On March 4, 1853, Franklin Pierce recites the oath of office on a bitter cold and wet Friday. Standing on the East Portico of the Capitol, he places his right hand on a law book instead of swearing on a Bible. Thus, he is the first president to be affirmed instead of taking an oath. Pierce does so because he believes God is punishing him for past sins by killing Benny, and he is unworthy of taking a biblical oath. The new president then becomes the first chief executive to recite his inaugural address, in this case a thirty-three-minute speech, from memory.
