Inaugural Ceremonies for President Truman <p class="p1">The 1949 Inauguration of President Harry S. Truman was the first to be broadcast live on television. This footage from the US Air Force was shot from behind where Truman stood to take the oath of office. As the camera pans, one of the press platforms is visible above the crowd. Roughly 600,000 people attended the inauguration at the east front of the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/59">Capitol Building</a>. Approximately ten million people tuned in to watch the ceremony on television, some gathering in movie theaters or public libraries. </p> <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Department+of+Defense.+">Department of Defense. </a> National Archives at College Park. <a href="http://research.archives.gov/description/65524">View original</a>. 1/20/1949 <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1920-1949">1920-1949</a>