White House

The first inauguration of Harry S. Truman as the 33rd President of the United States was held on April 12, 1945, following the sudden death of... President Franklin D. Roosevelt approximately three months into his fourth term. The inauguration marked the commencement of the first term of Harry S. Truman as President. President Truman had been called to the White House by former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. After he arrived he was informed that President Roosevelt died. Shocked, President Truman asked Mrs. Roosevelt, "Is there anything I can do for you?", to which she replied: "Is there anything we can do for you? For you are the one in trouble now." Chief Justice of the United States Harlan Fiske Stone was called to the White House as well to administer the oath of office. When Stone arrived, Truman was asked if he brought his own Bible, which he didn't, because he didn't suspect what was going to happen. Truman was sworn-in as the 33rd President of the United States in the Cabinet Room at 7:00 PM. Among witnesses of this ceremony were his wife Elizabeth Truman, daughter Margaret Truman, Mrs.
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The inauguration of Gerald Ford as the 38th President of the United States was held on August 9, 1974. The inauguration is the most recent... non-scheduled inauguration in American history, and marked the commencement of the two-and-a-half-year term of Gerald Ford as President, following the resignation of Richard Nixon. Ford had become Vice President on December 6, 1973 after the resignation of Spiro Agnew, and as such is the only person to have held both the office of Vice President and President without having been elected to either. On August 5, 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8–0 to force President Richard Nixon to hand over White House tapes that had been subpoenaed by Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski. These tapes contained incriminating evidence that would lead to President Nixon's resignation. On August 8, 1974, Nixon addressed the nation and the world, announcing he would resign the presidency effective noon the following day. At nine in the morning, President Nixon, addressed the White House staff and selected dignitaries, including the Cabinet and Vice President Ford. It was an emotional affair, with the President nearly breaking down a number of times.
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The second inauguration of Ronald Reagan as the 40th President of the United States was held privately on January 20, 1985 and publicly on January... 21, 1985. The inauguration marked the commencement of the second four-year term of Ronald Reagan as President and George H. W. Bush as Vice President. As January 20 was a Sunday, the swearing in of Ronald Reagan took place privately in the Grand Foyer of the White House, although it was televised. The following day, January 21, Chief Justice Warren E. Burger administered the oath publicly at the 1985 inauguration. As the weather outside was harsh, with temperatures near zero degrees Fahrenheit, the planners were forced to cancel most of the outdoor events, and the inaugural address was delivered in the Capitol Rotunda. Jessye Norman sang "Simple Gifts" at the ceremony.
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