Inauguration Balls Past and Present

Ron and Nancy
Presidents since Harry S Truman (except for Jimmy Carter), after being sworn in, have lunched with guests in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall. In 1985, Ronald Reagan, above, added a new custom: the presentation of a painting keyed to the theme of the lunch. His choice: Autumn on the Hudson River by Hudson River School artist Jasper Francis Cropsey

• Photos: The Obamas Waltzing
• Michelle Obama's Jason Wu Dress