First inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower
The first inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower as the 34th President of the United States was held on Tuesday, January 20, 1953, at the East Portico of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. This was the 42nd inauguration and marked the commencement of the first term of Dwight D. Eisenhower as President and of Richard Nixon as Vice President. Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson administered the presidential oath of office to Eisenhower. The vice-presidential oath was administered to Nixon by Senator William Knowland.
Eisenhower placed his hand on two Bibles when he recited the oath: the Bible used by George Washington in 1789, opened to II Chronicles 7:14; and his own personal "West Point Bible," opened to Psalm 33:12. Afterward, he recited his own prayer, rather than kissing the Bible.Inaugural Committee
The 1953 United States Congress Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the group responsible for the planning and execution of the Inauguration, was composed of:
- Senator Styles Bridges, Chairman
- Senator Carl T. Hayden
- Representative Leslie C. Arends
- Representative Joseph W. Martin
- Representative Sam Rayburn
