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

[sufi66]

I don't care which book he uses. I wish he had the guts to dispense with all religious nonsense in the public sphere.

Obama might be a triangulator in sheep's clothing. The pathetic pastor Warren is a highly disturbing figure. The Lincoln symbol doesn't whitewash this disaster.

[SDunn]

Where have you been? Obama is a spiritual person and just because you're not "religious" doesn't mean everyone else shouldn't be.

[vjoseph]

Well said. Here I thought so called liberals were tolerant. HA!

[rafael44]

Hey I dont believe either in much what passes for religion in this country but this country still thinks itself as a "DEEPLY" religious country so lets be respectful and tolerant, even if they are not. Rituals and traditions are part of those things by we define ourselves and our culture so in a way is proper to surround the inaguration with so much symbolism.
I was not happy with Warrens pick either I think there were other religious leaders who were more deserving but in our celebrity culture we dotn even care about who they are. Only care about who is making the headlines whos making millions selling books or how many people can be packed in one megachurch. So an unknown preacher simply wont do so pelase supersize it and Warren seems to be the perfect combo ... what a pity and how much says about the USA.

[leftoflennon]

He is deeply spiritual, and your faith is very personal and deep.

[IRepTheKing]

NEXT! (some people are silly enough to belive that people of faith will disappear. Please go and live on a tiny island if you want a GODLESS nation)

[sufi66]

Show me the evidence of our "deep spirtuality."

We permit children to starve in this country. Many go without heat or hot water.

Millions don't have adequate health.

Maybe if we didn't keep believing in fantasy and start trying to think, we could actually practice some spirituality.

[harriettubman]

This angers the GOP to no end. How many letters to the editor do I have to read about "Obama is no Lincoln?" Obama isn't trying to be Lincoln but he's obviously one historical person he truly admires and wants to emulate. Where's the laws against that?

[lioness39]

I think using Lincoln's Bible is particularly fitting since the Civil War (on Lincoln's watch) freed the slaves.

[yearlin]

yet he's not a descendant of slaves

[flexo]

I figured he'd be using the Koran. Hey-oh.

[Mother77]

And you sound so smart!

[flexo]

In case you didn't figure it out, I was joking. Hence the 'hey-oh'.

[IRepTheKing]

How original. Did you write that line yourself?

[johnnyfatsac]

It would be better if he was sworn in with The Jefferson Bible. Our third president compiled the four Gospels into a single text without miracles that ends with Jesus’ burial rather than the resurrection.

"The Bible is not my book, nor Christianity my profession."
-Spoken by Abraham Lincoln, quoted by Joseph Lewis

[krabby]

Good point. Or how about no bible at all? Isn't taking an oath to uphold the constitution enough (well it wasn't for Dubya)? I want the religion OUT of my politics. 100%, once and for all!

[AlP]

Obama is extremely religious, more than Bush. Don't see that happening.

[Truthosaurus]

Indeed. We have already had 8 years of a president who thinks a god is advising him on what to do. Obama once indicated that a politician must be able to support decisions based not on religion, but on reasoned argument of this world. I hope he implements that approach in his governing.

[That Guy]

I suspect that far more of our presidents have been Atheist or Agnostic than you would imagine (Obama included)

[krabby]

Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln included!

[RebelCPA]

The more significant fact is that Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Tanney was the one who swore Lincoln in at his first inauguration. The same justice who ruled in the Dred Scott decision that african american's weren't real americans.

[bigsexysysadmin]

enough already... he hasnt spent a day in office and you are already proclaiming him the 2nd coming!!?? See how he does in his first 18 months, then make some judgements!!!

[Itsmyland2]

People are just so excitied to have a POTUS who isn't a M O R O N they can't help it!

[yearlin]

totally agree

[PoliticalAmazon]

I'm a life-long liberal and used to be an enthusiastic supporter of Obama, but no more.

I don't think he's the Messiah reborn...I'm more afraid he's the Beast Slouching Towards Bethlehem to be Born.

[vjoseph]

Fundie liberal. You are more like you are counterpart fundie Christian than you think

[Figerre]

How cool! From the president that freed the slaves, to the first African American president to be sworn in - why WOULDN"T Lincoln be a hero to Obama? Even his girls think a lot of Lincoln.

What is great about Lincoln is just the fact that he wasn't perfect, he laughed at himself, and he didn't try to be a saint, he just tried to do the best he could in difficult circumstances. that's enough for me.

[harriettubman]

I'm quite sure Obama likes Lincoln for some of his ideology not some of his personal choices, which were made as a prejudiced white man.

