Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies Inaugural Web Site. January 20, 2009; Printed from inaugural.senate.gov.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1933

Vice President John Nance Garner
Inauguration Date Saturday, March 4, 1933
Location East Portico, U.S. Capitol
Oath Administered By: Charles E. Hughes, Chief Justice
Bible Used: Roosevelt family Bible, the same one used when Roosevelt was sworn in as Governor of New York in 1928 and 1930, open to I Corinthians 13
Length of Inaugural Address: 1,880 words
Attire (what the president wore): Morning coat and striped trousers
Weather: Mostly cloudy with a few peaks of sun. Estimated noon temperature of 42°F.
Precedents, "firsts" or other interesting information:
  • Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt started the tradition of attending a morning worship service on Inauguration Day.
  • FDR used the same Bible for all four of his Presidential Inaugurations. It is the oldest Inaugural Bible, printed in 1686, and the only one written in a modern foreign language: Dutch.
Luncheon: The Roosevelts had planned to host a buffet luncheon at the White House for several hundred guests, but Mrs. Roosevelt cancelled the luncheon at the last minute out of respect for Senator Thomas J. Walsh, who died several days before. Senator Walsh had been chosen by Roosevelt to serve as attorney general.