Obama: Lincoln Bible For Inauguration

President-elect Barack Obama will take the oath of office using the same Bible upon which President Lincoln was sworn in at his first inauguration. Obama will be the first President sworn in using the Lincoln Bible since its initial use in 1861.

"President-elect Obama is deeply honored that the Library of Congress has made the Lincoln Bible available for use during his swearing-in," said Presidential Inaugural Committee Executive Director Emmett Beliveau. "The President-elect is committed to holding an Inauguration that celebrates America's unity, and the use of this historic Bible will provide a powerful connection to our common past and common heritage."

The Bible was originally purchased by William Thomas Carroll, Clerk of the Supreme Court, for use during Lincoln's swearing-in ceremony on March 4, 1861. The Lincoln family Bible, which is also in the Library of Congress's collection, was unavailable for the ceremony because it was packed away with the First Family's belongings, still en route from Springfield, IL, to their new home at the White House.

The Bible itself is bound in burgundy velvet with a gold-washed white metal rim around the three outside edges of both covers. All its edges are heavily gilded. In the center of the top cover is a shield of gold wash over white metal with the words "Holy Bible" chased into it. The book is 15 cm long, 10 cm wide, and 4.5 cm deep when closed. The 1,280-page Bible was published in 1853 by the Oxford University Press.

Annotated in the back of the volume, along with the Seal of the Supreme Court, is the following: "I, William Thomas Carroll, clerk of the said court do hereby certify that the preceding copy of the Holy Bible is that upon which the Honble. R. B. Taney, Chief Justice of the said Court, administered to His Excellency, Abraham Lincoln, the oath of office as President of the United States ..."

Comments

[SoCalAmerican]

Hey can someone answer this for me?

If we have a President in the future is neither Catholic or Christian, what is used in the inauguration ceremony to swear in the President Elect. When we elect our first Jewish President, and yes I believe it will happen, is he/she sworn in on the Old Testament? What he's of another religion or doesn't believe in God?

[rblackbird]

There is no requirement that a new president use any religious text or artifact while taking the presidential oath prescribed in the Constitution, Article II, sec. 1: "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 president need not say, "So help me God." His/her religious preference is irrelevant to the oath. By including the alternative "(or affirm)," the Constitution accommodates those who object to swearing which many do on religious grounds. Using a Bible seems to be a matter of custom or personal preference of the new president, but is not required.

[Nunyabiz1]

except for the fact that an Atheist in the current political climate could never be elected in the first place.
Plus the fact that several STATE constitutions flatly say that anyone that doesn't believe in fairy tales can NOT hold any public office in that state.

These are all unconstitutional yet still allowed.

[sufi66]

If we don't eliminate all this religious hocus pocus from the public sphere, then we will forever speculate on these meaningless gestures. People are starving in this country. Let's focus on some real problem solving.

[icenzi13]

Make sure there are lots of photo of him with his hand on this bible. I'm sure the republican email circuit will have it as being the koran the next day...

[rblackbird]

If Obama wanted to make a religious gesture, there are hundreds of millions of Bibles in the United States he could have selected from. Instead, Obama wants to make a point about history. Obama has always admired Lincoln, and he is right. Lincoln was the most important president in our history. Lincoln literally saved the nation. He also freed Obama's people. When he lays his hand on the bible Lincoln used to take the oath of office, the new president will be expressing his personal connection to Lincoln and his gratitude. He will also be dedicating his presidency to Lincoln and Lincoln's legacy. Obama will be celebrating a culmination of the unrepressible force Lincoln set loose with the emancipation: the rising up of black people from slavery to President of the United States. The inauguration of Barack Obama is an extraordinarily important historical event. Using Lincoln's bible caps it off.

[pcplz]

You are right on. Exactly what I thought but put more elegantly. Thank you.

I have stated before that I would love to be present when the family takes possession of America's home and stand in front of the painting of George Washington, owner of slaves, then on to the painting of Abraham Lincoln, the liberator. What a moment for all of us. A giant step forward for The United States of America.

[RobinSeattle]

Nah.. It will lead to white conservative flight from Christianity because that is how rightwingers react every time a black man moves into an area they have dominated previously.

/end snark.

[jimmyjones22]

that's really cool.

[LeBeau59741]

What a lovely symbolism to evoke in such a landmark inaguration.

Can't see what anyone's problem is with this charming, touching and wholly appropriate choice.

[danielbox]

Thank you for your comments Ryoko. As a Christian, I wish more people had your point of view. Certain groups of people preach "tolerance" but only if it matches up with their opinions. Whether people like it or not we (USA) we're founded on Judaeo/Christian beliefs.

[FORLOMC]

I think it is truly fantastic that Obama not only know history, but is humbled by one of our greatest presidents and his accomplishments. He knows what a truly great man with great goals and ideals can accomplish and we will all be the better for him using Lincoln as his role model.
God Speed President Obama. I know you will make us proud to be Americans again.

[Manx]

The Lincoln bible and Rick Warren. I can't think of anything more incongruous.

[zippy2112]

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain

[Gumby123]

OMG! Obama using a bible? How Christianistic of him!

[zippy2112]

Tavat wrote "The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession." ---Abraham Lincoln
God belongs to all who is humble of heart and mind.

[Tavat]

God doesn't exist, and that's kind of the point.

[Indy 44]

So would it be better if Obama were to start a new tradition, swearing in with his hand on a more inclusive and tolerant book like say, Dawkins' 'The God Delusion'?

I don't know, I kind of like the old fashioned idea of a president who doesn't swear in to the highest office in the land believing, "In me I trust."

[Tavat]

That's a false choice. Better to understand the root of the concern than create straw men--the centerpiece of the affirmation, the tome that gives the whole thing validity, is not representative of our democratic values. Organized religion--and in this case Christianity--is not a "common theme" for all Americans, and the fact that the Bible is held up on such a pedestal to be the zenith and wellspring of our values and beliefs is a slap in the face to the strides that the secular bodies of science, medicine, law, ethics, and other philosophies have made. It is THIS body of universally consistent and fecund institutions that have given us the bounty and freedoms we have today, not Christianity. How bout swearing on the Constitution? That makes sense to me.

That being said, have you actually READ "The God Delusion"? My guess would be "no", because it's a pretty fantastic book not warranting disparagement...unlike some OTHER popular unsavory books...

[Indy 44]

Your response is a very good one. Occasionally I actually learn something from posters at HuffPo.... that was my point precisely. There is no "common theme" for all Americans. You could replace "The God Delusion" as the swearing in book with any secular work of any of the disciplines you mentioned above -- science, medicine, law, etc., and you would certainly offend, or at the very least, exclude, some group, or some group's belief/value system. I only chose the work of an atheist in order to illustrate the degree of disparity between this nation's time honored traditions, and the contemporary thinking of what many are calling the 'new enlightenment.' I will pick up Dawkins' book. Thx.

[Tavat]

Read the book first before you disparage it; you'll make more sense that way.

[Usman]

....just another phony attempt to align himself with A. Lincoln. Bring your own brand baby!

[wrenny]

I've seen no attempt by Obama to be anyone but himself, but Lincoln is a good source to look to for extra wisdom and inspiration. Although he had different issues to deal with in his time, a lot of what he learned from his experience is quite relevant to today's issues. It isn't stealing from Lincoln's stature to openly admire the man - it actually demonstrates a certain brand of humility.

[DarkandStormyNight]

Thank you wrenny. I think it's called inspiration and we all have to get it.

[RyokoMocha]

OK, seriously, people. I am all for separation of church and state. I'm not even Christian, I'm agnostic. But this whining is ridiculous, childish, and pathetic. This is a guy using the most symbolically sacred thing he can think of (or at least that he has to say is the most sacred thing he can think of to appease the rabidly religious of the country) to say that he is going to do the best job he can as president.

You people who are just screaming with blind hatred for anything with religious significance... what happened to the tolerance we're supposed to stand for? I thought we were supposed to be progressive and tolerant and open minded and accepting of other people's beliefs?

Or is it just that other people are supposed to be accepting of your beliefs, but you don't have to return the favor?

Stop going out of your way to be offended by everything, and don't volunteer to be the target of an insult that wasn't hurled at you. Especially when there was no insult in the first place.

[Tavat]

Don't freak out! Sounds like YOU are the one offended. I'm just always delighted at the sanctimony of our rituals and the lack of understanding and critique that Americans apply to their "traditions". If you're going to be such an ardent defender of his noble intentions, go ahead and cry a river in defense, but at least give a good reason for this tradition. And no, we are not "open-minded and tolerant of people's beliefs" if they are ridiculous; we are respectful of their right to hold these ridiculous beliefs. And if you don't think it's a big deal that this tradition continues, imagine if he decided NOT to use a Bible, to use a secular document or the Torah or the Koran--in other words, to be "universal and diplomatic" in his affirmation? Yeah, you know what would happen: the majority of religious people in this country would be DEEPLY offended and suspicious of such an action. That reality should scare you.

[DarkandStormyNight]

I don't think the "you people" is really going to do anything but turn people away from reading your post as that is exactly what I did and I don't know whether I'm one of those people or not...?

[nuglet304]

i read the post. and it was better than yours.

[Tavat]

"The Bible is not my book nor Christianity my profession." ---Abraham Lincoln

Ahhh, the sweet irony of "hallowed traditions"...

[DarkandStormyNight]

There are some very smart people out there who's abstract thinking is not going to make sense to a lot of people. The fact is that for both Lincoln and Obama everything is not black and white. There is no one answer. Lincoln and Obama fit into that catagory and it's going to drive some people nuts.

[PaxMundis]

Lincoln probably read the BIble more times than you ever have, and could quote from it extensively. I've seen this quote bandied about as "proof" that he was somehow atheist, which I think is pointless. If you're an atheist, why do you need the backup of someone famous to shore up your convictions?

[Benevolus]

When is Obama going to officially change his name to Abraham Lincoln? LOL

This guy needs to be himself and stop using the name Abraham Lincoln in everything. He is not Abraham Lincoln. There is no civil war in this country. There are not 600,000 dead people lying in battle fields.

He has huge problems and he will do a great job, but he is not Abe Lincoln and this comparison is moronic.

[DarkandStormyNight]

What's moronic and that we are taking the comparison so seriously. Obama is inspired and that is all. I'm glad it's Lincoln that is inspiring him and not GWBush or his dear old daddy.

[vtlt8]

Are we seriously going to do this?

[jimme]

And why not ? Who better than the first black elected President.
Lincoln's greatest(okay,one of many) accomplishment was to free them from slavery.
Now that's Karma in the grandest sense.