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Presidential Inaugurations Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Presidential Inaugurations Quizzes, Trivia

Presidential Inaugurations Trivia

Presidential Inaugurations Trivia Quizzes

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4 Presidential Inaugurations quizzes and 40 Presidential Inaugurations trivia questions.
1.
  Inspirational Inaugural Addresses    
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Match the U.S. President to the inspirational quote pulled from his inaugural address.
Easier, 10 Qns, Joepetz, Feb 16 21
Easier
Joepetz gold member
Feb 16 21
752 plays
2.
  Inaugural Firsts   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here are 10 questions about US presidents who, in one way or another, introduced something new at their inaugurations.
Easier, 10 Qns, card183, Mar 09 21
Easier
card183
Mar 09 21
658 plays
3.
  10 Questions: Presidential Inaugurations Multiple Choice Quiz    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How much do you know about what goes on at inaugurations and what happened at President Bush's second inauguration?
Average, 10 Qns, Stonewallfan, Dec 09 14
Average
Stonewallfan
601 plays
4.
  Presidential Inaugurations: 10 Questions    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
On January 20, 2009 the inauguration ceremony for Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States. This quiz is designed to help you understand some of the tradition associated with this historic event. Good luck!
Average, 10 Qns, skipp1, Feb 15 16
Average
skipp1
465 plays
trivia question Quick Question
Which of the following people wrote "Let the Eagle Soar", which was one of the songs sung at the January 2005 inauguration ceremony?

From Quiz "Presidential Inaugurations"





Presidential Inaugurations Trivia Questions
1. In 1865, what president was the first to have African-Americans participating in the inaugural parade at his second inauguration?

From Quiz Inaugural Firsts

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.

2. The U.S. Constitution requires that the incoming President must be sworn in while placing a hand on what instrument?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: It is not required

Placing the hand on the Bible is a tradition started by George Washington, not a law. Several presidents initially forgot to place their hand on the Bible, and did so half way through the ceremony.

3. On what date have US presidents been sworn in ever since Franklin Delano Roosevelt's inauguration in 1937?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: 20 January

The swearing-in takes place on January 20, no matter what day of the week it lands on. If the 20th is a Sunday, he is sworn in privately on that day, with the public inauguration ceremony taking place on Monday 21 January.

4. In 1857, James Buchanan was the first to have his inauguration recorded via a new technology. What was it?

From Quiz Inaugural Firsts

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.

5. Until 1933 the Constitution required that all Presidential inaugurations had to be held on what day and month?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: March 4

The 12th Amendment specified that March 4 would be the date. April 30 was considered. The date was reset by the 20th Amendment (ratified in January 1933) to January 20 in part because it was deemed that the interregnum was simply too long. The 2nd inauguration of FDR in1937 was the first held on January 20.

6. Do both the vice-president and the president take the oath of office, or only the President?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: Both the vice-president and the president take the oath of office

The vice-president is sworn in before the president. Although both the vice-president and the president are sworn in, only the president delivers an inaugural address.

7. In 1801, the third president was the first to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C. rather than in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Which president was it?

From Quiz Inaugural Firsts

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.

8. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" was stated by which incoming President and in what year?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933

FDR's famous words employed to help the American people regain some confidence during the worst days of the Great Depression.

9. In 1897, the 25th president was the first to have his inaugural proceedings recorded as a motion picture. Who was it?

From Quiz Inaugural Firsts

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.

10. What occurred during Lincoln's 2nd inaugural in 1865, for the first time?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: African-American soldiers participated in the inaugural parade

By 1863 thousands of African-American troops were engaged in the Civil War. Probably the Massachusetts 54th Regiment is best known due to the movie "Glory" (1989), Matthew Broderick, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington.

11. What have most US Presidents placed a hand on when taking the oath of office?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: Bible

President Bush used his personal bible, which First Lady Laura Bush held. Their twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna, stood with them while the judge delivered the oath of office to the President. Not all Presidents have used a bible. John Quincy Adams and Franklin Pierce used a law book. Lyndon Johnson used JFK's missal when sworn in on Air Force One

12. In 1949, the 33rd president was the first whose inaugural address was televised. Who was it?

From Quiz Inaugural Firsts

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.

13. Which President's inauguration was the first to be broadcast live on television?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: Harry S Truman

Coolidge's inauguration in 1925 was the first to be broadcast on radio. Hoover's in 1929 was recorded for "talking pictures." Kennedy's in 1961 was the first to be broadcast live on color TV. Truman's in 1949 was the first to be broadcast live on television.

14. Where in Washington D.C., is the inauguration ceremony held?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: The Capitol Building

The beautiful Capitol Building has been remodeled several times. The President must walk through the Capitol Building and outside to the podium, where he looks down on thousands of spectators.

15. The 30th president, Calvin Coolidge, was sworn in as president by whom?

From Quiz Inaugural Firsts

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.

16. President William Henry Harrison was the first President to arrive by what means of transportation to Washington for the inaugural?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: train

He died just one month after taking office in 1841 (the shortest term for a US president) because of the pneumonia he likely developed after delivering the longest inaugural address in U.S. history (one hour and forty five minutes).

17. For his second inauguration in 1965, Lyndon B. Johnson was the first president to travel to the ceremony in what kind of vehicle?

From Quiz Inaugural Firsts

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.

18. Who was the first Presidential wife to participate in the swearing in ceremony?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: Lady Bird Johnson in 1965

Mrs. Johnson held an old family bible that had been given to the President by his mother

19. What song is played when the president is announced to the crowd?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: Hail to the Chief

A live band plays this majestic song as the president enters.

20. Who was the first president to wear long trousers (1825) and who was the last to wear a stovetop hat (1961) to their respective inaugurations?

From Quiz Inaugural Firsts

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.

21. What terrible tragedy did President Franklin Pierce and his family endure on route to participate in his inauguration?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: His son was killed in a train accident

The death of Pierce's son cast a dark pall over the White House for the duration of his term from 1853 to 1857.

22. Who was the first man ever to be sworn in as President in Washington, D.C.?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson loved simplicity and demonstrated this by going on foot to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony and returning to his boarding house afterwards for dinner. After his second Inauguration, however, Jefferson rode a horse from the Capitol to the President's House, which is now known as the White House.

23. The ninth president was the first to die while still in office. Who was this man also known for giving the longest inaugural address?

From Quiz Inaugural Firsts

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.

24. How many pastors prayed at President Bush's second inaugural ceremony?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: 2

Up until the very day of the inauguration, a citizen of the US was trying to outlaw prayer at the ceremony, but did not succeed.

25. At his second inauguration on January 21, 2013, Barack Obama was sworn in using Bibles that belonged to two other people. Who were they?

From Quiz Inaugural Firsts

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.

26. Who gave the longest inaugural address ever?

From Quiz Presidential Inaugurations

Answer: William Henry Harrison

In 1841, President Harrison delivered an 8,445 word speech that lasted nearly two hours! President Bush's 2005 speech lasted a little over twenty minutes.

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