January 14, 2013
OBAMA WILL BE 1st 2 TERM PRESIDENT TO TAKE OATH 4 TIMES
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Two swearing-in ceremonies will be held next week for the 2nd inaugural of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.
The 1st will be a private ceremony on January 20, but since the customary date falls on Sunday this year, a 2nd public ceremony will take place on January 21.
Barack Obama Sworn-In
January 20, 2009
United States Capitol
Washington, D.C.
Photo by Master Sgt.
Cecilio Ricardo USAF
Mr. Obama was sworn in as President 4 years ago, on January 20, 2009 but because the oath was not given or repeated exactly as it appears in the United States Constitution, it was decided to repeat the swearing-in the following day.
The 2nd oath was once again given by Supreme Court Justice John G. Roberts, but this time in the Map Room at the White House.
Justice John G. Roberts Gives Oath
to President Obama
The White House Map Room
January 21, 2009
Photo by Pete Souza
So with January 20th falling on a Sunday this year, President Obama will have taken the presidential oath of office 4 times, January 20 & 21 of 2009, January 20 & 21 of 2013.
Mr. Obama, of course, has been elected twice, but before a constitutional amendment was added limiting the President to 2 terms, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected 4 times & took the oath of office 4 times.
TWO BIBLES TO BE USED IN PUBLIC SWEARING-IN CEREMONY
The 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee has announced that 2 Bibles will be used in next week's public ceremony at the US Capitol.
One will be one that belonged to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is known as his "traveling Bible" because he took it with him in his role as leader of the civil rights movement.
The other is the Bible used in the 1st inaugural of President Abraham Lincoln, on March 4, 1861.
Steve Kerrigan, president of the PIC, says that the use of these 2 Bibles is appropriate "on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington (1963-2013), & the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation (1863-2013)."
The Lincoln Bible, which has a burgundy velvet binding & gilded edges, is part of the National Archives collection.*
*SOURCE: the grio.com
MORE HISTORY OF THE INAUGURAL CEREMONY
Inaugural ceremonies have been held on 5 different dates: April 30, March 4, March 5, January 20 & January 21.
The 1st ceremony to be held on January 21 was in 1957 when President Eisenhower was sworn in for his 2nd term.
The 2nd time came on January 21, 1985 when, because of bitterly cold temperatures, Ronald Reagan was sworn in inside the US Capitol.
The 1st ceremony to be held on the West Front of the Capitol, facing the national mall, was on January 20, 1981 when Mr. Reagan was sworn in for the 1st term.
National Mall
January 20, 2009
Photo by
Senior Master Sgt
Thomas Menequin, USAF
Ceremonies up to that time had been held on the East Front of the Capitol facing the US Supreme Court Building & the Library of Congress.
