The Two Days America Stood Without a President: Sabbath Observance and the Inaugurations of Zachary Taylor and Rutherford B. Hayes

Courtesy of the New York Times

In the annals of American history, two remarkable instances exist where the nation, albeit briefly, found itself without a sitting President. These instances are tied to the presidencies of Zachary Taylor and Rutherford B. Hayes, and they offer a unique window into the societal and religious fabric of nineteenth-century America.

Zachary Taylor: A Sunday Inauguration Postponed

Courtesy of Britannica

The first of these instances occurred in 1849. Zachary Taylor, a military hero and the 12th President of the United States, was due to be inaugurated on March 4th. However, this date fell on a Sunday. Taylor, though a very private figure, was raised as an Episcopalian. Adhering to his religious beliefs and the widely respected tradition of Sabbath observance, Taylor postponed the ceremony. As a result, for one day, the United States operated without a formally sworn-in President.

James K. Polk, Taylor's predecessor, had completed his term on March 4. Therefore, there was a gap in the presidency from midnight on March 4 until Taylor's swearing-in on March 5. While some debated that the outgoing Vice President, George Dallas, might have been the acting president for that day, this was never officially recognized.

Rutherford B. Hayes: Echoing Taylor's Observance

Courtesy of Britannica

A similar situation unfolded nearly three decades later with Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President. Like Taylor, Hayes was scheduled to be inaugurated on a Sunday, March 4, 1877. Keeping with the precedent set by Taylor and the prevailing Sabbath observances of his Methodist upbringing, Hayes also opted to delay his official inauguration, once again leaving the nation without a sitting President for a day.

However, Hayes's situation was slightly different from Taylor's. Given the contentious nature of the 1876 election, which was mired in controversy and allegations of fraud, Hayes had taken the oath of office in private on Saturday, March 3, 1877, in the Red Room of the White House. This private ceremony was a precautionary measure to ensure a peaceful transition of power. The public ceremony, however, was held on March 5, following the Sabbath.

The Constitutional Perspective

These incidents bring up interesting constitutional questions. The U.S. Constitution states that the term of a president ends at noon on the 20th of January following an election year (originally March 4 before the ratification of the 20th Amendment in 1933). However, it does not explicitly state the necessity of an immediate swearing-in of the successor. This gap led to the unique situations in 1849 and 1877.

Sabbath Observance in Nineteenth-Century America

The decisions of Taylor and Hayes offer a lens through which to view the broader context of Sabbath observance in the nineteenth century. This period, especially in the United States, saw a heightened emphasis on religious practices and observances. The Sabbath was central to this religious life, with communities across the nation observing it in various ways. This led to the rise of what became known as the blue laws, which restricted a number of things from happening on Sundays, most notably the purchase of alcohol.

Church attendance was almost universal, and Sunday was markedly different from the rest of the week, dedicated to rest, reflection, and worship. This observance was not confined to any single denomination but was a common thread binding a nation that longed to become a sacred republic.

Understanding this aspect of nineteenth-century America is crucial for comprehending the societal dynamics of the time. It shows how religion and governance, while separate, were still deeply interconnected in the values and decisions of the leaders and the people they served. The observance of the Sabbath, far from being a mere religious formality, was a significant aspect of life that even influenced the governance of the nation.

For Further Reading

1. On the Individual Religious Beliefs of American Presidents, see: Gary Scott Smith, Religion in the Oval Office, Oxford University Press, 2013.

2. On the Religious zeal of Nineteenth-Century Americans, see: Robert H. Abzug, Cosmos Crumbling, Oxford University Press, 1994.