ON THIS DAY – AT 8:28 A.M. ET:  March 4th is a day rich in American history.  At one time this was presidential inauguration day.  A president would be elected in November, and would have to wait until March 4th to take office.  (George Washington's first inaugural was actually held on April 30th.  His second was on March 4th.)  The wait was so long that some people probably forgot who the new president was, and in some cases that was easy.  So, the date was changed to January 20th.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's first inaugural, March 4, 1933, was the last to be held on the March date.  His second inaugural, in 1937, was the first held on January 20th.  The January 20th date was set by adoption of the 20th amendment to the Constitution.

The most memorable January 20th inauguration was probably John F. Kennedy's in 1961 because of the heavy snowstorm that hit Washington, and was no doubt caused by global warming.  Actually, only eight inches of snow fell, but Washington is a government city, and eight inches of snow creates a disaster requiring many meetings, decisions and an occasional plow.  The inauguration was held in 22-degree cold, outside. 

The least memorable January 20th inauguration was Jimmy Carter's in 1977...because it was Jimmy Carter's inauguration. 

The final March 4th inauguration, FDR's in 1933, was famous for the words, "...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."  After speaking those words,  President Roosevelt gave a blunt, cold, and stark description of where the country stood, as the Depression was hitting with a full blast.  Americans understood that they had a lot more to fear than fear itself, but it was that one declaration of hope that became famous.

Our next inauguration will be January 20, 2013.  And the president will be...?

March 4, 2011