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Each president recites the following oath, in accordance with Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Inauguration Day Schedule for January 20, 2009 (Central Standard Time)
• 10:30 AM: Swearing-in ceremony begins
• 11:00 AM: Obama takes oath of office, gives address
• Noon: Inaugural luncheon
• About 1:30 PM: Parade begins
• About 4:30 PM: Parade ends
• About 6:30 PM: Inaugural balls begin |
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The Library of Congress: Presidential Inaugurations
“Every four years, on a crisp January day, a President will take the oath of office.
What can we expect on that January day? Who will contribute to the national ceremony? What issues will the incumbent discuss in his inaugural address? How will the populace feel about the elected president and the preceding election? What impact might that president have on the nation? Can we expect this process and ceremony, the changing of a citizen to the leader of our nation, to remain the same as our country continues to mature? What might change it?
For now, the national stage is set. History suggests that though the players and the setting may change, we can expect the curtain to rise on a new production every four years. We can look forward to continuing suspense, mystery, drama, comedy and tragedy in this participatory production, the governance of our nation.” |
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Historical Insights: Presidential Inaugurations
“Marvin Kranz, historical specialist in the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress, reviews nine inaugurations from George Washington's in 1789 to Theodore Roosevelt's in 1905. The ceremonial traditions associated with presidential inaugurations-using a Bible when taking the oath of office, reading an inaugural address, attending an inaugural ball-were all established by George Washington at his first inauguration and have been followed until the present day.” |
Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
The 2009 Inaugural Theme of “A New Birth of Freedom” commemorates the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth and expresses Lincoln’s hope that the sacrifice of those who died to preserve the nation shall lead to “a new birth of freedom” for it. |
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Presidential Inaugural Weather
This site provides information about normal weather for a January inauguration, extreme weather for previous inaugurations, inauguration day weather for traditional dates and non-traditional dates, and an inaugural weather fact sheet. |
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"I Do Solemnly Swear..."
The Learning Page's "I Do Solemnly Swear . . .": Presidential Inaugurations, "provides an overview of inaugural ceremonies throughout United States history. Primary source materials such as drafts of inaugural addresses, letters, illustrations, and photographs are organized chronologically by presidential inauguration. This framework reflects a changing nation as the U.S. expands its borders, enters military conflicts, and celebrates the democratic ideal embodied in the peaceful transition of power within the inaugural ceremony." |
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Resources for ELL Students
This site contains Inaugural Facts, U.S. Government Bingo, Obama Bingo Game, Large Vocabulary Cards, and more for ELL students. |
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The White House Historical Society
The White House Historical Society’s excellent site has information about the ceremonies and social galas related to presidential inaugurations. |
Inaugural Addresses
From George Washington to George W. Bush!
What will be President Obama's message to the people of the United States? |
Inaugural Fashion!
This PBS website offers several views of former First Ladies’ Inaugural gowns |
The Truman Library
Test your knowledge about past Presidential inaugurations in this activity. |
PBS
Inauguration Lesson Plans for 2001 – many are applicable for 2009. |
PBS Kids Democracy Project: President For A Day
This activity provides a job description for the presidency, so students understand what kinds of skills and competencies are necessary in that office. Students have the opportunity to role play the president for a day, making decisions about different events that a president might actually experience (meetings with Cabinet members, speeches to the public, bowling in the White House). |
Video: Inauguration Construction
CBS News toured the construction grounds where workers have made progress on building the Inaugural platform on the Capitol’s West Front Lawn. |
Washington Post Inauguration Webcam
Follow the construction around the West steps of the U.S. Capitol, where president-elect Barack Obama will be sworn into office on January 20, 2009. |
United States Secret Service
The Department of Homeland Security has designated the Inaugural as a National Special Security Event (NSSE). When an event is designated an NSSE, the Secret Service assumes its role as the lead federal agency for the design and implementation of the operational security plan. |
C-Span Classroom Presidential Inaugurations Chart
Select a past president and consider the state of the nation during his inaugural address. What can you learn about American history through his inaugural address? How can you connect the state of the nation today to that period in history? Consider your study of past presidents’ inaugural addresses. What predictions can you make about the next inaugural address?
