Live Radio
Home » Inauguration News » Photos: Presidential inaugural balls…

Photos: Presidential inaugural balls through the years

Kelley Vlahos | kvlahos@WTOP.com

January 19, 2017, 10:52 AM

Members of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's family are shown in their box at the inaugural ball, March 4, 1933. New first lady Eleanor Roosevelt is shown at far right (AP Photo)
Members of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s family are shown in their box at the inaugural ball, March 4, 1933. New first lady Eleanor Roosevelt is shown at far right. There were no balls after that due to the Great Depression and during WWII, and what is considered the modern inaugural ball started up again with Truman’s inaugural in 1949. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
President Dwight Eisenhower and first lady Mamie at inaugural ball 1957. (AP)
President Dwight Eisenhower and first lady Mamie at inaugural ball 1957. (AP)
AP
Jacqueline Kennedy lifts the skirt of her inaugural ball gown as she and her husband, President-elect John F. Kennedy, leave their Georgetown home in the snowfall en route to the inaugural concert in Washington, D.C., Jan. 19, 1961. (AP Photo)
Jacqueline Kennedy lifts the skirt of her inaugural ball gown as she and her husband, President-elect John F. Kennedy, leave their Georgetown home in the snowfall en route to the inaugural concert in Washington, D.C., Jan. 19, 1961. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Newly-elected President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy leave the White House, in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 1961, for a series of visits to inaugural balls. The first lady wore her specially-designed haute couture white silk sheath and matching coat. As the 35th President of the United States, Kennedy defeated Vice President Richard M. Nixon in one of the closest presidential elections of the 20th century by a plurality of just 114,000 votes. The Kennedys brought a cultured and glamorous era known as "Camelot" to American politics. (AP Photo/Henry Burroughs)
Newly-elected President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy leave the White House, in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 1961, for a series of visits to inaugural balls. The first lady wore her specially-designed haute couture white silk sheath and matching coat. As the 35th President of the United States, Kennedy defeated Vice President Richard M. Nixon in one of the closest presidential elections of the 20th century by a plurality of just 114,000 votes. The Kennedys brought a cultured and glamorous era known as “Camelot” to American politics. (AP Photo/Henry Burroughs)
AP Photo/Henry Burroughs
President Richard Nixon and first lady Pat addressing the inaugural ball in 1969. (AP)
President Richard Nixon and first lady Pat addressing the inaugural ball in 1969. (AP)
AP
U.S. President Richard Nixon dances with his partner during inaugural ball at the John F. Kennedy center, Jan. 20, 1973. The president and his wife were making the rounds of the five inaugural balls. (AP Photo)
U.S. President Richard Nixon dances with his partner during inaugural ball at the John F. Kennedy center, Jan. 20, 1973. The president and his wife were making the rounds of the five inaugural balls. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
President Jimmy Carter holds his wife Rosalynn's hand as she says a few words at an inaugural party in Washington on Thursday, Jan. 21, 1977. The Carters attended seven parties at four hotels, the railroad station, a government building and an armory. (AP Photo)
President Jimmy Carter holds his wife Rosalynn’s hand as she says a few words at an inaugural party in Washington on Thursday, Jan. 21, 1977. The Carters attended seven parties at four hotels, the railroad station, a government building and an armory. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Pres. Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan leave the White House to attend the first of several inaugural balls in Washington, Jan. 20, 1981. (AP Photo)
Pres. Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan leave the White House to attend the first of several inaugural balls in Washington, Jan. 20, 1981. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
U.S.President Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy Reagan shown dancing at the inaugural ball on Jan. 21, 1985 in the Washington Hilton. Also with others, views of stage, etc. (AP Photo/IS)
U.S.President Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy Reagan shown dancing at the inaugural ball on Jan. 21, 1985 in the Washington Hilton. Also with others, views of stage, etc. (AP Photo/IS)
AP Photo/IS
President elect-George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara, pose with Vice President-elect Dan Quayle and his wife Marilyn at the start of the Inaugural Gala on Thursday, Jan. 19, 1989 in Washington. (AP Photo/Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/Scott Applewhite
President Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton appear at the MTV Ball at the Washington Convention Center Jan. 20, 1993. New York fashion designer Oscar de la Renta created a long embroidered tulle gown with matching cape that Mrs. Clinton will wear to the 1997 inaugural balls, the White House said. In going to de la Renta, Mrs. Clinton selected a more established fashion couturier to outfit her than the designer she hired four years ago. Sarah Phillips, who designed the violet-and-lace creation Mrs. Clinton wore to the 1993 inauguration, had less than two years experience as a designer. (AP Photo/Shayna Brennan, files)
AP Photo/Shayna Brennan, files
President-elect Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea are surrounded by stars during the finale of the Presidential Gala at the Capital Centre in Landover, Md., Jan. 20, 1993. At left is Michael Jackson and at right is Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac. Comic actor Chevy Chase can be seen behind the president's head. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
