Historical Inaugurations

Black and white images of historic presidential inaugurations, capturing crowds, key figures, and ceremonial moments from the mid-20th century.

'The East End Greets The Princess - May, 1946', 1947. The future Queen Elizabeth II visits Londoners a year after the end of the Second World War. From "Princess Elizabeth: The Illustrated Story of Twenty-one Years in the Life of the Heir Presumptive", by Dermot Morrah. Odhams Press Limited, London, 1947

State of the Union Address, 12:33PM. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy and others listen to President John F. Kennedy deliver his annual address to the Congress on the State of the Union. Also pictured: President Kennedy's Personal Secretary, Evelyn Lincoln; First Lady's Press Secretary, Pamela Turnure; Erma Lee Webb Udall (wife of Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall); Jane Shields Freeman (wife of Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman); Princess Lee Radziwill (sister of the First Lady); Janet Lee Auchincloss (mother of the First Lady); Margaret Craig McNamara (wife of Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara); Representative Clark W. Thompson (Texas); Lady Bird Johnson; Virginia Rusk (wife of Secretary of State Dean Rusk); First Lady's Social Secretary, Letitia Baldrige; Phyllis Chess Ellsworth (wife of Secretary of the Treasury C. Douglas Dillon). Chamber of the House of Representatives, Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.

Evangelist Billy Graham preaching to crowd at crusade, Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C., USA, John T. Bledsoe, U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph Collection, June 25, 1960

Madrid, 02/11/1968. Queen Victoria Eugenia visits Madrid on the occasion of the birth of her great-grandson, the Infante Don Felipe. In the image, farewell at Barajas Airport. With her, her son, Don Juan de Borbón, and her grandson, Prince Juan Carlos. Behind Doña Sofía and the Duke of Cádiz.

Anefo photo collection. State visit President Senghor from Senegal to the Netherlands Kranzleggings by Senghor at National Monument. October 22, 1974. Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

Ben Chifley. October 21, 1949.

composer D. Shostakovich, 1906 - 1975, was a Soviet and Russian composer and pianist. He is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century

Address to the Annual Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the US, 10:00AM. President John F. Kennedy speaks to an audience at the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C.

CARY GRANT and SAMANTHA EGGAR in WALK DON'T RUN (1966), directed by CHARLES WALTERS.

President Richard Nixon leans across car to shake hands with construction workers were from the new IBM building in Chicago. Sept 17, 1970.

Trip to Boston: President Kennedys Address at Boston College Centennial Ceremonies. Cardinal Cushing, Archbishop of Boston; Governor Endicott Peabody of Massachusetts; Nathan M. Pusey, President of Harvard University; Edward M. Kennedy (EMK). Archbishop of Boston, Richard Cardinal Cushing (at lectern), speaks at a convocation ceremony commemorating the centennial anniversary of Boston College. Those pictured include: President John F. Kennedy; Representative Edward P. Boland (Massachusetts); Representative Thomas P. Tip O'Neill, Jr. (Massachusetts); President of Harvard University, Dr. Nathan M. Pusey; Senator Leverett Saltonstall (Massachusetts); Governor of Massachusetts, Endicott Chub Peabody; Speaker of the House of Representatives, John W. McCormack (Massachusetts). Alumni Field, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

Anefo photo collection. Marriage Princess Irene Prince Carlos Hugo de Bourbon Parma. April 29, 1964. Italy, Rome

Stockholm (Switzerland), 12/10/1982. Gabriel García Márquez at the ceremony in which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Arrival ceremonies for Ramon Villeda Morales, President of Honduras, 10:40AM. President John F. Kennedy looks on as President of the Republic of Honduras, Dr. Ramón Villeda Morales (at microphones), delivers remarks during arrival ceremonies in his honor; U.S. State Department interpreter, Fernando van Reigersberg (back to camera), stands at far right. South Lawn, White House, Washington, D.C.

