Swearing-In Ceremony for President Ronald W. Reagan
Fiftieth Inaugural Ceremonies, January 21, 1985
Program
Inaugural Address
‘Senator Mathias, Chief Justice Burger, Vice President Bush, Speaker O’Neill, Senator Dole, Reverend Clergy, members of my family and friends, and my fellow citizens: This day has been made brighter with the presence here of one who, for a time, has been absent—Senator John Stennis.’
Read the address
(Words: 2564)
Presidential Oath of Office
Administered to Ronald W. Reagan by the Honorable Warren E. Burger, Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Fiftieth Inaugural Ceremonies
- Bible Used: Family Bible, given to him by his mother, open to II Chronicles 7:14. (Same Bible used at his 1981 Inauguration)
- Attire: Business suit
Vice Presidential Oath of Office
Administered to George H.W. Bush.
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Location
Rotunda,
U.S. Capitol
Washington, DCWeather
It was sunny, but bitter cold. Wind chill temperatures fell into the -10°F to -20°F range in the afternoon. Estimated noon temperature of 7°F.
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Facts, Firsts & Precedents
Coldest Inauguration day on record, with a noon temperature of 7°F.
January 20th fell on Sunday, so Reagan was privately sworn in that day at the White House; public Inauguration on January 21st took place in the Capitol Rotunda, due to freezing weather
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Inaugural Committee
- Sen. Howard K. Baker Jr. (R-TN), Chair
- Sen. Charles McCurdy Mathias Jr. (R-MD)
- Sen. Wendell H. Ford (D-KY)
- Rep. Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. (D-MA)
- Rep. Jim Wright (D-TX)
- Rep. Robert H. Michel (R-IL)