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Learning About Inaugural Addresses
At this website, you'll find Learning About Inaugural Addresses, and Inauguration Worksheet, and lessons about the inaugural addresses of these five presidents: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, and George W. Bush. |
EDSITEment
Help your students understand the historical context and significance of Lincoln's inaugural address through archival documents such as campaign posters, sheet music, vintage photographs and documents. |
“I Do Solemnly Swear…” From the Library of Congress
In this special presentation are more than forty items including photographs, manuscripts, campaign posters, letters, broadsides, and inaugural speeches. This unique selection of items offers a glimpse into the history of American presidential inaugurations. Eighteen presidents are featured in the display--George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, William Harrison, James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. |
Oaths of Office
You can find the oaths of office for the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, and Supreme Court Justices on this site. |
25 Inaugural Addresses
"President-elect Barack Obama will be making his inaugural address to the nation and the world on January 20th, 2009 in Washington D.C.. To ensure your students are prepared for this historic, teachable moment, HotChalk is providing 25 FREE high-quality video clips on U.S. inaugural addresses from content partners PBS, The History Channel, NBC News and more." You will be able to listen to John Kennedy's inspiring words "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Hear from historian Doris Kearns Goodwin about how George Washington was almost addressed as "His Mightiness," instead of "Mr. President." Why were people crying at John Adams' inauguration? Find out on this site. |
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2009 Presidential Inauguration Lesson Plans
"The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA) have jointly developed a series of general instructional activities to give teachers lesson ideas to help their students understand the historic significance of this presidential inauguration. Use these instructional activities to teach students about the history of the inauguration and the connections between Obama and previous U.S. presidents (Learning History); to prepare students to witness the Obama inauguration (Making History); and to follow the events during President Obama’s term (Living History). Teachers should use their professional judgment to adapt these materials to the particular needs (grade, reading level, etc.) of their classrooms and to best determine how much time should be spent on the activities. The materials have been designed to allow teachers to adapt them to fit into a single class period or to extend over several class periods." |
Your Government, Your Voice!
From Scholastic: "Starting with President Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration, this bonus online program will foster writing skills and civic participation, with writing prompts, lesson plans, printables, and multimedia civics activities to help your students understand the politics of the U.S." For grades 1-2, 3-4, and 5-8. |
The Inauguration and the Media: Background, Activities and Critical Analysis
"In our modern society, we live in a time known as the "Information Age." Information can be acquired through a number of sources that use modern technology to bring events and ideas to us almost instantaneously. With so much information at our disposal, our democracy requires that citizens know how to consume, analyze, and filter information and its sources. The inauguration of a president is a world event that carries a high level of symbolism for the people of the United States and all over the world. With the images of television and the speed of the new medium known as the Internet, students of government, politics, and history will need to have the skills required to evaluate information and express their opinions in a way that is logical and reasonable to others." This lesson plan comes from the Online News Hour Extra and PBs and is designed for grades 9-12. "Students will read, review, and write about the presidential inauguration as it appears in the media." Links to multiple news sources in the U.S. and around the world are given. |
Address America, the Six Word Inaugural
"This lesson introduces the history of the Presidential Inaugural Address, and ultimately provides a framework for student to write a “six word inaugural.” The lesson opens with an introduction to the power of just six words, and then asks student to read past inaugural addresses to examine how the new president uses this unique oration. After brainstorming a list of major issues currently facing the nation, students put pen to paper and create a draft inaugural message for the new president. Using the peer review process, students choose the most powerful six words in their draft and join people from around the world by submitting them to the National Constitution Center via its website." |
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A Tale of Two Leaders: Comparing Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Barack Obama
From the New York Times Learning Network: "In this lesson, students will compare the economic challenges that faced the United States in 1933 to those the nation is facing today. They then compare the actions and strategies of past presidents to strategies of leaders today." For grades 6-8 and 9-12.
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