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

[leftoflennon]

Awesome, what a relic!

[Rog49Thomas]

You see it's already happening just as two of the finest minds (Sister Sarah and Joe Almost A Plumber) predicted.

Lincoln Bible, eh?

Seems to me in our Judaeo-Christian nation, he should be using God's Bible not one written by Lincoln.

[krabby]

It was OWNED by Lincoln, not written by him. Did you bother to read the article? Would you like us to help you with the big words?

[StillIRise]

I was thinking the same thing ... but I just didn't want to believe that someone actually thought that LINCOLN wrote the bible that Obama's using!!!!

[Rog49Thomas]

I'm guessing you're a Republican with your focus on property rights.

But explain to me how a car could own something?

Or is this a corporate person - the Lincoln Division of Ford Motor Co.

[Rog49Thomas]

You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time ...

[aznurse]

IT'S A JOKE!!! geezz

[krabby]

Ok I fell hard for that one! If you're making a joke, be funny! If you're being sarcastic, be funny.

[shel3364]

funny.... if we were still in the GE, I'm sure it would be brought up as such.

[Aesthete]

What! Lincoln never wrote any Bibles. He simply owned one.

[wrenny]

Joke alert!

(Some of us got it, Rog...)

[Rog49Thomas]

Since the topic is Lincoln ....

You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time

[PoliticalAmazon]

The more we see of Obama, the more he turns out to be like Bush Jr.

They support the same big.otted policies.

They care only about their own rights, and screw everyone else.

And they believe that appearances will make up for their failures.

Obama using the Lincoln Bible is like Bush Jr's "Mission Accomplished" P-R event. Except it's worse with Obama, because he is defiling Lincoln's Bible in the process.

Lincoln stood up for the rights of a persecuted minority, and Obama can't be bothered because he is not part of that minority.

Disgusting.

[hypnotoad72]

Time will tell, and even then.

The prejudice amongst far-left liberals has been... astounding.

BTW: Lincoln stood up for blacks and President Elect Obama is black. (part black, 'mutt', whatever, the ancestral trace is there.) I don't see your point.

[vjoseph]

You said it, the prejudice from the far-left liberals is pretty disgusting and hypocritical. Its funny how they sound like fundie Christians everyday

[StillIRise]

Tell Obama that he's not part of "that minority." You might be surprised at his response!

[vjoseph]

You're the piece of work actually, fundie liberal

[Whistlestar]

God bless Obama, these United States, and all the people of the world! What wonderful news and so historically appropriate. I am moved - And continue to be impressed by Obama's amazing political skills. Beyond the historical significance of the Lincoln Bible, the attention this will get should silence most if not all of the ignorant out there who would otherwise believe that he took the oath on a Qur'an.

[Wide Stance]

Cheney and Bush were sworn in on a bible, and then they desecrated the US Constitution.

Lincoln's bible is a great historical symbol. What separates Obama from the Bush Administration isn't his choice of bible, but his understanding of history and the need to uphold the honor of the office.

[PoliticalAmazon]

Obama is really a piece of work.

He's defiling Lincoln's Bible by using it in his inauguration, an inauguration where Obama is honoring a b.igot who has worked to overturn equal rights for a minority, and who practices segregation.

Perhaps Obama can borrow David Duke's Bible? It would be more suited for the inauguration Obama is showing the world.

[HappyIdiot2008]

Please read this article. Melissa Etheridge tells it like it is.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-etheridge/the-choice-is-ours-now_b_152947.html

[hypnotoad72]

She tells it like she thinks it is.

[ThatOne4Me]

not everyone agrees with melissa. remember that.

[dakotawoman]

Whoa! I too am upset over the Prop 8 victory and Warren's anti-gay stance. Obama could have chosen a better representative of religion in my opinion also. However, I do recall his speech on election night where he promised to be the president for all Americans. I don't believe in what Warren preaches either, and have little patience for people who believe as he does. BUT, they are still Americans, and he will be their president also. Recognizing that and beginning a diaglogue might lead to understanding, tolerance and CHANGE. Obama's calling upon him should be looked at in this light.

