(Saturday, March 3, 1877, 7:05 p.m. local time) — Because outgoing President Ulysses S. Grant feared an insurrection by supporters of Samuel J. Tilden following the Compromise of 1877 and with the traditional inauguration day of March 4 on a Sunday, President-elect Rutherford B. Hayes took the oath of office as the 19th President of the United States tonight in a secret ceremony in the Red Room of the White House.

Grant was still technically President through Sunday, March 4, at noon, and remained in the White House until Hayes was formally inaugurated on Monday, March 5.