President Barack Obama is adding an asterisk to his name in the history books.

President Barack Obama at his 2009 Inauguration (AFP/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama at his 2009 Inauguration (AFP/Getty Images)
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His inauguration will be only the seventh time that the constitutionally mandated date for a president's swearing-in -- Jan. 20 -- has fallen on a Sunday. So, following tradition, the inauguration will be on Monday, Jan. 21.

The adjustment puts Obama in league with President Ronald Reagan, whose second inauguration in 1985 also was changed from Sunday to Monday.

When the Constitution required a March 4 swearing-in, the first president to move his inauguration to Monday was James Monroe on March 5, 1821. After the 20th Amendment changed the inauguration to Jan. 20, Dwight Eisenhower and Reagan held private swearings-in on Sundays that fell on Jan. 20 and then held public ceremonies the following day.

 

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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