Inauguration Day, Monday, January 21, 2013

The oath  that each President takes on Inauguration Day.“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.”United States Constitution, Article II, Section I

The Constitution states that the Presidential Inauguration is to take place on the 20th of January. Sunday is not to be used for this day so President Barack Obama will have a private oath taking on Sunday with the official celebration and ceremony to be done on January 21st. The ceremony takes place on the steps of the US Capital Building with Chief Justice to the Supreme Court, John G. Roberts, Jr., administering the oath of office to President Barack Obama. The Chief Justice will also administer the oath on Sunday, too.The President will use two Bibles for the inaugural ceremony- one once owned by Abraham Lincoln and the other once owed by Martin Luther King.

The theme of the 2013 Inauguration Day is “Faith in America’s Future.


Fun Facts:
In the Inaugural speech by President John F. Kennedy, the President said what would become a famous quote,” And so my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you-ask what you can do for your country.”(1961)
President William J. Clinton was the first president to have his inauguration seen live on the internet.
The longest inauguration speech was done by William Henry Harrison. The speech was 8445 words and given on a very cold day in 1841. Sadly, Harrison caught  pneumonia and died a month after taking office.
President Barack Obama is the first president to be sworn in twice over a two day period. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.  made a mistake in reading the oath of office for which  the President repeated. The second day, he was sworn in again, using the correct words from the oath.
President Jimmy Carter became the first president to walk and not take a limo from the Capitol steps to the White House, after being sworn in as President in 1977.
Thomas Jefferson was the first President to have his inauguration in Washington, DC.
It was so cold on Inauguration Day in 1985(10 below) that Ronald Reagan’s oath was not done on the US. Capitol steps but inside the Capital Rotunda.

Learn more interesting facts about Presidential Inaugurations:
http://www.inaugural.senate.gov/about/facts-and-firsts

Extension Activities:
If you were President,what are three issues that you would work to solve in your term?

Write a poem about the job of a President.

Make 5 questions from the information provided and exchange with another student to answer.

Learn more about the Capitol Building. http://kids.clerk.house.gov/grade-school/lesson.html?intID=33 and http://www.washingtondckids.com/washingtondckids_historicsites/capitol_building.htm

Find out different monuments that can be found in Washington, DC, that have been built for a President of the United States. (For example: Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial). Draw a picture of the memorial and write 4 facts learned about the memorial. http://writelarge.com/content/presidential-monuments-and-memorials-washington-dc

Learn about the White House with this fun/informative webquest: http://www.gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?wh2.html