It was the subject of intense debate, but the American
people decided to let George W. Bush keep his job. On January 20th,
2005, he was sworn into another term as President of the United States.
There were parades, fireworks, galas, and inaugural balls, and an estimated crowd
of 300,000 people—but that was just the icing on the cake.
The highlight of the event was when George W. Bush raised
his right hand and recited the Presidential Oath—the same oath that George
Washington took back in 1793.
Outlined in Article II of the Federal Constitution, the
Presidential Oath is nothing fancy. This is all there is to it:
“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.”
If you’re used to hearing the words, “So help me God” at the
end, it’s because George Washington made the statement after he took his oath.
The presidents that came after him followed this example.
The Presidential Oath is
customarily taken with the right hand on the Bible, and the left hand slightly
raised. The Constitution also permits the word “affirm” to replace
the word “swear”. A few presidents, such as Franklin
Pierce (1853) and Herbert Hoover (1929), have chosen to use this
version.
Franklin D. Roosevelt holds the distinction of reciting
this oath more than any other man. He was inaugurated as president four
different times (1933, 1937, 1941, 1945).
This year’s inauguration marks the 55th time that the Presidential
Oath has been recited, even though there have only been 43 presidents.
Different presidents have recited this oath in different
locations, but the most unusual may have been the setting for Lyndon B.
Johnson. He was sworn in on the presidential airplane, Air Force One,
on November 22, 1963. This urgency was a result of President Kennedy’s
assassination.
George W. Bush also delivered his second inaugural address
during the event. This is another tradition that dates back to George
Washington—although it has changed a little. Washington’s first inaugural address
contained only 135 words. These days, a newly elected President isn’t
going to get off the podium before he has spoken a few thousand words (Bush spoke for 21 minutes).
