Two hundred and fifty thousand people are in Washington for the inauguration, but for
those unable to get there, the universal newspaper newsreel is rushing pictures of the epic ceremony
by the fastest air express plane in the country.
The speedy plane takes off and soars over the national capital, even while President
Roosevelt is still on the inaugural stand.
At two hundred and thirty miles an hour, the record-breaking air express twists its historic
freight to the screen, arriving at New York while newspaper wires are still hot with the
story of the great event, and while the radio still roars with acclamations for the new
president.
At the airport, a fast car with police escort is waiting, and the film is transferred almost
as soon as the plane touches the ground.
No bet is overlooked in the race against time to serve the newsreel public, and the universal
newspaper newsreel is establishing a record for speed.
Here they come, on the last lap.
And here it is, the beginning of the greatest drama in American affairs, the creation of
a new chief executive.
According to time-honored custom, the retiring president and the president-elect ride together
from the White House with congressional escort down the long and crowd-packed Pennsylvania
Avenue to the capital, where Roosevelt is to take the oath of office.
Enthusiasm is at its height.
Never was there such a joyful, jubilant, yelling, applauding inauguration crowd.
Roosevelt is the nation's idol here today.
Thousands of Americans are here to cheer the birth of a new era in national affairs, a
New Deal era, which is supposed to pull the country out of its chaos.
The hosts of democracy are here to celebrate the greatest party victory of all time.
And now, everything is ready for the big moment.
Chief Justice Hughes of the United States Supreme Court prepares to administer the oath
of office to Franklin D. Roosevelt, making him the 62nd president...
You, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, you solemnly swear that you will faithfully execute the
office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of your ability, preserve,
protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help you God.
I, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office
of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect
and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.
This is a day of national consecration, and I am certain that on this day, my fellow Americans
expect that on my induction into the presidency, I will address them with a candor and a decision
which the present situation of our people impels.
I am prepared, under my constitutional duty, to recommend the measures that a stricken
nation in the midst of a stricken world may require.
These measures, or such other measures, as the Congress may build out of its experience
and wisdom, I shall seek within my constitutional authority to bring to speedy adoption.
But in the event that the Congress shall fail to take one of these two forces, in the event
that the national emergency is still critical, I shall not evade the clear course of duty
that will then confront me.
I shall ask the Congress for the one remaining instrument to meet the crisis, broad executive
power, to wage a war against the emergency as great as the power that would be given
to me if we were in fact invaded by a foreign foe.
This nation is asking for action and action now.
In this dedication of a nation, we humbly ask the blessing of God.
May he protect each and every one of us.
May he guide me in the days to come.
May he protect each and every one of us.
May he guide me in the days to come.
May he guide me in the days to come.
May he guide me in the days to come.
May he guide me in the days to come.
More power to you, President Roosevelt.
The entire country's behind you, thrilled with hope and patriotism.