From Washington to Biden, Inauguration History | History | Smithsonian Magazine

From Washington to Biden, Inauguration History

The Speech and Bible From George Washington's First Inauguration Made History Many Times Over

The first president created the tradition of giving an inaugural address and swearing the oath of office on a Bible

By Lorraine Boissoneault

Behind Inaugural Speeches, Meaningful Words

How John Adams Managed a Peaceful Transition of Presidential Power

By Sara Georgini

Behind the Scenes With the White House Residence's Long-Serving Staff

Story by Laura Bush, as told to Jennie Rothenberg Gritz; Photographs by Tina Hager

When Was the First Inaugural Ball?

By Alicia Ault

Document Deep Dive: The Menu From President Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Ball

By Megan Gambino

Why Do We Play 'Hail to the Chief' for the President?

By Abigail Tucker

Melania Trump Donates Her Inaugural Ball Gown to the Smithsonian

By Ryan P. Smith

If Only Hollywood Would Show Us Lincoln’s Second Inaugural

By Amy Henderson

Inaugural Firsts

By Brian Wolly

Who Were the Six Native American Chiefs in Teddy Roosevelt’s Inaugural Parade?

By Leah Binkovitz

More Than One Hundred Years Ago, 5,000 Suffragettes Paraded Down Pennsylvania Avenue

By Angela Serratore

Party Like It’s 1881: President Garfield’s Inaugural Ball

By Paul Bisceglio

That Time a Chicken Crashed Nixon’s Inaugural Ball and Other Crazy Inaugural Tales

By Leah Binkovitz

The Unsuccessful Plot to Kill Abraham Lincoln

By Daniel Stashower

After an Inauguration, the Stars Come out to Play

By Katy June-Friesen

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