Our first president, george washington, took his oath of office with his left hand placed on the bible and his right hand raised toward heaven. At noon on january 20th, donald trump will take the presidential oath of office, administered by john roberts, the chief justice. That means any book could be used, or in fact no book at all. A new book about george washington breaks all the rules on how to write about george washington. Taking the oath of office on the bible the andalusia.
The truth about george washingtons presidential inaugural. Set in the tom clancy universe, president jack ryan and the campus deal with a sinister plot behind a series of protests in iran, dubbed the persian spring. The speech and bible from george washingtons first. Third, washington himself, and numerous other founding fathers, repeatedly affirmed that an oath of office was a religious act. The george washington inaugural bible is the bible that was sworn upon by george washington when he took office as the first president of the united states on april 30, 1789. Bush was inaugurated on the 200th anniversary of the presidency, and so one of the two bibles on which he rested his hand during the oath of office. Washington at the same time laying his hand on the open bible. Washington then proceeded to take the following oath. Bushs inauguration was the 200th anniversary of washingtons first inauguration in 1789, and he also had his bible the same one bush.
In 1789, george washington took the oath of office with an altar bible borrowed from the st. On the occasion, which took place april 30, 1789, on the steps of federal hall, in lower manhattan, washington took the oath from a judge, not a cleric. He had just taken the oath of office on the balcony of federal hall in new york city, with his hand upon a bible opened to deuteronomy, chapter 28. Adams chose to place his hand on a law book during his 1825 inauguration. Oath of office of the president of the united states. The senators and representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the united states and of the several states, shall be bound. On april 30, 1789, george washington is sworn in as the first american president and delivers the first inaugural speech at federal hall in new york city. It was also to have been used for the inauguration of george w. Presidential inaugurations 17011800 church history timeline.
The reason why politicians often put their hand on a bible while. George washington starts a tradition manifold greatness blog. The speech and bible from george washingtons first inauguration made history many times over the first president created the tradition of giving an inaugural address and swearing the oath of. The speech and bible from george washingtons first inauguration. The bible is the king james version, dated 1767, complete with the apocrypha and elaborately supplemented with the. New views from mount vernon, visitors can witness a recreation of washingtons inauguration day, with a lifelike figure of washington placing his hand over the bible. What we do know, is the first real evidence that the phrase so help me god was used in the presidential oath was in september 1881 when chester arthur was inaugurated. Oath of office stylized as tom clancy oath of office, tom clancy. A new book about george washington breaks all the rules on. Capitol depicts george washington taking the oath of office in 1789 on the balcony of federal hall in new york city. George washingtons covenant with god lessons from the. According to assembled members of congress, president washington was visibly nervous, spoke in a surprisingly quiet voice, and maintained a serious, modest demeanor. The george washington inaugural bible has since been used at four other inaugurations. The final years and forgotten struggle, by jonathan horn scribner, 352 pp.
For more details about this and similar accounts, see this book excerpt. Historical information about the presidential oath of office, including the text of the. Bushs inauguration was the 200th anniversary of washington s first inauguration in 1789, and he also had his bible the same one bush. Taking the oath of office white house historical association. The economist explains why presidents take an oath of office. Also in the exhibit, with a replica bible and prerecorded oath, you can take the oath. The presidency of george washington began on april 30, 1789, when washington was inaugurated as the first president of the united states, and ended on march 4, 1797. George washington started so many presidential traditions that you may not be surprised to learn he began the custom of using a bible and often, a king james bible to take the oath of office, too, on this date, april 30, in 1789. The ritual of using a bible during a presidential inauguration is a matter of precedent, not law, dating back to the first president, george washington. Subsequent presidents up to and including harry truman. With the capital city of washington, dc, not even established, washingtons first.
Always a lover of history, mary higgins clark wrote this extensively researched biographical novel and titled it aspire to the. At the first inauguration, george washington used the holy bible from st. Though americans did not intend to establish a monarchy, george washington recognized that oath taking was a religious act and the solemnity of the presidential oath required a bible. With his right hand raised and his left hand atop two bibles, mr. Washington placed his left hand upon the open bible. Five months after george washington takes the oath of office at federal hall on wall street, the new president checks out two books from the new york society library. In mount vernon love story famed suspense writer mary higgins clarks longoutofprint first novel the bestselling author reveals the fleshandblood man who became the father of our country in a story that is charming, insightful, and immensely entertaining. The presidential oath of office our white house looking in. Bush took the oath of office with an open bush family bible resting on top of george washingtons masonic bible, which had been opened to a random passage. Constitutional experts abounded in 1789 at americas first presidential inauguration. Bush was inaugurated on the 200th anniversary of the presidency, and so one of the two bibles on which he rested his hand during the oath of office was the same bible that george washington used. Bush, which the crew of air force one presented to president bush as he exited the plane on his last day in office.
