Swearing-In Ceremony for President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Forty-Second Inaugural Ceremonies, January 20, 1953
Inaugural Address
‘My friends, before I begin the expression of those thoughts that I deem appropriate to this moment, would you permit me the privilege of uttering a little private prayer of my own.’
Read the address
(Words: 2446)
Presidential Oath of Office
Administered to Dwight D. Eisenhower by the Honorable Frederick Vinson, Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Library of Congress
Forty-Second Inaugural Ceremonies
Library of Congress
Chief Justice Frederick Vinson administering the oath of office to Dwight D. Eisenhower on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 1953
- Bible Used: Eisenhower used two Bibles: the Bible used by George Washington in 1789 (belonging to St. John's Masonic Lodge No. 1), opened to II Chronicles 7:14; and his own personal "West Point Bible," opened to Psalm 33:12.
- Attire: Morning coat, striped trousers
Vice Presidential Oath of Office
Administered to Richard M. Nixon.
Library of Congress
Library of Congress
Vice President Richard M. Nixon
-
Location
East Portico,
U.S. Capitol
Washington, DCWeather
Cloudy skies, with a noon temperature of 49°F.
-
Facts, Firsts & Precedents
Broke precedent by reciting his own prayer after taking the oath, rather than kissing the Bible.
First time the JCCIC hosted the Inaugural luncheon at the Capitol.
-
Inaugural Committee
- Sen. Styles Bridges (R-NH), Chair
- Sen. Carl T. Hayden (D-AZ)
- Rep. Leslie C. Arends (R-IL)
- Rep. Joseph W. Martin (R-MA)
- Rep. Sam T. Rayburn (D-TX)