Pointless Presidential Pfacts #29 - "First Frist Ladies and Inauguration"

The role of a first lady on Inauguration Day increased early in the 20th Century.

Helen Taft became the first to ride back to the White House with the newly sworn in president, William Howard Taft, in 1909.

The Tafts ride back from the Capitol after the inaugural ceremonies on March 4, 1909.

For Woodrow Wilson's second swearing-in, Edith Wilson became the first First Lady to accompany the president to and from the ceremony. In 1921, the outgoing first lady, Wilson, rode with incoming first lady Florence Harding to the Capitol starting the tradition of first ladies following the president and president-elect. Eventually, First Ladies and Second Ladies would ride to the Capitol with their successors separately from their husbands.

On Lyndon Johnson's Inauguration Day in 1965, Lady Bird Johnson became the first First Lady to hold the Bible for the president. Judy Agnew became the first Second Lady to hold the Bible for the vice president on Vice President Spiro Agnew's second inauguration in 1973.

Lady Bird Johnson holds the Bible for President Lyndon Johnson on January 20, 1965.

Judy Agnew holds the Bible for Vice President Spiro Agnew on January 20, 1973.