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Date January 20, 1953; 64 years ago (1953-01-20) Location Washington, D.C.
U.S. Capitol Participants President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower
Assuming office
Chief Justice of the United States,
Fred M. Vinson
Administering oath
Vice President of the United States
Richard M. Nixon
Assuming office | ||
The first inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower as the 34th President of the United States was held on January 20, 1953, at the east portico of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.. The inauguration marked the commencement of the first four-year 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 (R–CA).
Eisenhower placed his hand upon 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: