The do-over

[bibliotrope]

How many times does he have to take the Oath of Office anyway? Yesterday

Comments

[shsilver]

And Chief Justice (and former President) William Taft changed the words when swearing in Herbert Hoover. They did not do a do-over.

For Coolidge, the do-over was occasioned because of a question of the legality of having his father, a mere JP, perform the ceremony. Coolidge was visiting his parents when Harding died.

[sunlizzard]

I thought the change for Hoover was that he "affirmed" the oath rather than "swearing" to it. Which is fine, it is actually a permissible option. Or was there something else?

[shsilver]

Franklin Pierce is the only one to affirm rather than swear.

As administered by Taft to Hoover: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, maintain and defend the Constitution of the United States."

As it should be administered:
"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."

Theodore Roosevelt did not use a Bible, neither did John Quincy Adams, who used a law book, a much more appropriate volume given the Bill of Rights.

[ailsaek]

Sadly, yes, some wingnuts are already whining "But he didn't have a Bible this time!"

*sigh*

[shsilver]

As I note above, neither did Theodore Roosevelt or John Quincy Adams. Lyndon Johnson used a missal, not a Bible, when he took the oath on Air Force One.

[bibliotrope]

The Missal was the closest thing they could find to a Bible on Air Force One that day. IIRC it was on JFK's desk or nightstand.

[beamjockey]

Why not make it a habit? Take the oath of office every day.