The Army used flamethrowers to melt the snow on DC's streets before President Kennedy's inauguration!
President John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 1961. Being that the event took place in January in Washington D.C., It isn't surprising that it snowed. What is surprising is who got rid of the snow and how they did it.
It began snowing the night before and continued into the early morning on the day of the inauguration. Eight inches of the powder accumulated, which was a problem for transporting the future president to the Capitol. The event needed to go on though. So the Army cleared the snow on Pennsylvania Avenue using flame throwers.
The rest of the day was sunny and cold with a high of about 22 degrees. No more flamethrowers necessary.