First inauguration of Ulysses S. Grant

First presidential inauguration of Ulysses S. Grant

Grant delivering his first inaugural address at the United States Capitol, March 4, 1869.
Date	March 4, 1869; 155 years ago (1869-03-04)
Location	United States Capitol, Washington, D.C.
Participants	Ulysses S. Grant 18th president of the United States — Assuming office Salmon P. Chase Chief Justice of the United States — Administering oath Schuyler Colfax 17th vice president of the United States — Assuming office Benjamin Wade President pro tempore of the United States Senate — Administering oath
← 1865 (extraordinary) 1873 →

The first inauguration of Ulysses S. Grant as the 18th president of the United States was held on March 4, 1869, at the East Portico of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. This was the 21st presidential inauguration and marked the commencement of the first four-year term of Ulysses S. Grant as president and the only term of Schuyler Colfax as vice president. Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase administered the presidential oath of office. Outgoing president Andrew Johnson did not attend the inaugural ceremonies, as he and Grant refused to sit with each other in the carriage going to them. Johnson also refused to go in a separate carriage. Instead, he was in the White House signing last-minute legislation.^[1] This was the fourth time an outgoing president boycotted his elected successor's inauguration, an event that would not occur again until Donald Trump boycotted Joe Biden's inauguration in 2021 after failing to overturn the results.^[2]

Grant's 1869 inaugural parade was grander than any of those before him: special tickets were required for admission to the Capitol on inauguration day, eight full divisions of soldiers marched down Pennsylvania Avenue, and windows overlooking the parade route sold for very high prices. ^[3] That evening, a ball was held in the Treasury Building.^[4]