President William Howard Taft, 1909

Vice President		James S. Sherman (1909-1912) None (1912-1913)
Inauguration Date		Thursday, March 4, 1909
Location		Senate Chamber, U.S. Capitol
Oath Administered By:		Melville W. Fuller, Chief Justice
Bible Used:		Century-old Bible belonging to the Supreme Court, open to I Kings 3:9-11
Length of Inaugural Address:		5,426 words
Attire (what the president wore):		Unknown
Weather:		Heavy, drifting snow, and strong winds. The 10 inch snow fall ended at 12:20 p.m., but the afternoon remained cloudy and windy. Estimated noon temperature of 32°F.
Precedents, "firsts" or other interesting information:		Taft's Inauguration was held indoors, in the Senate chamber, due to the snowfall. Strong winds toppled trees and telephone poles, trains were stalled and city streets unpassable. City workers shoveled sand and snow through half the night. It took 6,000 men and 500 wagons to clear 58,000 tons of snow and slush from the parade route. Helen Herron Taft became the first First Lady to accompany her husband on the return ride from the Capitol to the White House following his Inauguration.

President Taft and First Lady Helen Taft, riding to White House, March 4, 1909
(Library of Congress)