Who Spoke the Longest in U.S. Presidential History?

The Longest Inaugural Address in U.S. History

Since George Washington‘s inaugural address in 1789, every U.S. president has used their speech to outline a vision for America’s future and rally the American people behind their ideals. One president, however, took this tradition to an extreme.

On March 4, 1841, William Henry Harrison delivered the longest inaugural address in United States history, both in terms of its word count and length of time. His speech consisted of a whopping 8,445 words — over 3,000 more than the next-longest inaugural address from William Howard Taft — and lasted 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Harrison’s address was delivered on a bitterly cold, wet, and blustery day, which made it feel even longer for those in attendance. Despite the harsh weather conditions, Harrison intended his speech to be even longer, with his secretary of state, Daniel Webster, bragging about whittling down the text.

However, some accounts suggest that Harrison’s long inaugural address may have contributed to his short term in office. According to official accounts, Harrison developed an illness while delivering his speech, which he reportedly did without an overcoat or a hat. But researchers have disputed this claim, suggesting that Harrison actually contracted enteric fever (typhoid or paratyphoid fever) from the White House water supply.

In 2014, researchers with the University of Maryland published findings that suggested Harrison didn’t die of pneumonia at all, but rather enteric fever. His doctor had even written that he provided an official diagnosis of pneumonia because it “afforded a succinct and intelligible answer to the innumerable questions as to the nature of the attack.”

Despite the controversy surrounding his death, Harrison’s long inaugural address remains one of the most notable in U.S. history. While it may not have led directly to his demise, it certainly set a precedent for future presidents to use their speeches to make a lasting impact on the nation.