His use of Lincoln's Bible is even more appropriate, IMO, as it reminds us that change and growth and progress toward the recognition of all the rights humans hold, might be slow, but IS occurring. Lincoln's presidency, agonized as it was, pushed the stuggle far forward -- while killing him and helping destroy his wife and children. Obama's using it, is a powerful symbol of the hope that can abide in the shadow of sacrifice for ALL who still seek full liberty and equality.

[NoSandwiches]

Lincoln wrote, "my paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy slavery." His personal views had to be weighed against what he thought was best for the country. We can go back and judge him to be either the Great Emancipator or a hypocritical bigot who actually wanted to free the slaves only to deport them. Please. Stop looking at everything and everyone as either good or evil. We are all both.

Obama's paramount object in this struggle is also to save the Union--not to make Gay Marriage a fundamental federal right, not to make abortion free and available, not to put through universal heath care, not to champion any one cause of any one group.

We can accomplish none of these things while we are antagonistic towards each other.

Obama's choice of Lincoln's Bible has more, I believe, to do with his kinship to the man's great task and tough compromises as he fought to keep us together (and failed.,) rather than some homage to him as the Great Emancipator.

Obama is well read on the subject.

His choice of Rick Warren is not popular, but it started a conversation--and brought about change to at least Saddleback's website, and possibly more...it is part of the process.

Obama is not about easy choices. He is about trying to get us to see the good in others, even if we disagree with them.

[FanofPaine]

Overreact much?

[hypnotoad72]

I thought he was downplaying his emotion.

[studlyguy]

O is carrying this Lincoln fascination thing just a little much ,the train ,now using the fairytales ever written book to be sworn in that Lincoln used ,lot's of people I talk too are already getting over the O regime,over exposure before even in offfice,just think how over it everyone will be of this regime once in office.

[soupson52]

Hey stud, look up stupid in the dictionary. If it doesn't fit, try ignorant.

[studlyguy]

Look in mirror for reference to what you stated.

[FanofPaine]

Unfortunately, this wasn't as coherent as I imagine you thought it was.

[StillIRise]

Over-exposure? He IS the President-Elect! This IS a historical election!

Jealous much?

[studlyguy]

Sorry NO ONE is above critisism,not even O.

[StormyWeathers]

I love all this history coming together, it's a good reminder of how far we have come and a good way to educate our children!

[roshni]

Me too - this symbolism feels good and O is the right person to use the Lincoln Bible.

[PoliticalAmazon]

Huh?

What Obama is teaching the children is that b.igotry, including segregation, is okay and should be honored in his inauguration.

He's teaching children that hypocrisy is cool and accepted, and that the only thing that is important is that they get their own equal rights--screw everyone else's righst under the Constitution.

And he's teaching the children that a Democratic president can defile Lincoln's Bible, with applause and support.

[gayinmt]

In school I learned about the emancipation proclamation. I didn't learn about Lincoln being a racist. I'm assuming that children today still learn the same things. That's what they'll take away from it. Unless some cynical adult decides to ruin it for them.

[krabby]

Huh? You're accusing an African American of being a segregationist?

[StillIRise]

I doubt if the lasting impression of the children who experience this historical inauguration will in any way resemble the twisted and dishonest assessment that you have expressed. Thankfully, the minds and hearts of our children are not as jaded as some of their adult counterparts, and the lens through which they will be looking at the inauguration will not be muddied with the prejudices and self-serving interests that your lens will obviously be muddied with.

The only way a child will learn what you have proposed is if YOU choose to teach it to them!

[vjoseph]

Fundie liberal

[yearlin]

can't he ever think on his own. he needs to create his own legacy instead of constantly hanging on to the coattails of others. if he really knew his history he would know that lincoln was no fan of blacks nor was he a foe of slavery. he just didn't want to be the president that let the US rip a part at the seams.

[JuneO]

Well, maybe this should suggest to you that Obama is an open-minded and forgiving person. He knows all that, but he can still see the good in Lincoln. I believe Obama has said that we should focus on seeing the good in others, and the things we share rather than the things that divide us.

