John Adams 1797 presidential inauguration
Encyclopedia
The inauguration of John Adams as the second President of the United States
took place on Saturday, March 4, 1797. The inauguration marked the commencement of the four-year term of John Adams
as President and Thomas Jefferson
as Vice President
. Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court, Oliver Ellsworth
swore him in.
The oath of office was administered in the House of Representatives Chamber of Congress Hall in Philadelphia. This was the first inaugural oath administered by a Chief Justice of the United States.
, United States Cabinet
members http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/, and a wide range of fellow citizens http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/8/1401.html who were at an "Aww" for amazement and eagerly awaiting for the ceremony to begin. At the inauguration, former President George Washington
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/georgewashington and Vice President Thomas Jefferson http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/biography, who had just previously been inaugurated that morning, were present. First George Washington enters, with an overall applause. Next, Thomas Jefferson enters as the crowd applaud even louder; and last but not least, John Adams himself. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were dressed in a more professional manner than John Adams http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnadams. Washington wore a black velvet dress suit, and Jefferson wore a long blue frock coat. Adams wore a simple suit of grey broadcloth
, without fancy buttons or knee buckles. Adams was a nervous wreck at the moments before being sworn in. He revealed to his wife Abigail
, who was also amongst the crowd, that it felt as if he were on stage playing a part in a play. He said it was "the most affecting and overpowering scene I ever acted in." At that moment, was the first and last time all three men had ever appeared, on a stage, at such a scene together. When Adams began to recite his inaugural speech, he delivered his meaning and expressions so strong that the crowd was overwhelmed with his thoughts and words of honor for our country. He expressed his gratitude of a free republican government. He spoke of his respect for the rights of all states, and of his belief in expanded education for all the people, both to enlarge the happiness of life and as essential to the preservation of freedom. He continues to express his love and honor for the constitution and promises that he will do his best to maintain and uphold the people's rights'. He concludes his speech with suggesting that each president on out blesses the nation with his consistent duration of his providence. After such a moving speech, that had many weeping, he energetically repeated the oath from Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/185175/Oliver-Ellsworth to be sworn in. Adams was the first President to receive the oath of office from the Chief Justice of the United States. Even though Adams admired and gave great admiration for Washington and his legacy, Washington expressed or showed no emotion as if he was at a relief to give up his title; As if it was a weight of stress off of his shoulder; to have such power in his hands. The power of the people at hand and the deciding factors for America.
http://inaugural.senate.gov/history/chronology/jadams1797.cfm
Books
1. Papers of John Adams by: Adams, John, 1735–1826, Taylor, Robert Joseph
2. A Picture Book of John and Abigail Adams by: Adler, David A, Adler, Michael S, Almler, Ronald III
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
took place on Saturday, March 4, 1797. The inauguration marked the commencement of the four-year term of John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
as President and Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
as Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
. Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the United States
The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...
of the Supreme Court, Oliver Ellsworth
Oliver Ellsworth
Oliver Ellsworth was an American lawyer and politician, a revolutionary against British rule, a drafter of the United States Constitution, and the third Chief Justice of the United States. While at the Federal Convention, Ellsworth moved to strike the word National from the motion made by Edmund...
swore him in.
The oath of office was administered in the House of Representatives Chamber of Congress Hall in Philadelphia. This was the first inaugural oath administered by a Chief Justice of the United States.
Inaugural ceremonies
On the day of inauguration at The House of Representatives chamber, Congress Hall, in Philadelphia, the weather was at a fair temperature of 53 degrees. The room was at maximum capacity and there was not an empty seat. The engagement was full of [Members of the United States House of Representatives], United States Senators, Justices of the Supreme CourtSupreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
, United States Cabinet
United States Cabinet
The Cabinet of the United States is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States, which are generally the heads of the federal executive departments...
members http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/, and a wide range of fellow citizens http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/8/1401.html who were at an "Aww" for amazement and eagerly awaiting for the ceremony to begin. At the inauguration, former President George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/georgewashington and Vice President Thomas Jefferson http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/biography, who had just previously been inaugurated that morning, were present. First George Washington enters, with an overall applause. Next, Thomas Jefferson enters as the crowd applaud even louder; and last but not least, John Adams himself. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were dressed in a more professional manner than John Adams http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnadams. Washington wore a black velvet dress suit, and Jefferson wore a long blue frock coat. Adams wore a simple suit of grey broadcloth
Broadcloth
Broadcloth is a dense woollen cloth. Modern broadcloth can be composed of cotton, silk, or polyester, but traditionally broadcloth was made solely of wool. The dense weave lends sturdiness to the material....
, without fancy buttons or knee buckles. Adams was a nervous wreck at the moments before being sworn in. He revealed to his wife Abigail
Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams was the wife of John Adams, who was the second President of the United States, and the mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth...
, who was also amongst the crowd, that it felt as if he were on stage playing a part in a play. He said it was "the most affecting and overpowering scene I ever acted in." At that moment, was the first and last time all three men had ever appeared, on a stage, at such a scene together. When Adams began to recite his inaugural speech, he delivered his meaning and expressions so strong that the crowd was overwhelmed with his thoughts and words of honor for our country. He expressed his gratitude of a free republican government. He spoke of his respect for the rights of all states, and of his belief in expanded education for all the people, both to enlarge the happiness of life and as essential to the preservation of freedom. He continues to express his love and honor for the constitution and promises that he will do his best to maintain and uphold the people's rights'. He concludes his speech with suggesting that each president on out blesses the nation with his consistent duration of his providence. After such a moving speech, that had many weeping, he energetically repeated the oath from Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/185175/Oliver-Ellsworth to be sworn in. Adams was the first President to receive the oath of office from the Chief Justice of the United States. Even though Adams admired and gave great admiration for Washington and his legacy, Washington expressed or showed no emotion as if he was at a relief to give up his title; As if it was a weight of stress off of his shoulder; to have such power in his hands. The power of the people at hand and the deciding factors for America.
External links
http://www.juntosociety.com/inaugural/jadams.htmlhttp://inaugural.senate.gov/history/chronology/jadams1797.cfm
Books
1. Papers of John Adams by: Adams, John, 1735–1826, Taylor, Robert Joseph
2. A Picture Book of John and Abigail Adams by: Adler, David A, Adler, Michael S, Almler, Ronald III
- More documents from the Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...