Prayers at United States presidential inaugurations

Since 1937, the United States presidential inauguration has included one or more prayers given by members of the clergy. Since 1933 an associated prayer service either public or private attended by the president-elect has often taken place on the morning of the day. At times a major public or broadcast prayer service takes place after the main ceremony most recently on the next day.

List of clergy at main ceremony

January 20, 1937 inaugural of Franklin D. Roosevelt

Invocation by Chaplain ZeBarney Thorne Phillips – Episcopalian, Chaplain of the United States Senate

Benediction by Father John A. Ryan – Catholic, professor, Catholic University of America

January 20, 1941 inaugural of Franklin D. Roosevelt

Invocation by Chaplain ZeBarney Phillips – Episcopalian

Benediction by Father Michael J. Ready – Catholic, general secretary of the National Catholic Welfare Conference

January 20, 1945 inaugural of Franklin D. Roosevelt

Invocation by Bishop Angus Dun – Episcopalian, Bishop of Washington

Benediction by Monsignor John A. Ryan – Catholic

January 20, 1949 inaugural of Harry S. Truman

Invocation by Rev. Edward Hughes Pruden – Baptist, First Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.

Prayer by Rabbi Samuel Thurman – Jewish, United Hebrew Congregation, St. Louis, Missouri

Benediction by Archbishop Patrick A. O’Boyle – Catholic, Archbishop of Washington

January 20, 1953 inaugural of Dwight D. Eisenhower

Invocation by Archbishop Patrick A. O’Boyle – Catholic, Archbishop of Washington

Prayer by Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver – Jewish

Prayer by President Eisenhower

Benediction by Rev. Henry Knox Sherrill – Episcopalian, Presiding Bishop

January 21, 1957 inaugural of Dwight D. Eisenhower

Invocation by Rev. Edward L. R. Elson – Presbyterian, Chaplain of the United States Senate

Prayer by Archbishop Michael (Konstantinides) – Orthodox, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Prayer by Rabbi Louis Finkelstein – Jewish

Benediction by Cardinal Edward Mooney – Catholic, Archbishop of Detroit

January 20, 1961 inaugural of John F. Kennedy

Invocation by Cardinal Richard Cushing – Catholic, Archbishop of Boston

Prayer by Archbishop Iakovos (Koukouzis) – Orthodox, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Prayer by Rev. Dr. John Barclay – Disciples of Christ, pastor of the Central Christian Church of Austin, Texas

Benediction by Rabbi Nelson Glueck – Jewish

January 20, 1965 inaugural of Lyndon B. Johnson

Invocation by Archbishop Robert E. Lucey – Catholic, Archbishop of San Antonio

Prayer by Rabbi Hyman Judah Schachtel – Jewish, Congregation Beth Israel of Houston

Prayer by Rev.