First inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson

First inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson

The first time Lyndon B. Johnson became the 36th president of the United States was on Friday, November 22, 1963. It happened on Air Force One, a special airplane, at Dallas Love Field. This ceremony took place because President John F. Kennedy had been killed earlier that same day.

This inauguration was very unusual because it was not planned ahead of time. It was the eighth time in history that a new president started their job without a regular ceremony. This event began Lyndon B. Johnson’s first term as president.

Assassination of John F. Kennedy

Main article: Assassination of John F. Kennedy

On November 22, President John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas while in a car with his wife. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was in a car nearby with his wife and a senator. After the shooting, Johnson was quickly protected by a Secret Service agent and both cars rushed to the hospital.

People at first thought Johnson might have been hurt too, but his wife said he was okay, just very upset by what happened. At the hospital, Secret Service agents wanted Johnson to leave right away, but he waited to find out about Kennedy’s condition. When he learned Kennedy had passed away, Johnson left the hospital soon after.

Dallas Love Field

After a sad event, Lyndon B. Johnson needed to become the new president of the United States. He went to Dallas Love Field where the special airplane Air Force One was waiting. He waited for Jacqueline Kennedy, the wife of the former president, before leaving.

When everyone was ready, Judge Sarah T. Hughes came to the airplane to help President Johnson make his official promise as president. This was special because it was the first time a woman helped a president make this promise, and it happened inside an airplane. Johnson made his promise at 2:38 p.m. with his wife and Jacqueline Kennedy beside him. Then, the airplane flew back to Washington, D.C.

Aftermath

After that day, President Johnson made phone calls on the way back to Andrews Air Force Base. He talked to Rose Kennedy, the mother of President Kennedy, and Nellie Connally, the wife of John Connally. He decided that all cabinet members would keep their jobs and planned to meet with leaders from both parties in Congress soon.

Johnson asked Jack Valenti, Bill Moyers, and Liz Carpenter to help him write a short statement about what happened. He made a few changes to it. When he landed at Andrews Air Force Base, he stood in front of microphones and gave his first public statement as president. He said, “This is a sad time for everyone. We have lost someone very important. For me, it is a deep personal loss. I know the world shares the sadness that Mrs. Kennedy and her family feel. I will do my best. That is all I can do. I ask for your help—and God's.”