George washington takes the oath of office inauguration. Did george washington actually say so help me god during. After taking the oath, washington delivered his inaugural address in the senate chamber. Architect of the capitol photograph up until recently, historians accounts of washingtons first inaugural included the claim that at the conclusion of the oath washington added the phrase. George washington s oath of office washington delivering his inaugural address to the joint congress in april 1789 in the old city hall. The speech and bible from george washingtons first inauguration made history. The lincoln bible, housed in the rare book and special collections. The presidentelect with hand on an open bible takes the oath as specified in. The words washington spoke in taking that first oath recently became the source of some. He has been called the father of our country for leading america through its early years.
When washington took his oath of office as president of the united states, he subsequently bent forward and kissed the bible on which he had just taken his oath. George washingtons inaugural bible pays a visit to san. President george washington, on april 30, 1789, delivered his famous inaugural address to both houses of congress. Although not required by the constitution, the practice of taking oaths upon bibles was deeply ingrained in english and american colonial history, the book states. Either way, its either a great story about the great man george washington, or its a great story written by a great man washington irving.
Religious aspects of the congressional oath of office. In the national constitution centers newest exhibit, discover the real george washington. Chancellor livingston administered the oath of office to washington, whose left hand rested upon the opening genesis 4950. In honor of the upcoming presidential inauguration, washingtons first inaugural address and the bible that he used to swear his oath of office are on display.
Around one oclock, washington took the oath of office on the balcony of federal hall, allowing the crowd of spectators to witness the event. He then led the senate and the house of representatives to the church for a two hour worship service. This is where george washington took the oath of office as the first president of the united states on april 30, 1789. Oath of office, or tom clancys oath of office in the united kingdom is a technothriller novel, written by marc cameron and published on november 27, 2018. From the cover of washingtons end scribner washingtons end. George washingtons oath of office washington delivering his inaugural address to the joint congress in april 1789 in the old city hall. When he took the oath of office in new york, washington set many precedents for the inaugurals of succeeding presidents. Though there is no constitutional requirement for the use of a bible while taking the oath, george washington began the tradition with a bible hastily grabbed from st. Capitol, where congress met to establish the new federal government and ratified the bill of rights.
Bushs inauguration, on january 20, 2001, was the 68th time the oath of office was administered, the 54th time a president was inaugurated following his election, the 51st inauguration ceremony held in washington, the 49th held at the u. Since the countrys first inauguration of george washington. All but two presidents placed their hand on a bible while saying the oath, according to the joint congressional committee on inaugural ceremonies. Obama to use 2 bibles when he takes oath of office fox news.
Washington was reelected unanimously in the 1792 presidential election. On monday, hell place his hand the king bible and once more on the. From the day george washington placed his hand on the bible and. What bible did donald trump use on inauguration day.
Did president obama use the quran to take his oath of office. That is all the directive that is given for the oath of office ceremony. The open bible on which the president laid his hand was. President jimmy carter in 1977 and president george bush sr. Prizewinning historians were writing a book on washington, they had to take an oath.
Placing ones hand on the bible was a way of symbolically recognizing a higher standard than oneself bearing witness to the integrity of ones words. Oath of office of the president of the united states wikipedia. Bush takes the oath of office administered by chief justice william rehnquist duration. During his two terms, he visited masons in north and south carolina, and presided over the cornerstonelaying ceremony for the u. Every president from washington down to harry truman has always taken the oath with his hand on the bible, a religious book, waldrop wrote, and more than that, every president so far as. Timeline of the inauguration of president washington. George washingtons first inaugural address and bible. In 1789, george washington became the first president of the united states. I do solemnly swear or affirm that i will faithfully execute the office of president of the. The completion of this thirtyfiveword oath ends one presidents term and begins the next. The constitution only specifies the oath itself and says nothing about how the oath should be administered.
At his first inauguration in 1791, president washington took his oath of office on a bible from st. After taking the oath of office on the portico before a cheering crowd, george washington proceeded into the senate chamber to deliver his first inaugural address. The speech and bible from george washingtons first inauguration made history many times over the first president created the tradition of giving. With vice president john adams at his side, washington placed one hand on. He was sworn into office with his hand on the open pages displaying. When the oath was completed, washington added the phrase, i swear, so help me god. I do solemnly swear that i will faithfully execute the office of the president of the united states, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the united states. The four words we wish george washington said history. The bible has subsequently been used in the inauguration ceremonies of several other u. On this date, george washington was sworn in as president of the united states before a joint meeting of congress at federal hall in new york city. George washington gives first presidential inaugural address.
The first inauguration at federal hall in new york city. For those who dont believe obama is a muslim, the red book is the quran. Bush took the oath of office with an open bush family bible resting on top of george washington s masonic bible, which had been opened to a random passage. George washington has long been credited with instituting the tradition of. Washington took office after the 178889 presidential election, the nations first quadrennial presidential election, in which he was elected unanimously.
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