The origin of Polk's Bible is unknown, although a letter in the front of the volume indicates that after the Inauguration, it was presented to Mrs. Polk by the Marshal of the District of Columbia. There is no indication that it was open during the oath-taking, and has no marked passages.
Length of Inaugural Address:
4,801
words
Attire (what the president wore):
Unknown
Weather:
Thunderstorms
at dawn with rain during the day. Total rainfall was .40 inches
and the estimated noon temperature was 42°F. Polk took
his oath of office under an umbrella in heavy rain. The crowd
was a sea of umbrellas with people standing ankle deep in
mud.
Precedents, "firsts" or other interesting information:
Polk's was the first Inaugural ceremony reported by telegraph.
It was also the first Inauguration to appear in a newspaper illustration (Illustrated London News) .
James K. Polk, President of the United States (Library of Congress)