[kewps]

I whole heartedly agree! I think this is great!

[krabby]

Nice story and all...but how about no prayer, and no bible. Swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States, and hold to that affirmation. The symbolism of the bible in the inauguration, the invocation controversy and the fact that it all ends up being divisive is troublesome. This isn't a theocracy, right?

[chuk98death]

Without the bible or religion what da heck are u swearing for, or more importantly why should I believe what you say just cause you said you swear?

[bipolarbear]

We swear court witnesses in on the Bible. I've never understood that. We ASSUME the person doing the swearing is religious enough that swearing on the Bible MEANS something to that person. As if no one has ever lied on the stand. HA! What poppy-cock!

A simple affirmation on the Constitution is a better idea all around.

[Sander]

I hope you are just being sarcastic here. But if you're not ... Are you saying that if you are not a religious person, you can't be trusted to keep your word? Or are you equating being religious with a belief in a Higher Power?

I am not a religious person, but I am a spiritual one. I do believe in a Higher Power. My word can be trusted, just as one who might be an atheist, an agnostic, or a secular humanist. It is not, I believe, the words in a 2000 year-old book that forms the basis of morality.

It is normal and natural for humans to feel empathy for their fellows. From empathy flows responsibility and the strength to carry out those responsibilities. From these core values flows honesty, trust, open communication, freedom, opportunity, community, and service. And, just as naturally, TRUST!

[krabby]

You can make an affirmation without a mythical book.

[piquet]

WWLD...write it down. It will be the rally cry of this administration.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

I thought he was going to be taking his oath on the Koran? What happened? Surely the tr00lz did not lie.

[LWilkinson315]

The Obama Haters dont know what to do with themselves! LOL All the lies and rumors they have spread over the summer has turned out to be nothing but jealous racist crap

[dana94591]

This is so exciting! To see Barack as the unifier of the second Civil war in America is so incredible. He is truly taking on such a heavy and massive task: to unite the extremes of American beliefs into one USA all together again!!! Wow!! I can't wait!!!! I have goose bumps!!!

[Pema]

"If I could keep the south and not free slaves I would"..
Abraham Lincoln
Somehow, that doesnt seem as tho Lincoln had much Christian charity, but then neither does having Rick Warren give the invocation....

[patwal]

ok time for you to reject and denounce every single thing Lincoln did for the country... and any and everything that followed as a consequence. That'll teach 'em!

[AlP]

You make no sense. Keep trying.

[patwal]

Afterthought: why don't you just go the final step and UN-elect Lincol?

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Stop behaving like a Republican. We've seen over the last 8 years what it is like to have a leader who is divisive. Obama does not need to be that guy.

[smit9187]

His actions freed the slaves, he changed his heart. Try it!

[vjoseph]

You expect intolerant libruls to change their heart? HA!

[daddyG56]

And the end product to the above-mentioned soul-searching was The Emancipation Proclamation.
Lincoln and Obama are both politicians, when all is said and done. Both realized that they were the president of all the people, not just the leader of their respective supporters. The fact is, even if Lincoln would have been as much of an abolitionist as John Brown, he would have had to say things like this in order to garner the support of the average northerner at the time.

I find Obama's recent pick of Rick Warren to be an eerily similar strategy. Call it lip service, political expediency, disingenuousness, whatever, it works. Lincoln could make such a statement, then do exactly what he pleased under the resultant cover the statement gave him. Obama can give Warren his three minutes, then say bye-bye.

At least I hope this is the strategy. I'd hate to see my GLB&T brothers and sisters ignored by this administration. They've already been insulted......

[rogerse]

"At least I hope this is the strategy"

It's not.

They meant what they said, you just can't accept that.

[roshni]

Excellent post. It's the results that count.

[PackyJ]

So you're saying Abe Lincoln was a Manchurian Candidate Muslim?
Wow.

[AdV2k1]

wow thats pretty cool. I never would have thought it survived all this time

[magnolialiberal]

The Library of Congress lends out things older than that. The Koran that Ellison used when sworn in belonged to Thomas Jefferson.

[MaybeMilo]

So much for those "swearing in on the Koran" rumors.

Dolts.

[Quick2822]

Unless Lincoln used the Koran and this is all a trick!

[smit9187]

Right!

[michaelbisson]

ah, the old 'Koran-In-The-Stove-Pipe-Hat' Trick. Classic Lincoln.

[LWilkinson315]

LOL Some people actually thought a Obama swearing in would include him screaming: ALLa La La La LAH Akbar..Oh boy election 2008 really revealed the crazy people within our country