[yearlin]

do you write for msnbc

[StillIRise]

I'm sure that PE Obama REALLY knows his history. As an African American, who also knows my history and is well aware of Lincoln's regard for blacks and his unintended role in the emancipation of slaves - a historical reality that most blacks are familiar with - I nonetheless understand the historical context in which he identifies with Lincoln and I commend for creating this historical reference to his inauguration. It's a bit presumptuous of you to think that YOU can give Obama a history lesson!

PE Obama has been thinking on his own and creating his own legacy since he began the campaign for president, which is one of the reasons he was elected. Contrary to hanging onto the coattails of others, it seems that others have been grasping for his coattails, including Republicans and some of his former most formidable opponents. Remember, it was Obama's campaign platform that both Hillary and McCain adopted, Obama's foreign policies in Iraq and Afghanistan that Bush eventually adopted, and Obama's unprecedented organization that both Democrats and Republicans will model their campaigns on for years to come.

[vjoseph]

I actually wish you could think

[BryantG]

I'm more likely to believe a guy who holds his testicles while swaring an oath. What's more sacred to a man?

[NoSandwiches]

What?! Not the Koran?

Think of how this will shock the Palin supporters­....

[LWilkinson315]

What will that poor old woman at the McCain townhall who called Obama an Arab think!?!? Oh the confusion.­..now Obama is pallin' around with Abe's Bible.

[Vige]

LOL, that is a good one.

[tel8034]

Not to worry the trolls will come up with some story how this bible is actually the koran ..........­... You know the muslim myth has to live on.

It will be the koran encased in a faux bible cover ..........­..........­.... Rush, Hannity, Sarah, et al, are dreaming up distortions as we speak.

[motoGpifupleez]

Just what I was thinking.

[BryantG]

That whole "put your hand on the bible to demonstrate you're being sincere" is such dark-age thinking.

[Truthosaurus]

Agreed. I would rather not have my president swearing to uphold the duties of a secular office, on a book that contains the following:

"But if this charge is true, that the girl was not found a virgin, then they shall bring out the girl to the doorway of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death because she has committed an act of folly in Israel, by playing the harlot in her father’s house; thus you shall purge the evil from among you," (Deut. 22:13).

[IRepTheKing]

Only for those who don't hold highly what the Bible actually says.

[metivo]

I think this is wonderful and reaffirms our new President's appreciation the power of symbols and importance of history.

[PoliticalAmazon]

Oh, you betcha he understands the power of symbols and the importance of history, and he uses them very much like Bush Jr does.

Obama refuses to stand up for the equal rights of GLBTs and women, and to symbollize the fact taht he views them as second-class citizens, not worthy of the same rights as the rest of Americans, he honors a b.igot who worked to take away the equal rights of GLBTs in California, and who practices segregation. That symbolism is loud and clear. The entire world will understand that Obama does not support equal rights for all minorities in America.

He also shows that he understands the power of symbolism--and uses it in the same heinous way--that Bush Jr does.

By swearing on the Lincoln Bible, Obama is pulling a "Mission Accomplish­ed."

Obama is trying to annoint himself with Lincoln's bravery in going to war to stop slavery, very much like Bush Jr would. The fact is, neither Bush Jr or Obama have stood up for the equal rights of all Americans. Obama proves himself more disgusting than Bush Jr, however, in using the Lincoln Bible in the inauguration. Even Bush Jr wouldn't try to pass off such a bold-faced lie to America and the world.

Obama is really a piece of work. I dread to see what the next 4 years is going to bring us.

[vjoseph]

LOL, what an example of tolerance you are. CLAP, CLAP

[Takae]

I read many of your posts and after reading this latest missive from you, I cannot help but feel pity for you.

I'm just relieved that many haven't lost the sight of the bigger picture. It's them, I believe, who'll calmly but determinedly and steadfastly take the gay fight a lot further than you ever can try.

[Takae]

*gay rights fight.

Ugh. Stupid typo.

[metivo]

That gays can't marry. That is the only thing that is important? Get a life.

[donethridge]

Hated them so much he wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. Funny way of showing that hatred.

[democratUSA]

Enough with th Lincoln stuff already! Soon Obama will be reading books at the log cabin and calling Michelle, Mary.

[yearlin]

lol

[PippiLongstocking]

How very sweet.