20 Surprising Facts About the Inauguration Bible and Its History
You might not know these things, but they're facts.
- Cyra Sanchez
- 5 min read
The Inauguration Bible is a singular object in American history. Here are the things you may not know about the cherished relic and its provenance. Know the bible’s importance and the extraordinary figures who have placed their hands on it and sworn their oath.
1. George Washington’s Masonic Bible
James Fuller Queen on Wikimedia Commons
When George Washington took the oath in 1789, he used the Masonic Bible borrowed from St. John’s Lodge in New York City. The Inauguration Bible has since appeared in several other inaugurations, representing the line and the custom.
2. John Quincy Adams’ Law Book
Popular Graphic Arts on Wikimedia Commons
Unlike all his successors, John Quincy Adams broke the tradition in 1825. Adams placed his hand on a book of law, not on a bible. This decision recognized his profound respect for the Constitution and the rule of law.
3. Theodore Roosevelt’s Bible-less Oath
Library of Congress on Wikimedia Commons
The last president to not take the oath on a Bible was President McKinley, who was assassinated in 1901. Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in without a Bible. The urgency of the moment prompted days of hurried preparation for a quick ceremony that underscored the plasticity of inauguration protocols.
4. Calvin Coolidge’s Family Bible
Boston Sunday Post on Wikimedia Commons
In 1923, Calvin Coolidge was sworn in at his family home in Vermont. His father, a notary public, administered the oath. He used the family Bible, stressing individual and familial connections during a national passage.
5. Lyndon B. Johnson’s Catholic Missal
Ruth Goerger, LBJ Presidential Library on Wikimedia Commons
Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in using a Catholic missal found on President Kennedy’s desk aboard Air Force One in 1963. This spur-of-the-moment decision drove home the seriousness and urgency of the moment.
6. Obama’s Lincoln Bible
Bart Stupak on Wikimedia Commons
Barack Obama opted to use Abraham Lincoln’s Bible for his inauguration in 2009. This symbolic act tied his presidency to Lincoln’s legacy of unity and equality.
7. Jimmy Carter’s Family Heirloom
US National Archives on Wikimedia Commons
When Jimmy Carter was sworn in in 1977, he used the Bible his mother had given him. It was opened to Micah 6:8. This reading from Micah discusses themes of justice and humility, all in line with Carter’s beliefs.
8. Franklin Pierce’s Affirmation
Library of Congress on Wikimedia Commons
Franklin Pierce, whose presidency lasted from 1853-57, took his oath of office without swearing on the Bible. His decision was influenced by his devout religious convictions.
9. William Henry Harrison’s Marathon Speech
Popular Graphic Arts on Wikimedia Commons
In 1841, Harrison gave the longest inaugural address ever, lasting nearly two hours sans coat in wintry weather. He became sick shortly thereafter and died weeks later. He had the shortest presidency in history.
10. John F. Kennedy’s Frosty Ceremony
United States Army Signal Corps on Wikimedia Commons
Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961 was bitter cold. The snow and ice almost scuttled the event. Yet, despite the cold, he was one of the presidents who gave the most memorable address in history.
11. William McKinley’s Technological First
Magnus Manske on Wikimedia Commons
McKinley’s inauguration in 1897 was the first to be filmed by a movie camera. Using the movie camera was the start of modern media and was eventually used to cover presidential ceremonies.
12. James Buchanan’s Photographic Debut
USCapitol on Wikimedia Commons
The 1857 inauguration of James Buchanan was the first to be captured on film. This innovation enabled the general public to see the event for the first time. They took their moment to catch a glimpse of the oath-taking.
13. Herbert Hoover’s Talking Newsreel
National Photo Company Collection on Wikimedia Commons
Hoover’s 1929 swearing-in was the first recorded by a talking newsreel. The breakthrough allowed the president to speak directly to the public, and that moment increased the engagement.
14. Harry Truman’s Televised Oath
Abbie Rowe on Wikimedia Commons
Truman’s inauguration was the first televised ceremony in 1949. This enabled millions of people to watch the ceremony in their homes, changing the nature of public access to such occasions.
15. Bill Clinton’s Internet Stream
USCapitol on Wikimedia Commons
Clinton’s 1997 inauguration was streamed live via the Internet. This milestone increased the worldwide exposure of the presidential inauguration and demonstrated the event’s significance on a universal scale.
16. Sarah Hughes’ Historic Role
Cecil W. Stoughton on Wikimedia Commons
When Judge Sarah Hughes swore in Lyndon B. Johnson in 1963, she became the first woman to administer the presidential oath. This moment reflected progress in the number of women in government roles.
17. Andrew Jackson’s Open House
Allyn Cox on Wikimedia Commons
Only after Jackson’s 1829 inauguration did he open the White House to the public. At one point, he had to climb out the window to escape. The future celebrations then became more structured.
18. Woodrow Wilson’s Female Marchers
Bain News Service on Wikimedia Commons
Women marched in Wilson’s 1917 inauguration parade. This was an important milestone for the women’s suffrage movement, raising awareness of women’s exclusion from the national political process.
19. Dwight Eisenhower’s Animal Parade
New York World-Telegram on Wikimedia Commons
Dwight D. Eisenhower was inaugurated in 1953. The inauguration included an elaborate parade of 65 bands, dogs, horses, and elephants. At that time, different cultures were well-represented throughout America’s celebration.
20. Ronald Reagan’s Frigid Second Term
White House Photographic Collection on Wikimedia Commons
Reagan’s 1985 inauguration was so cold that the ceremony was held indoors, and the parade was called off. The decision was made to prioritize everyone’s safety, and it was the coldest inauguration day on record.
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