President William McKinley at the Pan American, September 5th, 1901, the day before he was assassinated

President John and Jacqueline Kennedy leaving Newport's St. Mary's Church where they attended 10 o'clock mass. Eight years earlier they were married there. Oct. 8, 1961.

Anefo photo collection. Princess Beatrix reveals Bonifatius monument in Dokkum Kop Princess Beatrix. June 5, 1962. Dokkum

Anefo photo collection. Queen Juliana is present at the 50th anniversary of the Dutch Association of Housewives. Queen Juliana between 7500 housewives. April 17, 1962

Anefo photo collection. Visit from the American vice-president George Bush. George Bush during a press conference in the Rolzaal of the Binnenhof in The Hague; Links Premier Lubbers. February 2, 1983. The Hague, South Holland

U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt delivering Speech while Accepting an Honorary Degree at Catholic University of America Washington DC USA Harris & Ewing June 14 1933

Anefo photo collection. His Royal Highness Prince Bernhard visited meeting of the Bond Reformed Youth Association in Utrecht. Prince Bernhard during his speech. May 23, 1963. Utrecht

U.S. President Herbert Hoover, Mrs. Hoover and Chief Justice William Howard Taft inside Presidential Reviewing Stand during Parade for Hoover's Inauguration, Washington, D.C., USA, Photograph by National Photo Company, March 4, 1929

U.S. Vice President Richard M. Nixon, presidential nominee with Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., Vice Presidential nominee, at rostrum during Republican National Convention, Chicago, Illinois, USA, Warren K. Leffler, U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph Collection, July 28, 1960

Princess Elizabeth Enjoys Herself at The Circus - Princess Elizabeth smilingly points out an amusing incident to other members of her party as she sits watching the antics of the performers in the Bertram Mills Cirous at Olympia, London, this evening (Thurs). December 30, 1948. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

King Christian of Denmark (1870-1947). During WWII Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany. Both the Danish Government and the King, Christian X continued to function relatively normally until 1943.

William Jennings Bryan standing next to flag draped table on stage during 1908 Democratic National Convention

On October 26, 1982, Felipe González closed the historic rally, before his first electoral victory, on the site that is now occupied by the botanical garden.

President Richard Nixon greets supporters as he arrived at this Key Biscayne retreat. May 15, 1970.

Seville, 11/16/1930. José Félix de Lequerica Erquiza during his speech at the monarchical affirmation rally at the Frontón Betis.

Clement Attlee Speaks To His Constitution -- Prime Minister Clement Attlee is "Our member" to the voter of Walthamstow West, and on Saturday the Premier was "down their way" to speak at "Golden Jubilee" Railway. September 11, 1950. (Photo by Fox Photos).

Vietnamese refugees meeting various American figures including Claudia Cardinale, Nguyen Cao Ky, Rosemary Clooney, and Betty Ford on May 10, 1975. The photo captures their visit and interaction.

Inauguration of Harry S. Truman, 1949 - digital file from original | Library of Congress

JUAN CARLOS I. REY DE ESPAÑA. ROMA 1938-. VIAJE A ANDALUCIA EN EL AÑO 1976. PASANDO ENTRE LA MULTITUD.

Meeting with Konrad Adenauer, Chancellor of West Germany, 4:24PM. President John F. Kennedy speaks as part of a joint statement with Chancellor of West Germany Konrad Adenauer in front of a group of reporters outside the entrance to the West Lobby of the White House, Washington, D.C.

Gustavo Diaz Ordaz with US President Richard Nixon visiting San Diego USA. Gustavo Díaz Ordaz Bolaños (12 March 1911 15 July 1979) served as the President of Mexico from 1964 to 1970.

Anefo photo collection. Queen's Day 1983 in Lochem and Vaassen. Waving Queen Beatrix. 30 April 1983. Gelderland

Italian politician and Mayor of Bologna Renzo Imbeni talking to his citizens during the visit of Italian politician and President of the Italian Republic Sandro Pertini. Bologna, 1980s

President Eisenhower's funeral. Mamie Eisenhower, the former President's widow, weeps during the burial services at the Eisenhower Library. April 2, 1969.

Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping shakes hands with President Jimmy Carter at the White House, Washington, DC, 01/29/1979. (Photo by Thomas O'Halloran/GG Vintage Images)

1975 (CA.). The politician Luis María Xirinacs during an event.

President Herbert Hoover speaking at Gettysburg Battlefield. His Memorial Day speech reflected his Quaker faith, as he called for national unity and peaceful tolerance. June 27, 1930.

Zivia Lubetkin (1914-1976), testifying at Adolf Eichmann war crimes trial in Jerusalem. She was a leader in the Polish Jewish Resistance during World War II, and fought in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. After the war she lead the rehabilitation of Holocaust victims and entered Palestine in 1946.

Campaign Trip to Pennsylvania. View of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Arena as President John F. Kennedy delivers remarks during a Democratic fund-raising dinner in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; President Kennedy traveled to Harrisburg as part of a congressional campaign trip.

President Richard Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon Greeted by Enthusiastic Crowds in Warsaw.

1908 - Founder of Socialism, Eugene Victor Debs, candidate of the Socialist Party, during his 1908 campaign for President of the United States.

South Asian Indian Bollywood actor Amitabh bachchan at his election rally in Allahabad ; India NO MR

U.S. Presidential candidate Richard M. Nixon and his wife Pat Nixon greeting supporters including women and children, outdoors, Warren K. Leffler, U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph Collection, April 11, 1960

Richard Nixon (1913 - 1994) president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, Nixon previously served as the 36th vice president from 1953 to 1961, he became the only president to resign from the office, following the Watergate scandal.

Cuban Leader Fidel Castro speaking at Microphones upon his arrival at Airport, Washington National Airport, Washington, D.C., USA, Warren K. Leffler, April 15, 1959

Opening Day of the 1961 Baseball Season, 1:10PM. President John F. Kennedy throws the first pitch of the 1961 baseball season at Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C. Those looking on include Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota; Special Assistant to the President Dave Powers; majority owner of the Washington Senators franchise General Elwood R. Pete Quesada; Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen of Illinois; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Abraham Ribicoff; Associate Press Secretary Andrew Hatcher; Secret Service Agents Gerald "Jerry" Behn and John J. Muggsy O'Leary.

Madrid, 02/09/1968. Queen Victoria Eugenia visits Madrid on the occasion of the birth of her great-grandson, the Infante Don Felipe. In the image, the Queen's visit to the Red Cross.

ALEC GUINNESS in CROMWELL (1970), directed by KEN HUGHES.

Politics, discussion, folklore, dance, song and play are the ingredients of the DKP's UZ festival in the Rheinwiesen on 19.9.1975 with star guest Valentina Tereshkova (USSR cosmonaut) in Duesseldorf. Valentina Tereshkova, Germany, Europe

Anefo photo collection. 25 Birthday Government Jubilee Queen Juliana; Royal couple military tribute Palace House ten Bosch. September 3, 1973. Hague, South Holland

Madrid, 05/19/1935. José Antonio Primo de Rivera, at a Spanish Falange rally at the Madrid cinema.

President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Immigration Act as Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Lady Bird Johnson, Muriel Humphrey, Sen. Edward (Ted) Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and others look on. Liberty Island, New York, New York - October 3, 1965

Speech at a political rally in Trenton, New Jersey. President John F. Kennedy makes a speech endorsing Democratic candidate Richard J. Hughes for Governor of New Jersey at a political rally held at the War Memorial Building in Trenton, New Jersey. Seated on the platform (L-R): Richard J. Hughes; David T. Wilentz, New Jersey Democratic National Committeeman; Congressman Frank Thompson, Jr.; Helen Stevenson Meyner; Governor of New Jersey Robert B. Meyner; and Elizabeth Hughes.

