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Presidential inaugurations are steeped in tradition and grandeur, marking a peaceful transfer of power and the dawn of a new administration. However, not every inauguration has gone off without a hitch. From freezing temperatures to messed up oaths and unexpected animal appearances, history is filled with quirky, bizarre, and downright odd inauguration moments.
Click on to explore some of the most memorable and unusual episodes from past presidential inaugurations.
At his 1953 inauguration, Dwight D. Eisenhower recited an improvised prayer instead of kissing the Bible. Later, he led an elaborate parade with 62 bands and 26,000 participants.
At the same inauguration, rodeo star Montie Montana lassoed the president from horseback in the parade, celebrating America’s cowboy craze.
John F. Kennedy's 1961 inauguration faced challenges from the start. An overnight snowstorm nearly canceled the event, and during the invocation, a motor in the lectern caught fire, releasing smoke.
Lyndon B. Johnson bungled the vice-presidential oath, and poet Robert Frost, blinded by sunlight on the snow, had to recite an older poem from memory because he couldn't read. He also mistakenly dedicated it to "Mr. John Finley."
Though unanimously elected on January 7, 1789, George Washington's inauguration was delayed 57 days due to Congress's quorum issues. Lacking a Bible, organizers borrowed one from a nearby Masonic Lodge.
Washington delivered history's shortest inaugural address, just 135 words, during his second inauguration.
Not only that, Washington also had to borrow money to attend his own inauguration. Despite owning 60,000 acres and 300 slaves, he was cash-poor and struggled with expenses after his retirement.
Bill Clinton's inaugural parade broke tradition, featuring a reggae band, a lawn-chair drill team, and an Elvis impersonator with members of Presley's original band.
During his 1905 inauguration, Theodore Roosevelt wore a ring containing Abraham Lincoln's hair, gifted by John Hay, Lincoln's former secretary.
Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration wasn't without a stumble. Chief Justice John Roberts misplaced the word "faithfully" in the presidential oath, saying, "That I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully." The word "faithfully" should appear between "will" and "execute."
To ensure constitutional accuracy and avoid any doubt, Roberts re-administered the presidential oath to Obama the following day.
In 1865, Vice President Andrew Johnson, suffering from a hangover, gave a rambling speech about his humble origins and triumph over Confederate rebels, shocking Lincoln and others.
In 1873, Ulysses S. Grant's inaugural ball featured canaries for a festive touch. Unfortunately, extreme cold temperatures led to the death of about 100 birds during the celebration.
Not only did Grant inadvertently cause mass bird deaths at his second inauguration, but his first inauguration in 1869 was marred by coat-check confusion, leading to chaos as guests fought over their belongings.
During Richard Nixon's 1973 inauguration, chemical bird repellent was sprayed along the parade route to prevent pigeons from interrupting the event, resulting in dozens of dead pigeons on the streets.
When President Harding died, Calvin Coolidge was sworn in by his father, a justice of the peace, at their rural Vermont home. The ceremony was held without an audience, reflecting Coolidge's quiet demeanor.
In 1977, Jimmy Carter broke tradition by walking with his family down Pennsylvania Avenue after his inauguration, reviving Jefferson's tradition. Wearing a US$175 suit, he aimed to present himself as the approachable "people's president."
In 1841, William Henry Harrison delivered the longest inaugural address in history, at about 8,445 words.
His inauguration day was freezing, yet Harrison declined a coat or hat and opted for horseback over a covered carriage.
By the end of the day, Harrison went to bed with a cold, which quickly turned into fatal pneumonia. He passed away 32 days after the inauguration.
After Andrew Jackson's 1829 inauguration, he threw a rowdy party at the White House. Guests trashed the house, breaking china and tearing curtains, until staff placed a tub of whiskey on the front lawn to get them to leave.
During Herbert Hoover's 1929 inauguration, Chief Justice Taft mistakenly substituted "maintain" for "protect" in the presidential oath. An eighth-grade girl pointed out the error, but Taft initially insisted he was correct before later admitting his mistake.
In 1857, President James Buchanan contracted an illness from staying at a questionable establishment, leading to severe diarrhea. His symptoms persisted through the inauguration.
At James Madison’s 1809 inaugural ball, sweltering heat forced guests to break windows at Long's Hotel to get some fresh air. The event's tickets were priced at US$4 each.
In 1817, the House and Senate couldn't agree on a venue for the inauguration. Frustrated, President-elect James Monroe moved the ceremony outside, where it has largely remained since.
During James Buchanan's 1857 inauguration, the incoming president arrived with his vice president but discovered outgoing President Franklin Pierce was missing, causing a 20-minute delay while officials went to retrieve him.
Before Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration in 1865, Vice President Andrew Johnson drank "medicinal" whiskeys to ease typhoid fever symptoms. During his oath, he slurred and rambled incoherently for 20 minutes.
Lincoln patiently endured the ordeal, later defending Johnson as having "made a bad slip" but not being a drunkard. Just a month later, Johnson became president after Lincoln's assassination.
Lincoln's second inauguration in 1865 saw John Wilkes Booth, later his assassin, standing on the same stage. Booth later boasted about the opportunity to kill Lincoln on Inauguration Day.
Sources: (Live Science) (History) (Mental Floss)
Odd moments from past presidential inaugurations
Explore some of the most memorable and unexpected moments from past presidential inaugurations
LIFESTYLE History
Presidential inaugurations are steeped in tradition and grandeur, marking a peaceful transfer of power and the dawn of a new administration. However, not every inauguration goes off without a hitch. From freezing temperatures to messed-up oaths and unexpected animal appearances, history is filled with quirky, bizarre, and downright odd inauguration moments.
Click on to explore some of the most memorable and unusual episodes from past presidential inaugurations.