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Today's ceremonies will be missing something that has marked the last two presidential inaugurations: Poetry.

While Barack Obama invited poets to recite original works at both of his swearings-in, inaugural poetry is a relatively new practice — and a rare one. It began with President John F. Kennedy in 1961, when Robert Frost took the podium to read 

It was a rather rocky reading: The 86-year-old Frost had trouble seeing his poem in the harsh light.

January 20, 1961 - Poet Robert Frost at President John F. Kennedy's Inauguration

No president followed Kennedy's poetic lead until Bill Clinton was elected. Maya Angelou recited 

 at his first inauguration, and her powerful recitation went on to win a Grammy Award.

Clinton repeated the tradition at his second inauguration with Miller Williams, but poetry was absent again until Barack Obama in 2009. To date, no Republican president has had poetry at his inauguration.

Maya Angelou's Poem "On the Pulse of Morning"

Miller Williams: Reading the innaugural poem at Bill Clinton's second innauguration in 1996

Inaugural Poem: "Praise Song for the Day"

Watch Poet Richard Blanco Read the Inaugural Poem

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Tracy Mumford

Author

The tradition began with JFK and continued with presidents Clinton and Obama. To date, no Republican president has had poetry at his swearing-in.

Maya Angelou at Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration

The history of poetry at presidential inaugurations

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