Roosevelt, without overcoat, takes 4th term oath in cold
Voice is clear as he delivers shortest talk
By Frederick C. Othman, United Press staff writer
Washington – (Jan. 20)
Franklin D. Roosevelt, the only man at the inaugural without an overcoat, looked across the thousands crowded into his snow-covered backyard today and swore solemnly to uphold the Constitution for a fourth term as President of the United States.
Mr. Roosevelt’s eyeglasses glistened in the spotlights. His hands may have trembled, but his voice was strong and clear as he repeated the oath after Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone and then delivered the shortest inaugural address he ever gave – 540 words.
On his left was the blue presidential pennant, on his right the American flag. Behind him were the members of his personal and official family. Below him on the ground were the others who were lucky enough to get invitations and hardy enough to brave the wet and the cold.
Wallace swears in Truman
The entire ceremony lasted only 13 minutes.
Sharp at noon the Marine Band broke into strident ruffles and flourishes, then “Hall to the Chief” signaling the President’s arrival at the center of the portico.
Men in the snowy crowd bared their heads for the invocation. Mr. Roosevelt watched retiring Vice President Henry A. Wallace administer the oath to his successor, Harry S. Truman.
The band sounded more ruffles and flourishes, and the President was escorted to the speaker’s rostrum by Marine Col. James Roosevelt, only one of his four fighting sons who was able to come here.
Speaks in clear voice
The President, standing bareheaded, spoke the oath in a clear, resonant voice, his left hand on his old family Dutch Bible and his eyes focused on Chief Justice Stone.
Then after shaking hands with Justice Stone, the President turned slowly toward the crowd, opened his familiar black notebook and delivered his address.
The crowd had applauded when he swore to do his duty as President, and gloved hands clapped again when he completed his speech.
The President stood silently gazing toward the Washington Monument while the minister said the benediction, the band played the “Star-Spangled Banner” and the crowd stood hatless under the dripping trees.
Shortest ceremony in years
Mr. Roosevelt waved his hand to the crowds, which responded with men waving their hats and women shaking handkerchiefs toward the portico.
The President then turned and went back into the White House to the tune of “Hail to the Chief,” thus ending the shortest inauguration in many, many years.
The weather got progressively better after snow stopped falling about 8:00 a.m. and a few minutes before the ceremony began at noon, the skies became considerably lighter. No actual sunlight filtered through the gray overcast, however, and the temperature remained near freezing.
‘Ain’t like old times’
Beyond the iron White House fence, a good two blocks from the mansion, upwards of 6,000 non-ticket-holding spectators spilled over into the ellipse beyond East Street and stood silently in the snow as Mr. Roosevelt’s words came clearly over loudspeakers.
One man, apparently a veteran of other inaugurations, shook his head as he stamped about outside the fence.
“It ain’t like old times,” he said.