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On Friday, America's 45th president will be sworn into office. Forty years ago — on Jan. 20, 1977 — Minnesota's Walter Mondale was sworn in as President Jimmy Carter's vice president.

Because of Watergate and other scandals earlier in the 1970's, Mondale that day became America's fourth vice president — after Agnew, Ford and Rockefeller — in as many years. 

His swearing-in ceremony was held on the U.S. Capitol's east portico in 28-degree weather. It was the last time an inauguration was be held on that side of the building; since then, they've been set on the western side, which faces the National Mall. 

While the Supreme Court's chief justice is always the person to swear in the president, vice presidents choose their presiders, often other Supreme Court justices. Vice President Joe Biden has taken the oath twice: Once from Justice John Paul Stevens and once from Justice Sonia Sotomayor.


But Mondale noted in a recent interview that he looked to the legislative branch for his swearing-in instead: He asked Thomas "Tip" O'Neill, speaker of the House of Representatives, to officiate. 

"I called Tip, who's an old friend, and asked him if he'd swear me in. And of course he was happy to do it," he said.

O'Neill walked Mondale through the vice presidential oath. In 1884, Congress declared that the vice president should swear the same oath that's given to members of Congress — he or she is, after all, the president of the U.S. Senate:

Gallery

Tom Weber

Author

MPR News Staff

On Friday, America's 45th president will be sworn into office. Forty years ago — on Jan. 20, 1977 — Minnesota's Walter Mondale was sworn in as President Jimmy Carter's vice president.


Forty years ago, Minnesotan Walter Mondale was sworn-in as the nation's 42nd vice president. He spoke with host Tom Weber about that day.

Walter Mondale: A Minnesota man in the White House

Jimmy Carter gives his inaugural address as the 39th President.

Associated Press file 1977

Portrait of  Walter Mondale, shortly after he became vice president. 

Warren K. Leffler | Library of Congress

Walter Mondale and his wife leave their Washington home.

Associated Press

Walter and Joan Mondale wave in a presidential inauguration parade.

Minnesota Historical Society

Walter and Joan Mondale walk in the inauguration day parade.

Walter and Joan Mondale at an event on inauguration day.

Walter Mondale speaks to reporters on the day of his inauguration.

Supporters greet Walter and Joan Mondale during an inauguration event.

Walter and Joan Mondale chat with Muhammad Ali.

Walter and Joan Mondale dance at a presidential inaugural ball.

Photos: 40 years ago, a Minnesotan was sworn in to the White House

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