#OATH OF OFFICE

[deadpresidents]

Does it matter that Trump didn't place his hand on the bible when he was sworn in?

No, it does not matter. There's no requirement that the President must place their hand on a Bible while taking the oath of office; it's just a tradition that started with George Washington.

We don't definitively know how many of the early Presidents actually place their hands on a Bible when they were sworn in. Many historians say that John Quincy Adams placed his hand on a "book of laws" when he was sworn in, but I think it is entirely possible that people are confused by his own recollections of his inauguration in 1825. In his diary entry for March 4, 1825, John Quincy Adams wrote that, following the swearing-in of Vice President John C. Calhoun:

"I repaired to the Hall of the House of Representatives, and after delivering from the Speakers Chair my inaugural Address to a crowded auditory, and I pronounced from a "Volume of the Laws", held up to me by John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States, the Oath faithfully to execute the Office of President of the United States, and to the best of my ability, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States..."

From his description, it seems to me that Adams might be saying that Chief Justice Marshall administered the oath from a "Volume of the Laws", not that he placed his hand upon a book of laws when being sworn in. But I don't think we can be completely sure of it. Also, note that Adams delivered his Inaugural Address before he was sworn into office.

We do know that Lyndon B. Johnson didn't place his hand on the Bible when he was first sworn in on as President on November 22, 1963. In the tumult immediately following President Kennedy's assassination, LBJ took that oath in a conference room aboard Air Force One before it took off from Love Field in Dallas, Texas and returned to Washington, D.C. As they hurried to put together the quick ceremony, nobody could find a Bible, but they found a Catholic missal -- a book containing Catholic prayers, chants, liturgical instructions, etc. -- onboard that belonged to JFK, and LBJ took his oath on that.

[freedomrobot]

Letter to congress 07-01-24 Oath of Office

Oath of Office

[reality-detective]

[onenakedfarmer]

OATH OF OFFICE FOR US MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.

-

SITTING MEMBER OF CONGRESS LAUREN BOEBERT

I’m tired of this separation of church and state junk that’s not in the Constitution. It was in a stinking letter, and it means nothing like what they say it does.

[tabney2023]

Donald J. Trump was sworn in as President of the United States. The presidential oath was administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. After being sworn in at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC. President Trump gave an Inauguration Speech: "Many people thought it was impossible for me to stage such a historic political comeback. But as you see today, here I am, the American people have spoken.... My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal, and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed, their freedom..."

[tomorrowusa]

^^^ Trump didn't put his hand on the Bible when taking the oath of office.

So why does Trump hate Jesus?

[raywest]

Bring back public hanging for all Politicians who violate their oath of office to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. America is under attack from illegals crossing the border. Crime stats are at an all time high. Members of Congress are all becoming millionaires, while citizens struggle to pay bills and put food on their tables.

[rabbitcruiser]

On the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York City, George Washington took the oath of office to become the first elected President of the United States on April 30, 1789.  

[deadpresidents]

Has any president ever not been given the oath of office by the chief justice of the supreme court

Yes. The Constitution does not specify who must administer the oath of office to the President and government officials who are required to swear (or affirm) an oath can essentially be sworn in by any federal or state judge or even a notary public.

The oath of office has been administered eight times by someone other than the Chief Justice of the United States -- usually when a Vice President has assumed office upon a President's death and it was necessary to quickly locate somebody who could administer the oath. George Washington was also sworn in by someone other than the Chief Justice at both of his inaugurations. In fact, not only was there no Chief Justice at the time of Washington's first inauguration but there was literally no federal judiciary (and, obviously, no federal judges). The Judiciary Act establishing the Supreme Court wasn't enacted until September 1789 -- almost five months into President Washington's first term -- and that's when the first members of the Supreme Court were nominated and confirmed.

Of course, the Chief Justice of the United States has been the person swearing in the President the vast majority of the time. John Marshall, the longest-serving Chief Justice in American history (1801-1835), administered the oath of office more times than anyone else -- nine times to five different Presidents. However, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney (served from 1836-1864) administered the oath to more individual Presidents than anyone else -- seven times to seven different Presidents. The nation's first two Chief Justices -- John Jay (1789-1795) and John Rutledge (August-December 1795) -- are the only two Chiefs who never administered the oath to a President.

