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Faith

Obama Puts Another Twist on His Upcoming Presidential Oath (This One Involves the Bible)

Jan. 10, 2013 6:53am Billy Hallowell

WASHINGTON (TheBlaze/AP) — President Barack Obama is putting a symbolic twist on a time-honored tradition, taking the oath of office for his second term with his hand placed not on a single Bible, but two — one owned by Martin Luther King Jr. and one by Abraham Lincoln. Earlier this week, his historic selection of a woman who is not a clergy person to deliver his inaugural invocation also made headlines (this is the first time a female and a person who is not a faith leader has been selected).

The inclusion of King’s Bible in the oath process is particularly significant since the inauguration comes on Jan. 21, the federal holiday in honor of the civil rights leader, who delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech 50 years ago at the Lincoln Memorial. Obama will be facing the memorial as he takes the oath. King’s Bible, which his children say he used early in his career as a preacher, has never been part of a presidential inauguration.

Obama to Take Oath Using Abraham Lincoln & Martin Luther Kings Bibles

Barack Obama, left, joined by his wife Michelle, takes the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts to become the 44th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., in this Jan. 20, 2009 file photo. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

The selection of the pair of Bibles is richly symbolic of the struggle for equality in America, beginning with Lincoln’s emancipation of the slaves through King’s civil rights movement and ultimately to Obama becoming the nation’s first black president. Inaugural planners say Obama plans to place his left hand on the stacked Bibles held by first lady Michelle Obama as he raises his right hand to repeat the oath administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. It hasn’t been determined which will be on top with Obama’s hand actually resting on it, but King’s is larger so it may need to be on the bottom.

Obama used the Lincoln Bible while taking the oath four years ago — the first time it had been used since the 16th president’s inauguration in 1861. Obama’s inaugural committee says that the president plans to use the first lady’s family’s Bible for a private swearing-in at the White House on Sunday, Jan. 20. Public presidential inaugurations traditionally aren’t held on Sundays, even though the Constitution states that a president’s new term begins automatically at noon on the 20th.

King’s children describe their father’s King James version as his “traveling Bible” that he took as part of a collection of books he carried with him while constantly on the road and used for inspiration and preparing sermons and speeches. His daughter Bernice King says her father marked the pages with several dates from May 1954, the same month he delivered his first sermon at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala.

Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (Photo Credit: AP)

“We know our father would be deeply moved to see President Obama take the oath of office using his Bible,” King’s children said in a statement provided by the inaugural committee. “His traveling Bible inspired him as he fought for freedom, justice and equality, and we hope it can be a source of strength for the president as he begins his second term.”

Obama also plans to honor King throughout his inaugural weekend, beginning by asking Americans to volunteer in their communities on Saturday, Jan. 19, to honor the civil right leader’s legacy of service. The King family plans to participate. Inaugural planners also say there will be a float honoring King in the parade to the White House after the swearing-in ceremony.

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. John’s Masonic Lodge No. 1 for his swearing-in on April 30, 1789, in New York. Since then, presidents have typically chosen Bibles with historical or personal significance, many using family heirlooms. Obama is not the first president to select two Bibles — Harry Truman did so in 1949, Dwight Eisenhower in 1953 and Richard Nixon in 1969.

Some presidents kiss the book after completing the oath. Sometimes the Bible is open to meaningful passages, such as President George W. Bush’s choice of Isaiah 40:31 – “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

President Barack Obama (left) and President Abraham Lincoln (right) (Photo Credit: AP)

The Lincoln Bible is part of the Library of Congress collections. The Supreme Court clerk bought the Bible, bound in burgundy velvet with a gold-washed white metal rim and heavily gilded edges, especially for Lincoln’s swearing-in.

The first lady’s Robinson family Bible was a gift from her late father, Fraser Robinson III, to his mother, LaVaughn Delores Robinson, on Mother’s Day 1958. The first lady’s grandmother was the first black female manager of a Moody Bible Institute’s bookstore, and her son’s present was her favorite, inaugural planners say.

They also say Vice President Joe Biden will use a Bible with a Celtic cross on the cover that has been in his family for 120 years. Biden has used the Bible every time he’s been sworn into federal office, back to his entry in the Senate 40 years ago.

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Related:

Obama’s Inaugural Invocation Pick Breaks With 200+ Years of American Tradition

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (340)

jmiller135
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:04pm
He’s no Lincoln, if anything it’s a koran with a bible cover.

