Back in Time Today
Presidential inaugurations are meant to be solemn, patriotic ceremonies—but history proves they’re often anything but. From drunken antics and fashion faux pas to deadly riots and bizarre oaths, these inauguration day disasters shook the nation and rewrote the rules of American tradition. Buckle up for a wild ride through 10 moments that turned history’s most sacred day into pure chaos.
1. Vice President Andrew Johnson Was Wasted During His Oath (1865)
Just six weeks before Lincoln was assassinated, his new VP gave a slurred, embarrassing speech while drunk at the Capitol. Johnson was allegedly trying to “medicate” for typhoid fever—but instead, he rambled, forgot names, and had to be cut off mid-rant. Not exactly confidence-inspiring.
2. William Henry Harrison Gave the Longest Speech—and Died (1841)
Harrison wanted to prove he was tough, so he gave a two-hour inaugural speech in freezing rain, without a coat or hat. One month later, he was dead of pneumonia. His poor judgment created the shortest presidency in history—and a cautionary tale about vanity on Inauguration Day.
3. Ulysses S. Grant’s Parade Was Ruined by a Mad Horse Stampede (1873)
During Grant’s second inauguration, frigid temperatures turned D.C. into an icy nightmare. Horses pulling parade floats panicked, slipped, and trampled through the crowd. At least 100 people were injured in the chaos—and the fancy inaugural ball was so cold, food froze to the tables.
4. Teddy Roosevelt’s Oath Almost Didn’t Count (1905)
Roosevelt’s swearing-in was nearly invalidated when Chief Justice Melville Fuller botched the words. The Constitution requires the exact 35-word oath, and rumors swirled that Teddy technically wasn’t president for several minutes—until they redid it just to be safe.
5. Andrew Jackson’s Inauguration Turned into a Drunken Rager (1829)
The “People’s President” lived up to his nickname—but maybe a little too well. After Jackson took the oath of office, thousands of commoners stormed the White House, climbed through windows, stood on furniture, and drank everything in sight. It got so out of hand, staff had to lure the crowd back outside by placing booze on the lawn. Classy.
6. A Segregated Ball Sparked Backlash at Woodrow Wilson’s Inauguration (1913)
Though Wilson ran as a “progressive,” his inauguration included a racially segregated inaugural ball—outraging Black leaders and civil rights groups. Worse yet, the incoming administration rolled back decades of federal integration just days later.
7. Protesters Tried to Block Nixon’s Motorcade with Snowballs (1969)
As Richard Nixon’s car drove down Pennsylvania Avenue, demonstrators hurled snowballs and smoke bombs at his motorcade. Thousands of anti-war protesters lined the route, shouting “Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh!” and even clashing with police. It was one of the most turbulent inaugural days in modern history.
8. Jimmy Carter’s Walk Down Pennsylvania Avenue Was a Security Nightmare (1977)
Carter wanted to show he was “of the people,” so he walked the inaugural parade route—the first president to do so in modern times. Secret Service agents were horrified, as the crowds pressed in and security protocol collapsed. The tradition stuck, but it nearly ended in disaster.
9. Bill Clinton’s Inaugural Gala Was Accused of Selling Access (1993)
Clinton’s lavish inaugural celebrations raised over $13 million—mostly from corporations and wealthy donors. Critics blasted it as a “pay-to-play” scheme that gave big money a front-row seat to power. Ethics watchdogs raised alarms, but the party went on anyway.
10. Donald Trump’s Crowd Size Controversy Sparked a Media War (2017)
Trump’s inauguration became infamous not for what happened on stage—but for what happened afterward. His administration falsely claimed it had “the largest audience ever,” despite photographic evidence to the contrary. The bizarre press conference defending the lie lit the fuse for four years of media mistrust.