First inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson

The first inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson as the 36th president of the United States happened on Friday, November 22, 1963. It took place on Air Force One, a special airplane, at Dallas Love Field. This ceremony happened because President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated 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 was sworn in without a regular ceremony. This event began Lyndon B. Johnson’s first term as president, which lasted for part of a year, about 425 days.

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 that day, President Lyndon B. Johnson needed to become the new president of the United States. He was taken to Dallas Love Field where the special airplane Air Force One was waiting. He needed to wait for Jacqueline Kennedy, the wife of the former president, before he could leave.

Once 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. Twenty-seven people were in a small room without air conditioning while the airplane's engines started up. At 2:38 p.m., Johnson made his promise with his wife and Jacqueline Kennedy beside him. Then, the airplane flew back to Washington, D.C.

Aftermath

After the events of the day, President Johnson made several phone calls during the flight back to Andrews Air Force Base. He spoke with Rose Kennedy, the mother of President Kennedy, and Nellie Connally, the wife of John Connally. He also decided that all cabinet members should stay in their positions and planned to meet with leaders from both parties in Congress soon.

Johnson asked Jack Valenti, Bill Moyers, and Liz Carpenter to help write a short statement for him about the day’s events, and 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 all people. We have suffered a loss that cannot be weighed. For me, it is a deep personal tragedy. I know that the world shares the sorrow that Mrs. Kennedy and her family bear. I will do my best. That is all I can do. I ask for your help—and God's.”