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Second inauguration of Ronald Reagan
 Ronald Reagan takes the oath of office for his second term | |
| Date | January 20, 1985 (official) January 21, 1985 (public) |
|---|---|
| Location | Entrance Hall, White House (official) United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. (public) |
| Organized by | Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies |
| Participants | Ronald Reagan 40th president of the United States — Assuming office Warren E. Burger Chief Justice of the United States — Administering oath George H. W. Bush 43rd vice president of the United States — Assuming office Potter Stewart Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States — Administering oath |
The second inauguration of Ronald Reagan as president of the United States was held in a televised ceremony[1] on January 20, 1985, at the White House,[2] and was repeated the following day, January 21, 1985, at the Capitol's rotunda. This was the 50th presidential inauguration and marked the commencement of the second and final four-year term of both Ronald Reagan as president and of George H. W. Bush as vice president. At 73 years, 349 days of age on Inauguration Day, Reagan was the oldest U.S. president to be inaugurated until Joe Biden's inauguration as president on January 20, 2021, at the age of 78 years, 61 days.[3]
As the weather outside was harsh, with daytime temperatures of 7 °F (−14 °C) and wind chills of −25 °F (−32 °C), the event organizers were forced to move the public inaugural ceremony, which had been planned for the open air, inside to the Capitol Rotunda.[4][5][6] Jessye Norman sang Simple Gifts from Aaron Copland's Old American Songs.[7] As had officially happened the day before, Chief Justice Warren E. Burger administered the presidential oath of office to Reagan, and former Associate Justice Potter Stewart administered the vice-presidential oath to Bush. After Reagan's inaugural address and the pronunciation of the benediction by Peter J. Gomes, the U.S. Marine Band played The Star Spangled Banner.
The weather necessitated that the parade be canceled. A replacement event was held in the Capital Centre;[3] 96 people attended the first ceremony and thousands attended the second.
Coverage of the inauguration was provided throughout the United States by NBC,[8] CBS,[9] ABC,[10] and CNN[citation needed].
- ^ "Reagan's Second Inauguration".
- ^ Putzel, Michael (January 21, 1985). "Inaugural put on ice". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. p. A1.
- ^ a b "Reagan Sworn in; Inaugural Parade Canceled by Cold : Health Threat to Thousands Feared; Public Ceremony Today to be Indoors". Los Angeles Times. 21 January 1985.
- ^ Hunt, Terence (January 21, 1985). "Reagan sees 'a new America'". Free Lance-Star. (Fredericksburg, Virginia). Associated Press. p. 1.
- ^ "Reagan: Peace with mighty defense". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 22, 1985. p. A1.
- ^ "Inauguration of President Ronald Wilson Reagan, 1985". Archived from the original on 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "50TH INAUGURAL CEREMONIES". United States Senate. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
- ^ Television Archive Project. "1985 US Presidential Inauguration - NBC Coverage - 10:00AM-3:58PM". YouTube.
- ^ Television Archive Project. "1985 US Presidential Inauguration - CBS Coverage - 11:00AM-3:35PM". Youtube.
- ^ Television Archive Project. "1985 US Presidential Inauguration - ABC Coverage - 11:00AM-3:58PM". Youtube.
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