WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- George Washington's first inauguration was held outside, but holding the inaugural ceremony outdoors wasn't established as a tradition until 1829, when Andrew Jackson was inaugurated at an outdoor ceremony at the East Front of the U.S. Capitol (facing the Supreme Court).

    Since then, the ceremony has been held outdoors except in cases of extreme weather.

    In 1981, Ronald Reagan moved the inaugural ceremony from the Capitol's East Front to the West Front.

    The next presidents, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, were inaugurated at the West Front as well, which has more room to allow hundreds of thousands of spectators to witness the event from the National Mall.

    On those occasions when a president has died in office or resigned, the oath of office has typically been administered in more subdued settings.

    For example, upon the death of Franklin Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman took his oath of office in the Cabinet Room of the White House.

    Lyndon Johnson's oath of office was administered on the presidential airplane, Air Force One, following the death of John F. Kennedy.