Swearing-In Ceremony for President Thomas Jefferson
Fourth Inaugural Ceremonies, March 4, 1801
Inaugural Address
‘Friends and Fellow-Citizens: Called upon to undertake the duties of the first executive office of our country, I avail myself of the presence of that portion of my fellow-citizens which is here assembled to express my grateful thanks for the favor with which they have been pleased to look toward me, to declare a sincere consciousness that the task is above my talents, and that I approach it with those anxious and awful presentiments which the greatness of the charge and the weakness of my powers so justly inspire.’
Read the address
(Words: 1721)
Presidential Oath of Office
Administered to Thomas Jefferson by the Honorable John Marshall, Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Library of Congress
Library of Congress
Thomas Jefferson, full-length portrait, standing beside table, facing slightly right, holding the Declaration of Independence and pointing to it. (Engraving after painting by Rembrandt Peale.)
- Bible Used: Unknown
- Attire: A reporter noted, "His dress was, as usual, that of a plain citizen without any distinctive badge of office."
Vice Presidential Oath of Office
Administered to Aaron Burr.
Library of Congress
Library of Congress
Vice President Aaron Burr
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Location
Senate Chamber,
U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC -
Facts, Firsts & Precedents
First inauguration in Washington, DC
He broke precedent by walking to and from his swearing-in ceremony, rather than riding in a carriage as his predecessors did.
The Marine Band played at the Inauguration for the first time. (It has played at every Inauguration since.)
For the first time, a newspaper (the National Intelligencer) printed the Inaugural address the morning of the Inauguration.
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Weather
Mild and beautiful. Estimated noon temperature of 55°F.