Picture Prose

Swearing-In Through the Lens: Lessons from Inaugural Photos

A lot has changed, but some things remain the same

All photos credited to the Library of Congress (public domain); Clockwise from upper left: Woodrow Wilson giving inaugural address, Jimmy Carter and family walking down Pennsylvania Avenue during the parade, photographers at President Taft’s inauguration, President Teddy Roosevelt leaving for the parade, President Ronald Reagan’s inauguration, the crowd at Lincoln’s second inauguration, President Bush Sr’s swearing-in

The first Presidential Inauguration happened well before the advent of photography. In 1789, George Washington got the word that he’d won more than a week after the votes were counted.¹ He saddled up the horse, and headed for the capitol — New York City — where he took the oath in April of that year which is still used today:

“I do solemnly swear 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.”

The first actual Inauguration photo (below), was taken in 1857 by Capitol architect assistant John Wood.² It depicts President James Buchanan being sworn in at the nation’s new capital, Washington, D.C. Because the zoom lens did not exist in the 1850s, we can’t see the pale face of the president himself, who was very ill — probably with cholera.³

Photo credit: Montgomery C. Meigs Papers — Library of Congress

John Wood is also credited for the shot below, taken in 1861, of Abraham Lincoln’s First Inauguration.⁴ Either cameras have improved, or the photographer has, because this is a much clearer image. I was struck by the crowd size, which some estimates put at 25,000.

Photo credit: Montgomery C. Meigs Papers — Library of Congress

It’s worth noting what they saw was a work in progress, which is an apt metaphor for the country at the time. Check out the unfinished dome.

Photo credit: Montgomery C. Meigs Papers — Library of Congress

Gardner, Alexander, 1821–1882, photographer, Library of Congress

The photo above of Lincoln’s second inauguration resembles his first, but I was more intrigued by the crowd shot below. Once thought to be…