Welcome to the Number of the Day

January 20, 2021

Prior to Joe Biden’s inauguration, ten (10) U.S. Presidents first took office on January 20: Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.[1]

Three other men were re-inaugurated on January 20 after having assumed the presidency earlier.[1]

Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected in November 1932 but didn’t take office until March 4, 1933.[2] March 4 was the date established in the U.S. Constitution for the transition to a newly-elected president.[3] To shorten the transition period, the date was changed to January 20 by the Twentieth Amendment. It went into effect during Roosevelt’s time in office.[4]

Harry Truman became president upon the death of Roosevelt in 1945.[5] He was re-inaugurated on January 20, 1949.[1]

Lyndon Johnson became president following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. He was re-inaugurated on January 20, 1965.[1]

Gerald Ford took office following the resignation of Richard Nixon. However, he fell short in his bid for re-election and was never inaugurated on January 20.[6]

The Twentieth Amendment also changed the date for a new Congress to be installed. The original date was March 4. It was changed to January 3.[4]