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Abila
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:01pm
Obama doesn’t belong in this country-and if he can’t use the bible then he doesn’t become the phoney president-what an evil man.

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oxycontinxx
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 7:42pm
obama’s bible……….a front, spine, and back………..entitled bible BUT enclosing all the pages from a kuran.

an oath to everything but the USA.

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DancingFlower
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 3:09pm
What I want to know is just what are we as a unified force going to do about this jerk, ovomit, running our country? I see all the talk about hating him, but what are we all willing to do? Does ANYONE know of a militia coming together? If we do not stop this now, the UN troops coming in will. One by one or in a herd….

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DancingFlower
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 3:06pm
I guess what I want to know is just what are we going to do about this jerk ovomit running our country?
I see all this talk and is there anything we can do as a UNIFIED force? Someone mentioned a militia…..anyone know of one? If we do not get busy, the UN troops coming in will take us out. One by one OR in a herd…..

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XPat
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 2:49pm
Obama with a bible is like Joe Stalin with the Decalogue.

“Ideas are far more powerful than guns. We don’t let our people have guns. Why should we let them have ideas?”
― Joseph Stalin

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XPat
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 2:49pm
Obama with a bible is like Joe Stallin with the Decalogue.

“Ideas are far more powerful than guns. We don’t let our people have guns. Why should we let them have ideas?”
― Joseph Stalin

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kbeebe
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 2:48pm
Impeachment proceedings should begin as soon as President Obama takes the oath of office. He is not upholding to his oath, & HE IS a domestic enemy to the Constitution & the United States.

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Seth Patriot
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 2:44pm
Lincoln’s bible is probably appropriate since the big O will be responsible for starting the next civil war.

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Matt
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:34pm
King and Lincoln must be rolling in their graves.

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LSL
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 12:12pm
He used the Lincoln bible in 08. Since then his handlers haven’t missed a single opportunity to try and equate him with Lincoln, a little Obama legacy building. Some might take exception to prostituting Lincoln’s image that way but not me. Nope, I wish Obama was more like Lincoln – a whole lot more like Lincoln.

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SantaFeBlue
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 11:38am
I will not be watching and certainly not going. He is wasting Taxpayers money. Just have a swearing in in the Oval Office and get it over with.

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oldincarolina
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:35am
He has sworn on Bibles before and we all see how that worked out.

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oldincarolina
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 9:31am
I don’t care what he swears to do or what he swears on . he has done it before and we see how that worked out .

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Frodo RinosBane
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 8:16am
Mr. President, Ameicans don’t care how many Bibles you use. We only respect the man (or woman) who lives by its words. Pharisees can step to the rear.

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myptofvu
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 7:44am
How’s he gonna keep his hand from burning?

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muddpuddle
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 7:43am
This is a simple show designed to appease believers. Don’t be fooled. The next step is to swear on the bible an the Koran. Then delete the bible. Not hard to see if you have understanding.

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Mstr Smith
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 7:02am
Kind of weird, since he doesn’t believe in anything either of these two Great Men stood for….but then again, that’s our PO(tu)S, obama!!

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ree758
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 6:32am
I’ll be watchin for lightning

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RedDawn2012
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 5:33am
A Koran would be far more appropriate, and the woman should be wearing a burka.

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FLDeb
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 5:19am
This man has amazed me from day one with his audacity. Could not figure out how or why a man would lie as much as he does. Now I believe he is just plane evil. But I have not decided yet if his followers are missing a few brain cells or are just as evil as he is. Probably a combination of both.

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Bucky_1
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 3:27am
t

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Bucky_1
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 3:22am
Nither one seems to have Faith in the Bible. Why not swear them in
with their hands on, Mad Magazine,
Alfred E. Newman goes to washington.
( There is really an Edition called this. )

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Bucky_1
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 3:04am
I wanted to drop right down to the comments section and leave my thoughs.
It is not long and full of long and short words. I would like to simply say
” Nither one of them act like God fearing Men,” why use the Bible?
Lets use MAD MAGAZINE.
” Alfed Newman goes to Washton ”
( There Are Real Copys Of This Edition )

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youngblood1
Posted on January 11, 2013 at 2:30am
I am really surprised the ACLU has never sued for the use of a bible in the inauguration. I wonder what an atheist would use to swear and take a oath on?

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