Anefo photo collection. Ralley Monte Carlo. January 24, 1952. Monte Carlo

Press Conference, State Department Auditorium, 10:00AM. President John F. Kennedy addresses reporters at a press conference in the State Department Auditorium, Washington, D.C.

Photograph of Douglas Fairbanks at the Third Liberty Loan rally for funds. Dated 1918

Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), American conductor, composer and pianist. He was best known as the music director of the New York Philharmonic and for writing the music for West Side Story.

Madrid, 11/27/1975. Acts of exaltation to the Crown. The Kings of Spain, Don Juan Carlos and Doña Sofía, greet from the Rolls Royce discovered in the streets of Madrid.

China's Leaders Urge Emancipation of World Womanhood -- Madame Chiang Kai-Shek addresses the anniversary meeting at Chungking - a close-up study of one of the cleverest women in China at the present time and one looked up to almost with veneration by her compatriots. On the anniversary of international women's day, March 8, the Chinese supreme leader Chiang Kai-Shek and Madame Chiang Kai-Shek both made vigorous appeals for women's emancipation at an anniversary meeting at Chungking. April 18, 1939. (Photo by The Associated Press of Great Britain Ltd.)

Lenin, Trotsky and Kamenev in Moscow, Russia, 1920

Anefo photo collection. American-Belgian jazz singers in watch the rich show, Donna Higgetwer poses after the press conference. April 10, 1964

U.S. President Jimmy Carter delivering State of the Union Address to Joint Session of Congress, Washington, D.C., USA, Warren K. Leffler, January 22, 1979

Franklin D. Roosevelt - Franklin D. Roosevelt inauguration at U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C. - March 4, 1933.

Trip to Louisiana and Florida: New Orleans, Louisiana, address at City Hall, 11:40AM. President John F. Kennedy delivers an address to a large crowd of people at City Hall Plaza, from the balcony of City Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Trip to South America: La Morita, Venezuela agrarian reform site, 12:15PM. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy addresses the audience in Spanish at La Morita Resettlement Project in La Morita, Venezuela, at a ceremony granting farmers titles to land under the Agrarian Reform Program. President John F. Kennedy stands to the right of Mrs. Kennedy; President of Venezuela Rómulo Betancourt sits to the right of President Kennedy in the front row. US State Department interpreter, Donald Barnes, stands to the left of Mrs. Kennedy. Also seated in the group at right: United States Chief of Protocol, Angier Biddle Duke; Chester B. Bowles, President Kennedys Special Representative and Adviser on African, Asian, and Latin-American Affairs; US Ambassador to Venezuela, Teodoro Moscoso; Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, Robert F. Woodward; Naval Aide to President Kennedy, Captain Tazewell Shepard.

JAMES R. HOFFA-With his wife after being elected as General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union,Miami Beach, FL. 7/7/66

Duke Of Windsor Abdication December 1936. December 28, 1936. (Photo by Associated Press)

Anefo photo collection. Series: Marriage Princess Beatrix Prince Claus. March 10, 1966. Amsterdam

Elizabeth Freeman

Trip to Western States: Honolulu, Hawaii, arrival at Honolulu International Airport, 9:10PM. President John F. Kennedy (center right, wearing flower leis) greets crowds gathered at Honolulu International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii; spectators hold campaign signs that read, Kennedy for President - Leadership for the 60s. Also pictured: Representative Thomas Ponce Gill (Hawaii); newsreel photographer for United Press Movietone, Thomas J. Craven, Sr.; White House Secret Service agent, Toby Chandler. Notes: Discoloration at bottom right is original to the negative.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, speaking at the Ramna Racecourse Dhaka 1971

Anefo photo collection. Series: Marriage Princess Beatrix Prince Claus. March 10, 1966. Amsterdam

Statue of Eleanor Roosevelt at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Washington, D.C. USA. (Editorial Use Only)

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