First inauguration of Ronald Reagan

First Presidential Inauguration of Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan takes the oath of office as the President of the United States.
Date	January 20, 1981; 36 years ago (1981-01-20)
Location	Washington, D.C. United States Capitol
Participants	President of the United States, Ronald Wilson Reagan Assuming office Chief Justice of the United States, Warren Earl Burger Administering oath Vice President of the United States George Herbert Walker Bush Assuming office Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Potter Stewart Administering oath

The first inauguration of Ronald Reagan as the 40th President of the United States was held on January 20, 1981, on the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.. This was the first inauguration to be held on the building's west side. The inauguration marked the commencement of the first four-year term of Ronald Reagan as President and of George H. W. Bush as Vice President. Chief Justice Warren E. Burger administered the presidential oath of office to Reagan, who placed his hand upon a family Bible given to him by his mother, open to II Chronicles 7:14.Associate Justice Potter Stewart administered the vice presidential oath to Bush.

At 7009220762800000000♠69 years, 349 days of age on Inauguration Day, Reagan was the oldest person to assume the presidency until Donald Trump in 2017. While the inauguration was taking place, the 52 Americans being held hostage in Iran were released.

The 1981 Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the group responsible for the planning and execution of the Inauguration, was composed of: