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John Quincy Adams
Inaugural Address
Friday, March 4, 1825

The only son of a former President to be elected to the Nation's highest office, John Quincy Adams was chosen by the House of Representatives when the electoral college could not determine a clear winner of the 1824 election. The outcome was assured when Henry Clay, one of the front-runners, threw his support to Mr. Adams so that Andrew Jackson's candidacy would fail. General Jackson had polled more popular votes in the election, but he did not gain enough electoral votes to win outright. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice John Marshall inside the Hall of the House of Representatives.