Inauguration Day Activities

President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in as our nation’s 46th president on January 20, 2021. Inauguration Day is not only a day to celebrate our history and government, but is also a very important part of our system of government as a new leader transitions to power and shares their plans for the next four years with the nation. While this year’s inauguration will look different than in previous years due to the ongoing pandemic and the need for heightened security, Inauguration Day is still a special day filled with history, tradition, and celebration – here are some ways you can celebrate at home!

Watch live on PBS or search for recordings of today’s events. You can even look up videos of previous inaugurations on YouTube or other websites!

The Presidential Oath of Office: The Highlight of the Inauguration

The oath of office is the most important part of the inauguration ceremony, and describes the responsibilities of the president, vice president, and other elected officials taking office. The oath is in fact the only part of our elaborate inaugural ceremonies and celebrations that is required by the Constitution, and the exact moment when a president-elect concludes the oath signals that he or she is now officially president and commander in chief.  Below are the oaths of office that have been used since 1884.

For vice president, senators, representatives and other federal employees: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

For the president: “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.” This oath can be found in the Constitution of the United States, Article II, Section 1.

What stands out to you about these oaths? What do these oaths tell us about our leaders and their responsibilities? What do you think are important values for the president and other elected officials to have? Why do you think these oaths are so important in our government?

Imagine you are a reporter who gets to ask President Biden a couple of questions right after he takes the oath of office. What questions would you like to ask him?

The Inaugural Speech: Reflecting on Presidential Plans

Almost every president has made a speech to the nation following the inauguration ceremony. These speeches are important because they tell us about the president’s plans and promises to the country. Some presidents’ speeches have even inspired generations. Franklin Roosevelt assured us that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” John F. Kennedy proclaimed, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

If you cannot watch this year’s inaugural speech live, try to record it, look for a video on YouTube, or find a written version of the speech.

As you listen, look for any promises or plans that the president mentions. What themes or ideas do you hear mentioned? Do you think the president can accomplish everything they mentioned?

Is there anything in the speech that is especially important to you? What would you want to talk about if you had just become our president? You can even write a letter to the new president and vice president telling them about what you thought and giving them ideas for other things to focus on.

Did You Know? Historic Inauguration Trivia

-          George Washington had to borrow money to attend his own inauguration! Washington owned a lot of land, including Mount Vernon, but didn’t always have a lot of cash at hand, and he ended up needing to borrow money to travel to New York City for his first inauguration.

-          Inauguration ceremonies can be a very big celebration, with lots of flashy details like parades and parties. However, Thomas Jefferson wanted to demonstrate his “Republican simplicity” at his inauguration as compared to the lavish parties of his predecessors, and walked to and from his first inauguration.

-          First Ladies didn’t always hold an important place at the White House. In 1809, Dolley Madison became the first First Lady to even attend her husband’s inauguration. And it took another 150-plus years for the FLOTUS to play a part in the ceremony: in 1965, Lady Bird Johnson held the Bible while the president took the oath of office.

-          Look at enough old inauguration photos and you might notice something: the president-elect is almost always wearing a top hat. For years, one of the odder parts of the pomp and circumstance of the inaugural festivities was that the man about to get sworn in always donned a top hat. It's not clear when or why this tradition started, but it dates back to at least James Garfield's inauguration in 1881. John F. Kennedy was the last president to sport a top hat at his inauguration in 1961, ending this tradition.

-          The longest ever inauguration speech was made by William Henry Harrison in 1841, who talked for nearly two hours during his speech! The shortest address was made by George Washington in 1793, who uttered just 135 words after being sworn in as the nation’s first president.

-          Changing technology has made an impact on previous inaugurations, making it easier for the entire nation to celebrate together: Warren G. Harding was the first to travel to his inauguration by automobile in 1921. Harry S. Truman made history in 1949 when his second inauguration became the first ever televised inauguration. And in 1997, Bill Clinton’s second inauguration was the first ceremony streamed live on the web.

Looking for more presidential trivia? Try looking up past inaugurations to create your own Inauguration Day trivia!

The Inauguration Day Parade: Design a Float!

Inaugural parades after the ceremony itself have been a part of Inauguration Day since the very beginning! As George Washington rode on horseback from his home at Mount Vernon to the country’s temporary capital in New York City for the nation’s first inauguration, crowds of enthusiastic supporters cheered Washington along his journey, crowning him with laurel wreaths, holding banquets in his honor, and even joining the procession to New York! Inaugural parades continued to be spontaneous, unplanned events until the inauguration of James Madison in 1809. As the parade became a much bigger and grander event over time, it was moved to after the ceremony to be a grand-scale public celebration. In the modern parade, the president and his or her spouse lead the way down Pennsylvania Avenue, followed by the Vice President and his or her spouse, all the way to the White House. After the president and vice president arrive, they can watch the rest of the parade, which includes thousands of marchers, marching bands, tumbling cheerleaders, citizen’s groups, and military regiments from all the branches of the armed forces. The 2021 inaugural parade will look a little different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to keep everyone healthy and safe, the celebration will feature the first ever “Virtual Parade Across America,” broadcast on TV and the internet!

Months of design planning and hard labor go into the construction of the elaborate floats we see during the inaugural parade. Some floats reflect the theme of the inauguration, while others show off the industries and resources of a particular state, and then there’s the president’s float—a float designed to celebrate the newly inaugurated president’s life. The float created for Eisenhower was a golf course putting green. For George Bush the president’s float was an aircraft carrier that hauled one of the planes Bush had flown during WWII. For President Obama’s first inauguration in 2009, floats representing his home states of Hawaii and Illinois were created. Whatever is being fashioned for the next inaugural parade will be a surprise until it glides down Pennsylvania Avenue on Inauguration Day!

If you could design a float for the new president, what would it look like? Draw a picture of your design. If you need inspiration, explore past parades and float themes online – your favorite adult can help you search the Library of Congress website. We suggest “Presidential Pets” to celebrate President-elect Biden’s two dogs, Champ and Major, the latest in a long history of presidential animals!

Once you’re happy with your design, try making a 3-D version of your float using shoe boxes or tissue boxes – puff balls and pipe cleaners make great animals, and magazine cutouts, bright paper, foam sheets, or any other craft supplies are perfect for building anything you might want to add to your float. You can use your finished floats to create your own mini-inaugural parade in the hallway or neighborhood!