not always been in January.<\/b><\/p>\n FDR’s 4th inauguration<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Prior to the enactment of\u00a0the 20th Amendment, Inauguration Day was held March 4, the day of the year on which the first Congress convened after the Constitution took effect in 1789. The last inauguration to take place on March 4 was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first one in 1933. He was also the first president to take office on Jan. 20.<\/p>\n The only woman to\u00a0administer the Oath of Office was U.S. District Judge Sarah Hughes, who swore in Lyndon Johnson on Air Force One following President Kennedy’s\u00a0assassination.<\/b><\/p>\n The Constitution doesn\u2019t identify\u00a0who administers the oath to the incoming President. Traditionally, it is done by the chief justice of the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Marshall administered the oath nine times, more than anyone else.<\/p>\n Which first couple was the first to attend an inaugural ball?<\/strong><\/p>\n Dolley Madison<\/p>\n<\/div>\n James and Dolley Madison attended the first inaugural ball held on the same day as the inauguration. Tickets were\u00a0$4 each<\/a>\u00a0for the event, held at Long’s Hotel on March 4, 1809.<\/p>\n Since 1901, \u00a0the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies has been responsible for the planning and execution of the swearing-in ceremonies and the luncheon for the Inauguration of the President of the United States at the U.S. Capitol.<\/strong><\/p>\n This inauguration may be the warmest on record. William H. Taft’s inauguration was the snowiest.<\/b><\/p>\n In 1909, William H. Taft was sworn into office on a day nearly\u00a010 inches\u00a0of snow fell, a record for Inauguration Day. The Weather Channel<\/a> says, \u201cIt took 6,000 men and 500 wagons to clear 58,000 tons of snow and slush from the parade route.\u201d<\/p>\n If you want to learn more about prior inaugurations, check out this amazing Library of Congress\u00a0Resource Guide<\/a>, which includes “letters written by presidents and those who witnessed the inaugurations, handwritten drafts of inaugural addresses, broadsides, inaugural tickets and programs, prints, photographs, and sheet music.”<\/p>\n Sources: Stars & Stripes<\/a>, The Joint Congressional Committee \u0003on Inaugural Ceremonies<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Prior Post:\u00a0<\/strong>Lin-Manuel Miranda reads Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s \u201cBeyond Vietnam\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Don\u2019t miss a post! Please subscribe to Between Us Parents\u2019 safe, spam-free email list in the box in the top right corner of the page!<\/p>\n Please like Between Us Parents on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>.\u00a0You can also find Between Us Parents on\u00a0Pinterest<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Fun](\"http:\/\/betweenusparents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Fun-Facts-about-past-Presidential-Inaugurations-654x1024.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"William](\"http:\/\/www.chicagonow.com\/tween-us\/files\/2013\/01\/whharrison_366h1-234x300.jpg\")
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<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Dolley](\"http:\/\/www.chicagonow.com\/tween-us\/files\/2013\/01\/dolleymadison-219x300.jpg\")
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