Why did Lyndon B. Johnson take the oath of office on Air Force One?

Answer 1

Lyndon Johnson became President upon the death of John Kennedy, who was shot with a rifle by an assassin. At the time, no one was certain why Kennedy had been killed- if it was a lone gunman, or an attempt to disrupt the leadership of the US prior to an attack by another government. This sort of thing had not happened in years. Johnson was Vice President, but would not be be able to command as President until sworn in. They felt this should be done quickly, and the aircraft (Air Force One) was a secure place. President Johnson was in Dallas Tx, and trying to quickly return to Washington DC.

Answer 2

President Kennedy had just been officially pronounced dead. The country was without a President. For security, Vice President Johnson was sent back to Washington DC on Air Force One, along with Jackie Kennedy and the President's body. This was a convenient time to swear in the President. In this type of situation, a big Inauguration event is not appropriate as the country is mourning and it is not the right time for a celebration.

Answer 3

So that the country would have a president as quickly as possible following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. It was an emergency situation. If Johnson had been in Washington DC at the time, he would have taken the oath of office there, or he would have taken it anywhere else he happened to be.

Answer 4

Several reasons. President John F. Kennedy had just been assassinated and the transition of power needed to be done as quickly as possible to maintain the country's continuity of government. Also, Johnson and First Lady Jackie Kennedy needed to return to Washington, DC and Air Force One was most likely the most convenient (and most secure) place to conduct the oath of office.

Answer 5

He made sure that the body of JFK was on the plane and that Mrs. Kennedy was helped/taken care of. There was a fight with the medical examiner of Dallas over the body of JFK and he didn't want to let them take it out of Dallas. LBJ ordered that the body be on the plane when they left Dallas for Washington.

Answer 6

Lyndon Johnson took the oath of office on Air Force One before it took off from Dallas because President Kennedy was dead and the plane would be in the air for three hours before getting to Washington, DC. This was at the height of the Cold War and the nation needed a fully empowered President in office at all times.

In addition, the country and the world needed assurance of the continuity of the US Government. The photo of Johnson taking the oath, with Mrs. Kennedy at his side, was taken by a wire service photographer who left before the plane took off. It was on the wires and in the papers before Johnson reached Washington, serving as one element of the needed assurance of continuity.

Answer 7

Lyndon B. Johnson took the oath of office after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963.