Celebrating the Big Day: FDR’s First Inauguration and the Annual Anniversary Celebrations, 1934-1945

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The formal program to FDR’s first inauguration. (FDR Library, Grace Tully Papers)

By William A. Harris, Deputy Director

With March upon us, it is once again time to celebrate the first inauguration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as FDR himself did almost every year (except 1941 and 1945) of his Presidency. In 1933, FDR became the last President to be sworn into office on March 4th. On that cool late winter day (and for Presidents until 1981, in fact) , FDR was sworn in on the east front of the US Capitol.

The 1933 inauguration occurred during one of the darkest crises in American history, the Great Depression. Outgoing President Herbert Hoover, soundly defeated after one term, attended the ceremonies, even riding with the President-elect to the US Capitol, if not in good humor, at least with the great strength of character and dignity that marked his life and career.

President-elect Roosevelt and President Herbert Hoover, March 4, 1933. (FDR Library, Photo 4849330)

Planning had been underway for weeks since FDR’s landslide victory on November 8, 1932. Guests needed to be invited, and declined, and plans made for travel and accommodations. The night before the inauguration, FDR and his party stayed at the Mayflower Hotel, already rich with Presidential history, located on Connecticut Avenue, a few blocks from the White House.

Receipt for the President and Mrs. Roosevelt’s rooms at the Mayflower Hotel, which still operates in Washington, DC, today. (FDR Library, PSF 1933-1945, Inaugurations, 1933, 1937, 1941, 1945)

The night before the big event, the President and Mrs. Roosevelt stayed in suites 775 and 776 of the Mayflower Hotel, the rooms paid for by the inaugural committee. Like many hotel guests, he charged room service, used the valet services, and not surprisingly made a substantial number of long distance phone calls as the above receipt shows.

At the US Capitol on March 4th, invited guests and the general public assembled in anticipation of ceremonies rich with tradition. In this photo, we see the inauguration stand from an unusual angle looking north. Note the people crowding the roofs of the Capitol and nearby buildings to get a glimpse of the ceremonies.

View of the inauguration ceremonies looking north, March 4, 1933. (Photo courtesy of Harris and Ewing, Library of Congress)

In the background, Union Station is just visible. Invited guests, like one of the incoming President’s secretaries, Grace Tully, filed to their seats down a long ramp installed for the President-elect. Tully’s seat was in section C, as seen on her ticket below. The subsequent photograph offers a unique perspective of the crowd FDR would soon address.

A packet of inauguration materials, including invitations, tickets, and programs belonging to Grace Tully. (FDR Library, Grace Tully Papers)
A view of the platform and crowd from the guest section. (Photo courtesy of Harris and Ewing, Library of Congress)

The President’s first inaugural address proved to be memorable, outlining the President’s philosophy that as a nation, together, with support from all levels of government, the nation could overcome the Depression. He believed firmly that fear posed an immense threat to progress and sought to instill hope and confidence in the American people while nevertheless being frank about the difficulties yet to be overcome.

Audio of FDR’s inaugural address, March 4, 1933. (FDR Library, 74-24 [dig]. 71-10:2. 71-40:2. RLxA-2. RLxA-2D)
Order of ceremonies from the 1933 Inauguration Program. (FDR Library, Grace Tully Papers)

Following the ceremonies, President Herbert Hoover and Mrs. Hoover departed for New York City and the life of the post-Presidency. Hoover would remain active publicly, even appointed by Democratic President Harry S. Truman to oversee the Federal Executive Branch reorganization after World War II.

Former President and Mrs. Hoover departing Washington, DC, on inauguration day, March 4, 1933. (Photo courtesy of Harris and Ewing, Library of Congress)

After the inauguration, the President and Mrs. Roosevelt rode in a motorcade to the White House, smiling broadly and waving to the crowd. They arrived at the south entrance along with a phalanx of motorcycle officers and secret service agents. The south entrance allowed for entry into the White House on the ground level without steps.

The Roosevelts motorcading from the Capitol to the White House. (Photo courtesy of Harris and Ewing, Library of Congress)
The Roosevelts arriving at their new home. (Photo courtesy of Harris and Ewing, Library of Congress)
President and Mrs. Roosevelt and son James at the south entrance of the White House. A radio microphone stands alone while newsreel cameramen film the arrival. The Presidential party used the ground level entrance into the diplomatic reception room. (Photo courtesy of Harris and Ewing, Library of Congress)

Inauguration days are busy affairs, and the first family and their guests spent considerable time on a platform on the north side of the White House, facing Pennsylvania Avenue, watching the ceremonial parade. The viewing platform had been designed to mimic Andrew Jackson’s home, the Hermitage, in Tennessee.

