The Journey Continues:
My journey this week takes me to Presidents Day, when we recognize the birthday of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and sometimes all the other presidents. When U.S. presidents are sworn into office on Inauguration Day, they typically take their oath on the Bible. The U.S. Constitution only says the president elect must swear or affirm the Presidential Oath of Office; it doesn’t mention the Bible or another book. George Washington took the oath of office on a King James Masonic Lodge altar Bible and established a tradition. Here are some of the known verses from, select presidents, per records of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies as worded in the King James Bible.
George Washington in 1789:
“Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for a haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.” Genesis 49:13
Though this verse isn’t quite indicative of Washington’s state of mind — it was opened completely randomly — we’re including it because it’s George Washington, after all.
Abraham Lincoln in 1865:
“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Matthew 7:1
Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, 1937, 1941 and 1945:
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing…” I Corinthians 13
Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953:
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” Psalm 33:12
Jimmy Carter in 1977:
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8
Ronald Reagan in 1981 and 1985:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14
George H.W. Bush in 1989:
“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: And when he was set, his disciples came unto him…” Matthew 5
Bill Clinton in 1993:
“For that he soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but that he soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:8
George W. Bush in 2005:
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with the wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Barack Obama in 2009 and Donald Trump in 2017:
My source does not offer specific citations from scripture used by Presidents Obama or Trump. However, at their oaths of office, President Obama incorporated the Lincoln Bible and Martin Luther King Jr. Bible; and President Trump the Lincoln Bible and his family Bible.
