No two inaugurations are alike, there have even been differences in the presidential oath. Each President-elect has the option of either swearing or affirming the oath. The more interesting difference happens when a president, like many, decides to say the additional phrase “So, help me God” or “Under God.” The first president of the United States even added his own pieces to the oath of office.
The latest oath to have been changed came from one of the best orators, President Barack Obama, who just like Johnson a few decades before, made a blunder of it the first time. The difference is Obama was following the lead of U.S. Chief Justice, John Roberts, who misplaced the word “faithfully” along with using “to” instead of “of.”
With that many mistakes, there was confusion and worry from the White House staff that it could be said that President Obama was not legally the President, so it was redone the next day.
In order to assume his or her duties, the President-elect must recite the Oath of Office. It is the only oath of office provided for in the U.S. Constitution. Most presidents have taken the oath with their hands on a bible. The George Washington Inaugural Bible is the bible that has subsequently been used in the inauguration ceremonies of several other U.S. presidents along with its original owner, George Washington.
President Trump took the oath on two bibles, one of which is the historic Lincoln Bible, and the other was a childhood bible. President Theodore Roosevelt did not use a Bible when taking the oath in 1901. John Quincy Adams placed his hand upon a book of law rather than a Bible as he recited the oath. Some have taken it so far to even kiss the Bible, including Washington, Jackson, Lincoln, and Grant.
The Oath is generally administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, however, there have been a few exceptions. It has been administered by about fifteen Chief Justices, one Associate Justice, four federal judges, two New York state judges, and one notary public.
An unusual instance was President Herbert Hoover’s oath of office administered in 1929 and Calvin Coolidge’s in 1925 by former president William Taft, who was Chief Justice at the time. They were the only times a former president administered the oath of office to an incoming President.
The oath of office is a must do for the new president. Throughout the years there have been small differences such as who administers the oath, added words or phrases, when and where the oath is taken, and what a president chooses to place their hand on, if anything at all.
In accordance with Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution, the oath reads:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
The Oath of Office symbolizes a peaceful transition of power, sanctifying the President’s promise to uphold the Constitution and perform the responsibilities of the office.
Photo Credit:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jan/23/barack-obama-oath-inauguration
https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals/inaugura.html
https://www.loc.gov/item/00650968/
https://time.com/president-donald-trump-inauguration-day-photos/