Member-only story
Why President Richard Nixon’s Second Inauguration Was Kicked Off By A Bird Massacre
A fear of being embarassed on his big day led the 37th American President to make a decision that created a whole new debacle instead
Few sitting American Presidents have been as unpopular or polarizing as Richard M. Nixon. As the 37th President, he was in office from 1969 until his stunning resignation in 1974 in light of the Watergate Scandal. With the Vietnam War raging during his tenure, he was regularly involved in unpopular decisions and controversy. One of the most unusual came during his second inauguration in 1973 when what should have been a major celebration for him was later marred by the news that the preparation for the festivities had led to the death of masses of birds, all because of his fussiness.
When Nixon was re-elected for a second term, he was prepared for another four years in the Oval Office. Despite the challenges of the war, he was looking forward to celebrating his hard fought re-election campaign. He faced a new, albeit bizarre, concern when planning for being sworn in: the multitude of birds lining Pennsylvania Avenue. Specifically, he was fearful of being targeted by bird droppings, thus making a mess and opening the possibility of him being made the butt of a…
