Inaugural Firsts Trivia Quiz

Answer: Abraham Lincoln

The only known photograph from this inauguration shows John Wilkes Booth, as well as others who were involved in the conspiracy to assassinate Lincoln, were present for the occasion. Lincoln's speech is engraved in the Lincoln Memorial. Lincoln was also the first president who was not born in the thirteen original colonies.

Answer: Photography

In the photograph it can be seen that the Capitol was still under construction. At his inauguration, Buchanan became ill as did a number of other people at the hotel where he was staying. Many theorized that the illness was the result of an assassination attempt, but according to the hotel there was a problem with rats and poison that was put out for them probably got into the food somehow.

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

The Marine Band played at the inauguration, another first at that time. Running against Aaron Burr, Jefferson was declared the winner by the House of Representatives after the election left the electoral college in a tie. Finally, Jefferson's speech was the first inaugural address to be reprinted in a newspaper.

Answer: William McKinley

Thomas Edison is responsible for producing two short films of McKinley in the inaugural procession and speaking to the crowd in 1897. McKinley was shot during his second term and died a few days later of gangrene. He was the last president to participate in the Civil War, having served in the Union Army. He was succeeded by his vice president, Theodore Roosevelt.

Answer: Harry S. Truman

Truman became president following the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt during his fourth term. Truman came to office near the end of World War II and it was his decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Answer: His father

Coolidge succeeded Warren G. Harding who died suddenly. Coolidge was visiting his family in Vermont when he learned the news during the night of August 3, 1923. He was sworn in by his father who was a notary public. Questions quickly arose as to whether this was legal and he was sworn in again the next day by a Supreme Court justice.

In 1925, Coolidge was also the first president whose inauguration was broadcast on the radio.

Answer: Bullet-proof limousine

This of course was due to heightened security following John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963. At his first inauguration, LBJ was the first president sworn in by a woman. Sarah T. Hughes was a friend as well as a federal judge. Johnson is also the only president to have been sworn in on an airplane.

In addition, Johnson was the first whose wife held the Bible while he was being sworn in.

Answer: John Quincy Adams, John F. Kennedy

Prior to Adams, president-elects all wore knee breeches. JFK's inauguration was also the first time a poet, Robert Frost, was included in the program. He recited "The Gift Outright" from memory. He had written another poem specifically for the occasion but was apparently hesitant to try and read it because reflection from the snow on the ground might have made that difficult.

Answer: William Henry Harrison

Harrison's inauguration took place outdoors on a very cold day and his speech lasted nearly two hours. He soon came down with pneumonia and many speculated that it was due to the long day spent out in the inclement weather. He served as president for the shortest time and died after 32 days in office in 1841.

Answer: Martin Luther King and Abraham Lincoln

Although other presidents have used two Bibles, this is the first time King's Bible was used. After the ceremony, his Bible was inscribed by both Obama and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts who performed the swearing in. Obama had an earlier official swearing in ceremony on January 20, 2013 and used a Bible from his wife's family at that time. For Obama's first inauguration in 2009, he used the same Lincoln Bible.