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On Jan. 20, 1961, outgoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower, right, and his successor John F. Kennedy left the White House to ride together to the Capitol for Kennedy's inauguration.

AP/File

Kennedy took his oath as president of the United States from Chief Justice Earl Warren. Watching in the front row were, from left, Lady Bird Johnson, Jacqueline Kennedy, outgoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Warren, James Browning, Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon Johnson, outgoing Vice President Richard M. Nixon, whom Kennedy defeated in the election, Senator John Sparkman, and former President Harry Truman.

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President Kennedy delivered his inaugural address after taking the oath of office.

Boston Globe File photo

A wider view of the audience as President Kennedy continued his address.

Boston Globe File Photo

Seated near each other behind Kennedy were Jacqueline Kennedy and former president Eisenhower.

Boston Globe File photo

In this inauguration photo, seated in the front row were, from left, Mrs. Lyndon Johnson, Mrs. Kennedy, President Eisenhower, President Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and outgoing Vice President Richard Nixon.

Boston Globe File Photo

Kennedy spoke with Eisenhower at his inauguration.

AP/file

There was a large crowd on hand to witness Kennedy's inauguration.

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President Kennedy glanced at his wife during the inauguration ceremony. With them are former president Eisenhower and Mrs. Lyndon Johnson. Chief Justice Earl Warren sat behind Kennedy.

Boston Globe File photo

This photo showed President Kennedy's own hand-written notes on his famed inaugural address that said, in part, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

Harry Holbrook/Globe Staff

A sailor saluted the Lexington Minutemen as they marched down Pennsylvania Avenue during Kennedy's inauguration parade.

Harry Holbrook/Globe Staff

The Massachusetts float played a part in Kennedy's inauguration parade.

AP file photo

Men aboard the Massachusetts float saluted and waved to the new president as he applauded from the viewing box along Pennsylvania Avenue during the inaugural parade.

Jacques Lowe

President and Mrs. Kennedy attended the Inaugural Ball later that evening.

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Kennedy cut an inauguration cake during a visit to the Inaugural Ball held at the Mayflower Hotel.

Paul J. Maguire/Globe Staff/File

At the Sheraton Park Hotel, Vice President Johnson, President Kennedy, and Massachusetts Governor John Volpe greeted each other on inauguration day.