The new President and his party watching the inauguration parade. Note the trolley tracks on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House. (Photo courtesy of Harris and Ewing, Library of Congress)
The first of several pages listing parade participants in the 1933 Inauguration Program. (FDR Library, Grace Tully Papers)

Most years thereafter, the President either attended a church service commemorating the anniversary of his first inauguration and/or hosted a cabinet dinner at a Washington hotel. The President wanted these events to strengthen and encourage the dedication of his cabinet and members of his administration to the tasks before them. In 1937, the anniverary also included a “victory dinner,” at which the President spoke to the nation. The President’s schedule notes the event more bluntly as a “money raising dinner.”

Schedule for March 4, 1937. (FDR Library, White House Usher’s Log)
The President’s handwritten notes on draft number 4 of his “victory dinner” speech. (FDR Library, Master Speech File)
Audio of the President’s remarks as broadcast to the nation, March 4, 1937. (FDR Library, RL96-98 [dig]. 65-9:11(4-7). 201-186)
A jovial FDR laughing with toastmaster Joseph Tumulty at the victory dinner. Note the radio microphones to the top right, March 4, 1937. (Photo courtesy of Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress)

In 1938, FDR and his family attended commemorative ceremonies at St. John’s Episcopal Church adjacent to Lafayette Park across from the White House. The President and his guests, including his granddaughter Sara Delano Roosevelt, bundled under a blanket for the short ride to the church.

FDR, his daughter-in-law, Betsy Cushing Roosevelt, and Eleanor are joined by granddaughter Sara Delano Roosevelt, who appears to be having a grand time, March 4, 1938. (Photo courtesy of Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress)

The following year, March 4th corresponded with the 150th anniversary celebrations of the US Congress. In longhand, the President drafted a lengthy address that he presented to a joint session of Congress on March 4, 1939. Unlike his 1937 after-dinner remarks, this speech was broadcast mid-day, forming part of the larger celebrations.

First page of the President’s handwritten draft for his speech celebrating the 150th anniversary of Congress, 1939. (FDR Library, Master Speech File)
In this dramatic view, the President addresses the joint session of Congress, March 4, 1939. (Photo courtesy of Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress)
Watching from the House gallery, the President’s mother (right) and daughter-in-law Betsy Cushing Roosevelt (center) listen to the President’s speech, March 4, 1939. (Photo courtesy of Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress)
Audio of the lengthy radio program for the 150th anniversary of Congress, including the President’s remarks along with those of members of Congress. The President’s speech begins one hour and fifteen minutes into the broadcast. (FDR Library, RLxA-67(1), RLxA-67(2), RLxA-67(3), & RLxA-67(4) [dig])
The President arriving at St. John’s Episcopal Church with Eleanor Roosevelt, his mother Sara Delano Roosevelt, and to the right Mrs. Endicott Peabody, wife of the rector of FDR’s alma mater, Groton School, March 4, 1940. (Photo courtesy of Harris and Ewing Collection, Library of Congress)

In 1940, the President celebrated again at St. John’s Episcopal Church as he did in 1942 and 1943. But in 1944, commemorative services were held in the East Room of the White House. That year, Eleanor Roosevelt observed in “My Day” that FDR had “always asked for” the program and added furthermore that “[the ceremonies] must give to all courage to go on along the lines which have kept us together and allowed us to move forward during the past difficult years.”

In 1945, no service was held, and perhaps fittingly, as fate would have it, the President travelled instead to Hyde Park on March 4th for one of his last trips to the Hudson Valley, to the home he loved so much. Over the years, the annual commemoration of his first inauguration had marked not only political success, but also a commitment to public service. Perhaps, most importantly, the annual commemoration signaled the President’s firm and abiding confidence in the American people and in the strength of this nation to overcome any crisis together.

Twelve years later, a quiet White House with the President away at Hyde Park, March 4, 1945. (FDR Library, White House Stenographers Diary)

List of Annual Services/Dinners:

1934 – March 4th, Memorial Service, National Cathedral and Cabinet Dinner, Mayflower Hotel

1935 – March 3rd, Memorial Service, National Cathedral and March 4th, Cabinet Dinner, Mayflower Hotel

1936 – March 4th, Cabinet Dinner, Mayflower Hotel

1937 – March 3rd, Cabinet Dinner, and March 4th, Victory Dinner, both Mayflower Hotel

1938 – March 4th, Memorial Service, St. John’s Episcopal Church and Cabinet Dinner, Mayflower Hotel

1939 – March 4th, 150th Anniversary of Congress Service, St. John’s Episcopal Church and Cabinet Dinner, Carlton Hotel

1940 – March 4th, Memorial Service, St. John’s Episcopal Church, and Cabinet Dinner Carlton Hotel

1941 – No service or dinner, President sick with a cold

1942 – March 4th, Memorial Service, St. John’s Episcopal Church and no Cabinet Dinner

1943 – March 4th, Memorial Service, St. John’s Episcopal Church and no Cabinet Dinner

1944 – March 4th, Memorial Service, East Room, White House and no Cabinet Dinner

1945 – No service or dinner, President traveled to Hyde Park