Prayers at United States presidential inaugurations

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Since 1937, the United States presidential inauguration has included one or more prayers given by members of the clergy. [1] [2] Since 1933 an associated prayer service either public or private attended by the president-elect has often taken place on the morning of the day. [3] At times a major public or broadcast prayer service takes place after the main ceremony most recently on the next day. [4]

Contents

List of clergy at main ceremony

[2] January 20, 1937 inaugural of Franklin D. Roosevelt

January 20, 1941 inaugural of Franklin D. Roosevelt

January 20, 1945 inaugural of Franklin D. Roosevelt

January 20, 1949 inaugural of Harry S. Truman

January 20, 1953 inaugural of Dwight D. Eisenhower

January 21, 1957 inaugural of Dwight D. Eisenhower

January 20, 1961 inaugural of John F. Kennedy

January 20, 1965 inaugural of Lyndon B. Johnson

January 20, 1969 inaugural of Richard Nixon

January 20, 1973 inaugural of Richard M. Nixon

January 20, 1977 inaugural of Jimmy Carter

Rev. Donn Moomaw gives the invocation at the 1981 inauguration of President Ronald Reagan. Also pictured are House Speaker Tip O'Neill, Vice President George H. W. Bush, President Reagan, Barbara Bush, and Nancy Reagan. Invocation at 1981 Reagan inauguration.jpg
Rev. Donn Moomaw gives the invocation at the 1981 inauguration of President Ronald Reagan. Also pictured are House Speaker Tip O'Neill, Vice President George H. W. Bush, President Reagan, Barbara Bush, and Nancy Reagan.

January 20, 1981 inaugural of Ronald Reagan

January 21, 1985 inaugural of Ronald Reagan

January 20, 1989 inaugural of George H. W. Bush

January 20, 1993 inaugural of Bill Clinton

January 20, 1997 inaugural of Bill Clinton

January 20, 2001 inaugural of George W. Bush

January 20, 2005 inaugural of George W. Bush

January 20, 2009 inaugural of Barack Obama

January 21, 2013 inaugural of Barack Obama

Reverend Luis Leon delivering the benediction at the 2013 presidential inauguration 2013 Inauguration Rev. Dr. Leon.JPG
Reverend Luis Leon delivering the benediction at the 2013 presidential inauguration

January 20, 2017 inauguration of Donald Trump

January 20, 2021 inauguration of Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Associated morning prayer service

Presidents since 1933 have often worshipped privately before the actual ceremony.

Public prayer service

[4] In 1789 George Washington along with Congress attended a service at St. Paul's Chapel in New York City after his swearing in. The ceremony was presided over by Bishop Samuel Provoost. No similar service is known until 1933.

Sunday, March 5, 1933 "National Inaugural Prayer Service" at Washington National Cathedral. Presided over by Episcopal Bishop James Edward Freeman of Washington.

Thursday, January 20, 1977 James Carter had a half-hour interfaith prayer service at the Lincoln Memorial in the morning (8am) before the main ceremony; he did not attend. [16] [20] [21] Speakers included

1981 Ronald Reagan had a service at National City Christian Church on Thomas Circle, Washington, D.C., but he did not attend.

Sunday, January 20, 1985 Ronald Reagan had a public service at the Washington National Cathedral. Speakers included

Sunday, January 22, 1989 George H. W. Bush attended a Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral the day after his swearing in. [22]

Sermons were given by

Other participants included

Sunday, January 21, 2001 – George W. Bush had a prayer service at the National Cathedral. [23]

Friday, January 21, 2005 – George W. Bush had a service at the National Cathedral the day after the inauguration. [24] Speakers included: [25]

Wednesday, January 21, 2009 – Barack Obama had a service at 10am in the National Cathedral.

Scripture readings by

Responsive prayers by

Tuesday, January 22, 2013 – An interfaith National Prayer Service at 10:30 am in the National Cathedral was attended by President Obama, Vice President Biden and their spouses.

Saturday, January 21, 2017 – An interfaith National Prayer Service in Washington National Cathedral was attended by President Trump, Vice President Pence and their spouses. [26]

Thursday, January 21, 2021 – Virtual Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service hosted by Washington National Cathedral at 10 a.m. [27]

The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II co-chair, Poor People's Campaign, preached. Other participants included:

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References

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  2. 1 2 Newdow. "Appendix D: Inaugural Clergy" (PDF).
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  16. 1 2 Briggs, Kenneth A. (January 21, 1977). "Plea by Dr. King's Father Adds Touch of Revivalism to the DAy". New York Times. p. 30.
  17. Clines, Francis X.; Times, Special To the New York (1985-01-21). "Reagan Sworn for 2d Term; Inaugural Parade Dropped as Bitter Cold Hits Capital". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  18. Grimmett, Richard F. (2009). St. John's Church Lafayette Square: The History and Heritage of the Church of the Presidents, Washington, DC. Minneapolis, MN: Mill City Press. p. 227.
  19. "Read the homily Joe Biden heard Inauguration Day morning". Religion News Service. 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  20. Weinraub, Bernard (January 16, 1977). "Five-Day 'People's' Inauguration Begins in Capital Tuesday". The New York Times. p. 24.
  21. Briggs, Kenneth A. (January 19, 1977). "Prayer Gatherings Greet Inauguration". The New York Times. p. 33.
  22. "Washington National Cathedral: Presidential Inaugural Prayer Services (1989)". Washington National Cathedral. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
  23. "Washington National Cathedral: Presidential Inaugural Prayer Services (2001)". Washington National Cathedral. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
  24. "Bush Attends National Prayer Service". CNN.com. January 21, 2005. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  25. "Washington National Cathedral: Presidential Inaugural Prayer Services (2005)". Washington National Cathedral. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
  26. "The National Prayer Service for The Fifty-Eighth Presidential Inaugural" (PDF). cathedral.org. Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Washington National Cathedral. January 21, 2017. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  27. "Presidential Inaugural Committee and Washington National Cathedral Announce Virtual Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service". bideninaugural.org. 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-01-19.