The tradition of using a Bible for the presidential oath of office has long been an important part of the inauguration ceremony. However, there have been several presidents throughout history who opted to use a different object, or no object at all, when taking their oath of office. Understanding why some presidents chose not to use a Bible can provide insight into their personal beliefs and principles.
Why do presidents traditionally use a Bible?
The use of a Bible for the presidential oath began with George Washington in 1789. At his inauguration in New York City, Washington placed his hand on a Bible as he took the oath. This set a precedent that many future presidents chose to follow. Using a Bible underscored the solemnity of the oath, and allowed presidents to affirm their faith as they began their term.
However, the use of a Bible is not required by the Constitution. The only requirement is that the president recite the 35-word oath as stipulated in Article II, Section 1: “I do solemnly swear 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.”
So for presidents who opted not to use a Bible, it was their personal choice and was not breaking any official protocol. Their decisions often carried symbolic meaning about their priorities and principles as they entered office.
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams, the 6th president, chose to use a book of U.S. laws rather than a Bible at his inauguration in 1825. There is debate around why he made this choice:
- Some argue it represented his deep devotion to defending the rule of law above all else.
- Others say he was making a statement of his strong separation of church and state views.
- There are also claims that Adams simply forgot to bring a Bible to his inauguration.
In his later years, Adams did clarify that he believed firmly in keeping his oath of office and official duties separate from religious matters. This lends credibility to the idea that his use of a law book was intentional and symbolic.
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt did not use a Bible for his inauguration in 1901 after the assassination of President William McKinley thrust him into the presidency. There are a few possible reasons for this:
- The hurried swearing-in ceremony was done without time to obtain a Bible.
- Roosevelt wanted to avoid any appearance of impropriety or disrespect toward McKinley by immediately using a Bible.
- As a devout Christian, Roosevelt felt his faith commitment did not require using a Bible to confirm his sincerity.
When he was officially sworn-in months later after winning election in his own right, Roosevelt did use a Bible for the ceremony.
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce also did not use a Bible for his swearing-in in 1853. Pierce’s family tragedy provides a likely explanation for this departure from tradition:
- Shortly before his inauguration, Pierce’s son was killed in a train accident right before his parents’ eyes.
- The trauma and grief from this accident caused Pierce to struggle with his faith.
- At the time of his inauguration, using a Bible may have felt inauthentic or difficult emotionally.
This tragedy haunted Pierce throughout his presidency, and perhaps impacted his choice to forgo the Bible as he entered office.
John Quincy Adams
As mentioned previously, John Quincy Adams used a book of laws rather than a Bible for his 1825 inauguration. There has been debate around his exact motivation for doing so.
Adams did go on to clarify later in life that he firmly believed in keeping his presidential oath and duties separate from religious matters. This lends credibility to the idea that using the law book was an intentional, symbolic choice for him.
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn-in quickly following John F. Kennedy’s assassination without a Bible in 1963. However, this was due to the hurried nature of the impromptu ceremony onboard Air Force One.
When Johnson was officially inaugurated months later, he did use a Bible. There is no evidence that Johnson wanted to depart from the tradition but was unable due to the extraordinary circumstances of Kennedy’s death.
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter used his personal family Bible when taking the oath in 1977. What was distinctive is that he opened it to a specific passage from Micah 6:8:
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Carter was transparent about this choice, indicating that this Bible verse summarized how he aspired to carry out his presidency. His bold decision to open directly to a specific passage broke with precedent but reflected his sincere faith.
Barack Obama
For his inaugurations in 2009 and 2013, Barack Obama chose to use Bibles that held historical significance:
- In 2009, he used the Bible used by Abraham Lincoln for his 1861 inauguration.
- In 2013, he used the “Robinson Family Bible” and Martin Luther King’s traveling Bible.
Rather than using his personal Bible, Obama’s choices honored previous presidents and civil rights leaders who inspired him. This represented his grounding in history and promotion of inclusivity as core principles.
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy, the first Roman Catholic president, chose to use a Catholic translation of the Bible at his 1961 inauguration. Specifically, he selected the Douay-Rheims translation.
By opting for a Catholic version, Kennedy was able to take the oath on a Bible while still honoring his own faith tradition. His decision also demonstrated religion’s important but complex role within a pluralistic democracy.
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Oaths on the Bible
| Year | Bible Used |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Roosevelt family Bible |
| 1937 | West Thompson Bible (used by George Washington) |
| 1941 | Warburg Family Bible |
| 1945 | Roosevelt family Bible |
Franklin D. Roosevelt consistently used Bibles for his four inauguration ceremonies. However, he chose Bibles with symbolic connections:
- His family Bible for his first and fourth inaugurations.
- The Washington Bible, linking to the first president.
- The Warburg Bible, underlining freedom of religion.
For Roosevelt, the Bible selections demonstrated the continuity of American democracy while grounding his oath historically and pluralistically.
Key Takeaways
While most presidents have used Bibles for their inaugurations, a few have gone against tradition for various reasons:
- To emphasize separation of church and state
- Due to difficult personal circumstances
- To make a statement about principles and priorities
- To represent their specific faith background
Even when Bibles were used, presidents like Roosevelt carefully chose ones with symbolic meaning. Overall, decisions about objects used when taking the oath reveal important facets of presidents’ characters and principles.
Conclusion
The presidential inauguration is a pivotal ritual that marks the peaceful transition of power. While using a Bible is traditional, it is not legally required. Several presidents have gone against expectation by not using a Bible, or by selecting a meaningful one. Their decisions shed light on their principles, priorities, and even personal tragedies.
Ultimately, the choice of Bible or other object is deeply personal for each president. This visible decision provides insight into their character and demonstration of faith on the day they accept the weighty responsibility of leading the nation. Whether following or departing from tradition, inauguration choices set the tone for a president’s vision and principles guiding their term.