Lyndon B. Johnson's Inauguration Aboard Air Force One
Following the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, the United States faced an immediate and unprecedented constitutional transition. In the chaotic hours that followed, arrangements were made to secure the safety of the Vice President's daughters, Lynda Bird Johnson Robb and Luci Baines Johnson, while Lyndon B. Johnson was transported via an unmarked police car to Dallas Love Field. To ensure the highest level of communication security, it was decided that the new president would depart from the presidential aircraft.
The atmosphere at the airfield was tense. President Johnson waited for Jacqueline Kennedy, who refused to leave Dallas without her husband's body. While Kennedy's casket was eventually brought aboard Air Force One, the departure was delayed to allow for the formal swearing-in of the 36th President of the United States.
There was significant concern regarding potential interference from local authorities. The Secret Service had removed Kennedy's body from Parkland Hospital against the wishes of the Dallas medical examiner, Earl Rose, who had insisted that an autopsy was required. This conflict created fears that the Dallas Police Department might attempt to prevent the aircraft from taking off.
The Swearing-In Ceremony
President Johnson selected federal district Judge Sarah T. Hughes, a long-time friend, to administer the oath. The ceremony took place in the 12-by-15-foot stateroom of Air Force One, where twenty-seven people crowded together. The conditions were uncomfortable; because the aircraft had been disconnected from external power to facilitate a prompt takeoff, there was no air conditioning. As the proceedings began, the roar of the four jet engines powering up added to the intensity of the moment.
According to the Warren Commission (the official government body tasked with investigating the assassination), the process was expedited. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy advised Johnson to take the oath before leaving Dallas. At 2:38 p.m. CST, Lyndon Baines Johnson was officially sworn in as president, flanked by Lady Bird Johnson and Jacqueline Kennedy.
Historical Firsts and Anomalies
The inauguration was marked by several historical anomalies. Judge Sarah T. Hughes became the first woman to ever administer the presidential oath of office. Furthermore, this remains the only time in U.S. history that a president was sworn in aboard an airplane. Typically, the Chief Justice of the United States—at the time, Earl Warren—performs this duty.
Another notable detail involved the religious text used for the oath. Instead of a traditional Bible, Johnson was sworn in upon a missal (a liturgical book containing the texts for the Mass) found on a side table in Kennedy's bedroom. Although Johnson was not Catholic, the book was mistaken for a Bible at the time. Following the oath, Johnson kissed his wife on the forehead, and Lady Bird Johnson comforted Jacqueline Kennedy, stating, "The whole nation mourns your husband."
Documenting the Moment
The event was captured for history by Cecil Stoughton, the official photographer for John F. Kennedy, using a Hasselblad camera. To protect the dignity of the grieving widow, Stoughton suggested that Johnson and the two women face slightly away from the lens so that the blood stains on Jacqueline Kennedy's pink Chanel suit would not be visible. Simultaneously, White House Press Secretary Malcolm Kilduff recorded the audio of the ceremony using the aircraft's Dictaphone.
Nine minutes after the oath was administered, Air Force One departed Dallas for Washington, D.C.
Key Facts
- Time of Oath: 2:38 p.m. CST.
- Location: Stateroom of Air Force One, Dallas Love Field.
- Administered by: Judge Sarah T. Hughes (the first woman to do so).
- Unique Circumstance: The only presidential inauguration conducted on an aircraft.
- Text Used: A Catholic missal, mistaken for a Bible.
- Departure: The plane left for Washington, D.C., nine minutes after the ceremony.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| President Sworn In | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Administering Official | Judge Sarah T. Hughes |
| Number of Witnesses | 27 people |
| Official Photographer | Cecil Stoughton |
| Audio Recorder | Malcolm Kilduff |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Lyndon B. Johnson sworn in on a plane?
The inauguration took place on Air Force One to ensure a prompt departure from Dallas and to utilize the aircraft's superior communications equipment during a period of national crisis.
Who was the first woman to administer the presidential oath?
Federal district Judge Sarah T. Hughes was the first woman to administer the oath of office to a U.S. President.
Was a Bible used during the ceremony?
No; Johnson was sworn in on a missal found in the aircraft's bedroom, which was mistaken for a Bible at the time.
Why did the photographer ask the group to face away from the camera?
Cecil Stoughton suggested the positioning so that the blood stains on Jacqueline Kennedy's pink Chanel suit would not be visible in the photograph.
What caused the delay in Air Force One's takeoff?
Takeoff was delayed until Jacqueline Kennedy arrived with her husband's body and until President Johnson had officially taken the oath of office.