Originally, Presidential inaugurations were held on March 4th, unless that day fell on a Sunday, in which case, out of respect for the Lord's Day, it was moved to Monday, March 5th.
This was the case with James Monroe in 1821, Zachary Taylor in 1849, Rutherford B. Hayes in 1877 and Woodrow Wilson in 1917.
Unfortunately, there was a problem.
The period between the elections in November, after harvests were taken in and before winter storms, and the spring, when politicians could take the long trip to the Capitol in March, resulted in a four month lame duck period.
This was a dilemma. Lame duck presidents and legislators who voters had rejected were still occupying their offices, being tempted to use their remaining time and power to secure favors for themselves and their friends, and not being as concerned about the interests of the country.
In fact, it was during a lame duck period that Democrat President James Buchanan allowed tensions to escalate prior to the Civil War, with seven states seceding before Lincoln swore in on March 4th.
Buchanan even had Democrats in his administration secretly undermining the Union by transferring cannons and military supplies to the South in order to give the Confederacy an advantage once the fighting started.
Ulysses S. Grant criticized Buchanan's Democrat Secretary of War, John Floyd of Virginia:
"Floyd, the Secretary of War, scattered the army so that much of it could be captured when hostilities should commence and distributed the cannon and small arms from Northern arsenals throughout the South so as to be on hand when treason wanted them."
To shorten the lame duck period, the 20th Amendment was adopted in 1933, moving Inauguration Day to January 20th.
By this time, the country was not as agricultural, so it was not as necessary to schedule around harvest seasons, and politicians could travel easier.
A tradition at inaugurations is to swear in upon a Bible.
George Washington was the first to do this in 1789, while the capital of the nation was still located in New York City.
Washington then attended divine services at St. Paul's Church.
Congress had passed instructions regarding the inauguration:
"Resolved that after the oath shall have been administered to the president, he Attended by the Vice President and members of the Senate and House of Representatives, proceed to St. Paul's Chapel to hear Divine Service to be performed by the Chaplain of Congress already appointed."
Washington ended his oath with, "So help me God."
Congressmen and senators also ended their oath with, "So help me God."
In court, witnesses swore to tell the truth, "So help me God."
In the military, the oath of enlistment ended with, "So help me God."
Why?
The purpose of an oath is to call a higher power to hold you accountable to perform what you said you would do.
Webster's 1828 Dictionary stated in its definition::
"OATH, an appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed, ... or if the declaration is a promise, the person invokes the vengeance of God if he should fail to fulfill it."
Every president acknowledged God in their inaugural addresses.
33rd President, Harry S Truman, stated in his inaugural, January 20, 1949:
"We believe that all men are created equal, because they are created in the image of God. From this day, we will not be moved."
35th President, John F. Kennedy stated in his inaugural, January 20, 1961:
"For I have sworn before you and almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.
The world is very different now, for man holds in his mortal hand the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life.
And yet the same Revolutionary beliefs, for which our forebears fought, are still at issue around the globe. The belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God."
Some Presidents included a prayer in their inaugural.
Dwight Eisenhower said January 20, 1953:
"Before I begin ... Would you permit me the privilege of uttering a little private prayer of my own? And I ask that you bow your head. Almighty God, as we stand here ... beseeching that thou will make full and complete our dedication."
41st President George H.W. Bush stated in his inaugural, January 20th, 1989:
"I've just repeated word for word the oath taken by George Washington 200 years ago. And the Bible on which I placed my hand is the Bible on which he placed his ...
And my first act as president is a prayer ...
Heavenly Father ... make us strong to do your work ... And if our flaws are endless. God's love is truly boundless."
Some presidents mentioned Christianity.
2nd President John Adams stated in his inaugural address, March 4, 1797:
"Veneration for the religion of a people who profess and call themselves Christians and a fixed resolution to consider a decent respect for Christianity among the best recommendations for the public service."
15th President Abraham Lincoln dated in his inaugural address, March 4, 1861:
"Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity, and a firm reliance on him who has never yet forsaken this favored land are still competent to adjust in the best way all our present difficulty."
Some presidents quoted scripture in their inaugural addresses.
6th President John Quincy Adams stated, March 4, 1825:
"Knowing that except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh in vain." Psalms 127:1
16th President Abraham Lincoln stated in his second inaugural, March 4, 1865:
"As was said 3, 000 years ago, so still it must be said, the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." Psalms 19:9
29th President Warren G. Harding stated in his inaugural, March 4, 1921:
"I have taken the solemn oath of office on that passage of holy writ wherein it is asked, What doth the Lord require of thee? But to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly, With thy God." Micah 6:8
Donald J. Trump stated in his first inaugural, January 20, 2017:
"The Bible tells us how good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity."
--