Fun Facts: From George to George

— -- George W. Bush, the nation's 43rd president, will be sworn in for a second term on Jan. 20, 2005. As Washington prepares for the inauguration and all the parties that surround it, here's a look back at some earlier inaugurations:

What was the date of the first inauguration of a president of the United States?
The date of the first inauguration was April 30, 1789.

What was the location of first inauguration?
The location for the first presidential inauguration was New York City, which was then the capital of the fledgling nation.

Who was the first president to give an inaugural address?
George Washington was the first president to follow his swearing-in with a speech written especially for the occasion. James Monroe, however, was the first president to give an inaugural address in front of an assembled public crowd, in 1817.

Who was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C.?
Thomas Jefferson was the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C., in 1801.

Where did the oath of office come from?
The oath of office was written in Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution. It reads, "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Which president began the tradition of the inaugural parade?
Following the inauguration for his second term, Thomas Jefferson rode a horse from the Capitol steps to the White House (which was then called the President's House) amid music and watched by an unplanned crowd of mechanics who had been working at the nearby Navy Yard. That procession grew into today's Inaugural Parade.

At which president's inaugural did poet Robert Frost read?
Robert Frost read his poem "The Gift Outright" at the 1961 inauguration of John F. Kennedy. In honor of JFK, Bill Clinton revived the poem-reading at his inaugurations in 1993 and 1997 with Maya Angelou reading her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" at the former, and Arkansas poet Miller Williams reading "Of History and Hope" at the latter.

Which president said the line "I always said it would be a cold day when I got to be president of the United States," when his inauguration ceremony was forced inside by a blizzard?
William Taft's inauguration ceremony was forced inside in 1901 when a blizzard struck the nation's capital. The storm was so huge that telephone and telegraph lines were disabled, as were trains. Thousands of citizens missed the event altogether.

Who is the only president to take the oath of office on board Air Force One?
Lyndon B. Johnson was the first and so far only president to date to take his oath of office on Air Force One, following the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Who was the first president whose inauguration was filmed?
William McKinley's inauguration in 1897 was highlighted by movie cameras for the first time.

When was the first time Americans could hear their president sworn in over the radio?
In 1925, Americans gathered around their radios to hear Calvin Coolidge become the first president sworn in over the airwaves.

Who was the first president whose inauguration was photographed?
James Buchanan's 1857 inauguration was the first to be captured by cameras.

Who was the first president to be inaugurated on television?
In 1949, President Harry Truman became the first to be sworn in on television.