President-elect Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea are surrounded by stars during the finale of the Presidential Gala at the Capital Centre in Landover, Md., Jan. 20, 1993. At left is Michael Jackson and at right is Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac. Comic actor Chevy Chase can be seen behind the president’s head. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
AP Photo/Amy Sancetta
President Clinton and his wife, first lady Hillary Clinton, dance at the New England Ball Monday, Jan. 20, 1997, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Clinton and his wife, first lady Hillary Clinton, dance at the New England Ball Monday, Jan. 20, 1997, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
President George W. Bush and first lady Laura, 2001. (AP)
AP
President Bush, right, first lady Laura Bush and their twin daughters Barbara (far left) and Jenna (to her right) are introduced at the Texas State Society's Black Tie and Boots Ball the week's first inaugural gala Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005 in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Bush, right, first lady Laura Bush and their twin daughters Barbara (far left) and Jenna (to her right) are introduced at the Texas State Society’s Black Tie and Boots Ball the week’s first inaugural gala Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005 in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
President Obama and first lady Michelle, 2009
President Obama and first lady Michelle, 2009 (AP)
AP
President Barack Obama bows as he and first lady Michelle Obama, wearing a ruby colored chiffon and velvet Jason Wu gown, gets ready to dance as singer Jennifer Hudson, right, sings Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" at the Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama bows as he and first lady Michelle Obama, wearing a ruby colored chiffon and velvet Jason Wu gown, gets ready to dance as singer Jennifer Hudson, right, sings Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” at the Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
(1/18)
Members of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's family are shown in their box at the inaugural ball, March 4, 1933. New first lady Eleanor Roosevelt is shown at far right (AP Photo)
President Dwight Eisenhower and first lady Mamie at inaugural ball 1957. (AP)
Jacqueline Kennedy lifts the skirt of her inaugural ball gown as she and her husband, President-elect John F. Kennedy, leave their Georgetown home in the snowfall en route to the inaugural concert in Washington, D.C., Jan. 19, 1961. (AP Photo)
Newly-elected President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy leave the White House, in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 1961, for a series of visits to inaugural balls. The first lady wore her specially-designed haute couture white silk sheath and matching coat. As the 35th President of the United States, Kennedy defeated Vice President Richard M. Nixon in one of the closest presidential elections of the 20th century by a plurality of just 114,000 votes. The Kennedys brought a cultured and glamorous era known as "Camelot" to American politics. (AP Photo/Henry Burroughs)
President Richard Nixon and first lady Pat addressing the inaugural ball in 1969. (AP)
U.S. President Richard Nixon dances with his partner during inaugural ball at the John F. Kennedy center, Jan. 20, 1973. The president and his wife were making the rounds of the five inaugural balls. (AP Photo)
President Jimmy Carter holds his wife Rosalynn's hand as she says a few words at an inaugural party in Washington on Thursday, Jan. 21, 1977. The Carters attended seven parties at four hotels, the railroad station, a government building and an armory. (AP Photo)
Pres. Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan leave the White House to attend the first of several inaugural balls in Washington, Jan. 20, 1981. (AP Photo)
U.S.President Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy Reagan shown dancing at the inaugural ball on Jan. 21, 1985 in the Washington Hilton. Also with others, views of stage, etc. (AP Photo/IS)
President-elect Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea are surrounded by stars during the finale of the Presidential Gala at the Capital Centre in Landover, Md., Jan. 20, 1993. At left is Michael Jackson and at right is Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac. Comic actor Chevy Chase can be seen behind the president's head. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
President Clinton and his wife, first lady Hillary Clinton, dance at the New England Ball Monday, Jan. 20, 1997, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Bush, right, first lady Laura Bush and their twin daughters Barbara (far left) and Jenna (to her right) are introduced at the Texas State Society's Black Tie and Boots Ball the week's first inaugural gala Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2005 in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Obama and first lady Michelle, 2009
President Barack Obama bows as he and first lady Michelle Obama, wearing a ruby colored chiffon and velvet Jason Wu gown, gets ready to dance as singer Jennifer Hudson, right, sings Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" at the Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

WASHINGTON — Though the first gala was held in honor of the first American President George Washington, the modern inaugural ball as we know it  began after World War II with the new Truman Administration.

Today’s balls are  marked by dramatic entrances, first dances, high fashion, celebrities and speeches. There are typically more than one official gala, peaking at 14 with the second Clinton inaugural in 1997. Meanwhile, there are  countless numbers of unofficial balls throughout town inauguration night, typically sponsored by organizations and state groups.

There are three official balls planned for the new President Trump and his wife Melania. Take a look at the pomp and circumstance of inaugural galas through the years.

Related News

Recommended

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up