GovInfo provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government.
Search U.S. Government Publishing Office’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications for catalog records. Many records link to the full text.
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Presidential elections happen every four years and involve two components: the popular vote and the Electoral College. Explore information about the Electoral College, and prints and photographs of some past presidents' oath of office.
Check out this gallery of historic prints and photographs of some Presidential inaugurations and oaths of office, from President Polk to President Clinton. The digital images are from the Library of Congress and National Park Service. Click on the side arrows in this box to see the images.
"Inauguration of President Polk—The oath." 1845. Print retrieved from the Library of Congress
"Washington D.C.—The Inauguration—President Grant taking the oath of office March 4." 1873. Print retrieved from the Library of Congress
Prince, G., photographer. “Chief Justice Morrison R. Waite administering the oath of office to James A. Garfield on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol, March 4,/ G. Prince Photo.” Washington D.C, 1881. Photograph retrieved from the Library of Congress
“Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller administering the oath of office to Benjamin Harrison on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol, March 4.” Washington D.C, 1889. Photograph retrieved from the Library of Congress
“Chief Justice Fuller administering the oath of office to Major McKinley.” Washington D.C, ca. 1897. Photograph retrieved from the Library of Congress
“Theodore Roosevelt’s 1901 Inauguration.” News. Nashville, Tennessee, October 13, 1901. Print retrieved from the National Park Service
“Calvin Coolidge taking the oath of office.” Washington D.C, ca. 1924. Print retrieved from the Library of Congress
“Chief Justice Earl Warren administering the oath of office to Dwight D. Eisenhower on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol.” Washington D.C, 1957. Photograph retrieved from the Library of Congress
“Chief Justice Earl Warren administering the oath of office to Richard M. Nixon on the east portico of the U.S. Capitol.” Washington D.C, 1969. Photograph retrieved from the Library of Congress
“Chief Justice Warren E. Burger administering the oath of office to Jimmy Carter on the east portico of U.S. Capitol.” Washington D.C, 1977. Photograph retrieved from the Library of Congress
“Chief Justice William Rehnquist administering the oath of office to George Bush on the west front of the U.S. Capitol, with Barbara Bush smiling and looking on.” Washington D.C, 1989. Photograph retrieved from the Library of Congress
“Bill Clinton, standing between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Chelsea Clinton, taking the oath of office of president of the United States.” Washington D.C, 1993. Photograph retrieved from the Library of Congress
The process to elect a candidate for the Office of the President of the United States has two steps: the popular vote and the Electoral College. The following U.S. Government resources have more information about the Electoral College.
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USA.gov
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U.S. House of Representatives
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U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
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