Who was the first new president to …? 19 Jan, 2021 08:18 PM 8 minutes to read Preparations being made at the Capitol in anticipation of Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s inauguration. Photo / Chang W. Lee, The New York Times Preparations being made at the Capitol in anticipation of Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s inauguration. Photo / Chang W. Lee, The New York Times New York Times The inauguration has evolved a bit from George Washington's day. The basics of the inauguration are simple: The new president takes a 35-word oath on a date prescribed by the Constitution. But the formula has left plenty of room for novelty. As inaugurations evolved over the decades, many became turning points in tradition, marked by mishaps, innovation and spontaneous gestures.