Iconic U.S. presidential inauguration photos

James Buchanan: 1857

This photo, which shows the 15th U.S. president James Buchanan, is the first-known photo of an inauguration. In the image captured during his March 1857 inauguration, Buchanan is pictured at the east front of the U.S. Capitol.

Abraham Lincoln: 1865

A large crowd awaits President Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration, held on a rainy day at the U.S. Capitol grounds in Washington in 1865. You can see Lincoln standing at centre, papers in hand. Lincoln's second inaugural address is inscribed on the walls of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, along with his Gettysburg address.

The crowd at the second inauguration, held on March 4, included African-American troops.

William Howard Taft: 1909

After a blizzard lashed Washington, thousands of city workers removed snow along the parade route for the William Howard Taft inauguration on March 4, 1909. His wife, Helen Herron Taft, not seen here, joined the president in the parade to the White House for the first time in inaugural history. 

Franklin Delano Roosevelt: 1933

After taking his oath of office, Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed a nation deeply rattled by the Great Depression with a speech that included his famous quote that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Here, onlookers vie for a good view of Roosevelt's March 4, 1933 inauguration in Washington. 

Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon: 1953

Photographers crowd around the dais on which stand President Dwight D. Eisenhower, left, and Vice-President Richard Nixon after Eisenhower's inaugural parade on Jan. 23,1953.

Dwight D. Eisenhower: 1957

Eisenhower, left, has a spot of tea with Nixon, during his second inauguration in Washington on Jan. 21, 1957.  Nixon would go on to be president from Jan. 20, 1969 to Aug. 9, 1974.

John F. Kennedy: 1961

President John F. Kennedy gives his inaugural address at the Capitol in Washington after he took the oath of office on Jan. 20, 1961. Listening in the front row are, from left, Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson, campaign opponent Richard Nixon, Senator John Sparkman of Alabama, and former president Harry Truman.

Jimmy Carter: 1977

President Jimmy Carter, who grew up on and later ran a peanut farm, was inaugurated in Washington on Jan. 20, 1977. Some of Carter's supporters were referred to as the 'peanut brigade' and peanuts were a visual theme for his presidential campaign. Here, a 12-metre peanut-shaped float passes by the review stand.

The 39th president waves to the crowd while making the two-kilometre stretch with his wife, Rosalynn, and their daughter, Amy.

Ronald Reagan: 1981

Not all presidents walk along the parade route. Here, President Ronald Reagan salutes beside his wife Nancy Reagan after becoming the 40th President of the United States on Jan. 20, 1981, at the Capitol in Washington. It was so cold at Reagan's second inauguration in 1985 that the president decided to cancel the parade, citing "risks to the well- being of many of the thousands who would attend and work at these events.''

Bill Clinton: 1993

Musical performances have become part of the inauguration ceremonies. Here, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross appear on stage with Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea during celebrations at the Lincoln Memorial for his presidential inauguration on Jan. 17, 1993.

George W Bush: 2001

Newly sworn-in President George W. Bush shakes hands with presidential campaign opponent Al Gore, as Clinton looks on outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2001.

Barack Obama: 2009

Barack Obama speaks during his inauguration ceremony in Washington, on Jan. 20, 2009. "Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America," said Obama, who spoke before more than one million people crowded into Washington's National Mall.

Barack Obama: 2013

Obama waves to the crowd after delivering his inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 21, 2013.  The inauguration's official theme was "Faith in America's Future."