President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953

Vice President		Richard M. Nixon
Inauguration Date		Tuesday, January 20, 1953
Location		East Portico, U.S. Capitol
Oath Administered By:		Frederick Vinson, Chief Justice
Bible Used:		Eisenhower used two Bibles: the Bible used by George Washington in 1789 (belonging to St. John's Masonic Lodge No. 1), opened to II Chronicles 7:14; and his own personal "West Point Bible," opened to Psalm 33:12.
Length of Inaugural Address:		2,446 words
Attire (what the president wore):		Morning coat, striped trousers
Weather:		Cloudy skies, with a noon temperature of 49°F
Precedents, "firsts" or other interesting information:		President Eisenhower broke with tradition by reciting his own prayer after he repeated the oath of office, rather than kissing the Bible. For the first time, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies hosted a luncheon for the President and Vice President at the Capitol.
Luncheon:		The JCCIC began its current tradition of hosting a luncheon for the President and Vice President and special guests. Fifty-two guests joined the President and First Lady at the Capitol for a menu featuring gulf shrimp; olives, radishes, and tomato juice; creamed chicken in patty shell; baked sugar-cured ham; cranberry jelly; watermelon pickles; potato puffs; new peas in butter; green salad; and ice cream sundaes adn petit fours for dessert.

Dwight D. Eisenhower taking the oath of office, January 20, 1953 (Library of Congress)