Presidential Fun Fact of the Day

Some tidbits from Franklin Pierce's inauguration:

1. Pierce was the first president to deliver his inaugural address from memory.

2. He was the only president to affirm his loyalty to the Constitution rather than swear it.

3. Only weeks before the inauguration, the Pierces' son was killed in a train accident. This may explain Pierce's unwillingness to swear on the Bible.

4. Jane Pierce refused to attend her husband's inauguration. She had been opposed to his political career and had only recently found out that he had actively sought the presidency.

5. Understandably, Pierce behaved all day as though he wanted to get it over with as soon as possible.

Posted by Jennifer at March 11, 2004 08:05 AM

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