Here is the list of Presidential Inaugurations not conducted by the Chief Justice of the United States along with the person who administered the oath of office: •GEORGE WASHINGTON's 1st Inauguration (April 30, 1789): Robert Livingston, Chancellor of New York (The Chancellor of New York was the presiding judge of the New York Court of Chancery, the highest court in New York State from 1701-1847) •GEORGE WASHINGTON's 2nd Inauguration (March 4, 1793): William Cushing, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court •JOHN TYLER's Inauguration (April 4, 1841): William Cranch, Chief Judge of the U.S. Circuit Court of the District of Columbia (Tyler assumed office upon the death of President William Henry Harrison. Interestingly, Cranch was the nephew of John and Abigail Adams.) •MILLARD FILLMORE's Inauguration (July 9, 1850): William Cranch, Chief Judge of the U.S. Circuit Court of the District of Columbia (Fillmore assumed office upon the death of President Taylor.) •CHESTER A. ARTHUR's Inauguration (September 20, 1881): John R. Brady, Justice of the New York State Supreme Court (Arthur assumed office upon the death of President Garfield. Brady was the first judge that could be tracked down to administer the oath at Arthur's home in New York City after notification of Garfield's death arrived shortly after midnight on Sept. 20, 1881. After returning to Washington, D.C. on September 22, 1881, Arthur was administered the oath of office again in a formal ceremony by Chief Justice Morrison Waite.) •THEODORE ROOSEVELT's 1st Inauguration (September 14, 1901): John R. Hazel, Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York (Roosevelt assumed office upon the death of President McKinley.) •CALVIN COOLIDGE's 1st Inauguration (August 3, 1923): John Calvin Coolidge Sr., Justice of the Peace and Notary Public in Plymouth, Vermont (Coolidge assumed office upon the death of President Harding. Coolidge was staying at his father's home in Vermont when he was notified shortly after midnight on August 3, 1923 that President Harding had died a few hours earlier in San Francisco. Since Coolidge's father was a Notary Public, he administered the oath of office to his son in the sitting room of the family home. After being sworn in by his father, President Coolidge promptly went back to sleep.) •LYNDON B. JOHNSON's 1st Inauguration (November 22, 1963): Sarah T. Hughes, Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas (Johnson assumed office upon the death of President Kennedy. Johnson was in Dallas with Kennedy when the President was assassinated, and he was sworn in as President aboard Air Force One on the airport tarmac of Love Field before leaving Texas to return to Washington with Kennedy's body.)

[freedomrobot]

Letter to Congress 07-10-24

Asleep On Duty!!!

[firstoccupier]

Oath of Office: Tradition vs. Legal Requirement

By, WPS News Political Corespondent Baybay City | January 27, 2025 In a country where tradition often blends with formalities, the matter of how public officials take their oath of office has come under scrutiny. It is a commonly held belief that placing a hand on a Bible or another bound document is a necessary component of this solemn ceremony. However, recent clarifications reveal that there…

[neohart]

I made out with someone from the Board of Governors on Roblox Oath of Office and then he left :(

[critical-skeptic]

Oaths of Duty: Defending Integrity and Justice

"Sir/Ma'am, you have sworn two oaths that carry distinct but interconnected responsibilities. First, to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Second, to refuse compliance with unlawful orders, as your duty is to uphold the law and not blindly follow directives that conflict with it. Together, these oaths demand not only active opposition to internal threats but also a steadfast refusal to become complicit in illegality—even through inaction or indirect support." —To: any former military Congress person.

These dual obligations stem from the principles underlying the oaths taken by members of the military, law enforcement, and other positions of public trust in the United States. Let’s break down the key elements:

1. Defending Against Domestic Enemies

When one swears to "defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic," it is a pledge to safeguard the nation's founding principles from threats not only from outside its borders but also from within. Domestic enemies are not necessarily foreign agents or hostile groups; they can be individuals, organizations, or even systemic issues that undermine the Constitution, violate the rule of law, or infringe upon citizens' rights. This clause obligates individuals to act when they witness efforts to subvert the constitutional framework, regardless of the source.

2. Refusing Unlawful Orders

Equally important is the requirement to disobey unlawful orders. This principle is rooted in the understanding that no authority figure—whether a superior officer, political leader, or government official—can mandate actions that contravene the law or the Constitution. Compliance with unlawful orders not only violates the oath but also exposes the individual to personal legal and moral accountability. Historical precedents, such as the Nuremberg Trials, have demonstrated that "just following orders" is an indefensible excuse when the actions in question are illegal or unethical.

3. The Intersection of These Duties

The overlap between these two obligations highlights a critical point: failing to act against internal threats or complying with unlawful actions—even indirectly—violates both oaths. Indirect complicity, such as turning a blind eye, enabling harmful actions, or refusing to speak out, does not absolve one of responsibility. On the contrary, it is a dereliction of duty. True adherence to these oaths demands active engagement in defense of justice, constitutional integrity, and lawful conduct.

Ultimately, these commitments are not mere formalities—they represent a solemn promise to uphold the core values of the United States. To honor these oaths is to embrace accountability, exercise courage in the face of pressure, and prioritize the Constitution over personal convenience or loyalty to individuals.

[2bpoliticallycurious]

Seriously.

Trump has destroyed the sacred meaning of taking an oath.

But then again, Chief Justice Roberts has also destroyed that meaning as he slowly shreds the Constitution along with the other far-right justices.

And of course, all the Republicans in Congress who have supported the Big Lie and who tried to block the certification of electoral votes for Biden, have also told us their oaths are worthless.

Honestly, in a just world, after Trump takes the oath in bad faith, this is what should happen:

gif source (before edits)

Laughing to stop from crying

[dailyworldecho]