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| Obama to use Lincoln's and Martin Luther King's Bibles for swearing-in | Obama to use Lincoln's and Martin Luther King's Bibles for swearing-in |
| (4 months later) | |
| President Barack Obama is putting a symbolic twist on a time-honoured tradition, taking the oath of office for his second term with his hand placed not on a single Bible but on two – one owned by Martin Luther King Jr and one by Abraham Lincoln. | President Barack Obama is putting a symbolic twist on a time-honoured tradition, taking the oath of office for his second term with his hand placed not on a single Bible but on two – one owned by Martin Luther King Jr and one by Abraham Lincoln. |
| The use of King's Bible is particularly significant since the inauguration is on 21 January, the federal holiday in honour of the civil rights leader, who delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech 50 years ago at the Lincoln memorial. Obama will be facing the memorial as he takes the oath. King's Bible, which his children say he used early in his career as a preacher, has never been part of a presidential inauguration. | The use of King's Bible is particularly significant since the inauguration is on 21 January, the federal holiday in honour of the civil rights leader, who delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech 50 years ago at the Lincoln memorial. Obama will be facing the memorial as he takes the oath. King's Bible, which his children say he used early in his career as a preacher, has never been part of a presidential inauguration. |
| The use of the two Bibles, announced on Thursday is richly symbolic of the struggle for equality in the US, from Lincoln's emancipation of slaves 150 years ago this month, through to King's leadership of the civil rights movement, and ultimately to Obama becoming the nation's first black president. | The use of the two Bibles, announced on Thursday is richly symbolic of the struggle for equality in the US, from Lincoln's emancipation of slaves 150 years ago this month, through to King's leadership of the civil rights movement, and ultimately to Obama becoming the nation's first black president. |
| Inaugural planners said Obama plans to place his left hand on the stacked Bibles held by the first lady, Michelle Obama, as he raises his right hand to repeat the oath administered by the supreme court chief justice, John Roberts. | Inaugural planners said Obama plans to place his left hand on the stacked Bibles held by the first lady, Michelle Obama, as he raises his right hand to repeat the oath administered by the supreme court chief justice, John Roberts. |
| Obama used the Lincoln Bible while taking the oath four years ago – the first time it had been used since the 16th president's inauguration in 1861. The inaugural committee said that the president planned to use the first lady's family's Bible for a private swearing-in at the White House on Sunday, 20 January. Public presidential inaugurations traditionally aren't held on Sundays, even though the Constitution states that a president's new term begins automatically at noon on the 20th. | Obama used the Lincoln Bible while taking the oath four years ago – the first time it had been used since the 16th president's inauguration in 1861. The inaugural committee said that the president planned to use the first lady's family's Bible for a private swearing-in at the White House on Sunday, 20 January. Public presidential inaugurations traditionally aren't held on Sundays, even though the Constitution states that a president's new term begins automatically at noon on the 20th. |
| King's children described their father's King James version as his "travelling Bible" that he carried with him on the road and used for preparing sermons and speeches. His daughter Bernice King said her father marked the pages with several dates from May 1954, the same month he delivered his first sermon at Dexter Avenue Baptist church in Montgomery, Alabama. | King's children described their father's King James version as his "travelling Bible" that he carried with him on the road and used for preparing sermons and speeches. His daughter Bernice King said her father marked the pages with several dates from May 1954, the same month he delivered his first sermon at Dexter Avenue Baptist church in Montgomery, Alabama. |
| "We know our father would be deeply moved to see President Obama take the oath of office using his Bible," King's children said in a statement provided by the inaugural committee. "His travelling Bible inspired him as he fought for freedom, justice and equality, and we hope it can be a source of strength for the president as he begins his second term." | "We know our father would be deeply moved to see President Obama take the oath of office using his Bible," King's children said in a statement provided by the inaugural committee. "His travelling Bible inspired him as he fought for freedom, justice and equality, and we hope it can be a source of strength for the president as he begins his second term." |
| Obama also plans to honour King on his inaugural weekend, beginning by asking Americans to volunteer in their communities on 19 January to honour the civil right leader's legacy of service. The King family plans to participate. There will be a float honouring King in the parade to the White House after the swearing-in ceremony. | Obama also plans to honour King on his inaugural weekend, beginning by asking Americans to volunteer in their communities on 19 January to honour the civil right leader's legacy of service. The King family plans to participate. There will be a float honouring King in the parade to the White House after the swearing-in ceremony. |
| Though there is no constitutional requirement to use a Bible while taking the oath, George Washington began the tradition with a Bible hastily grabbed from St John's a masonic lodge No 1 for his swearing-in on 30 April 1789 in New York. Since then, presidents have typically chosen Bibles with historical or personal significance, many using family heirlooms. Obama is not the first president to use two Bibles: Harry Truman did so in 1949, Dwight Eisenhower in 1953 and Richard Nixon in 1969. | Though there is no constitutional requirement to use a Bible while taking the oath, George Washington began the tradition with a Bible hastily grabbed from St John's a masonic lodge No 1 for his swearing-in on 30 April 1789 in New York. Since then, presidents have typically chosen Bibles with historical or personal significance, many using family heirlooms. Obama is not the first president to use two Bibles: Harry Truman did so in 1949, Dwight Eisenhower in 1953 and Richard Nixon in 1969. |
| Some presidents kiss the book after completing the oath. Sometimes the Bible is open to meaningful passages, such as President George W. Bush's choice of Isaiah 40:31 – "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." | Some presidents kiss the book after completing the oath. Sometimes the Bible is open to meaningful passages, such as President George W. Bush's choice of Isaiah 40:31 – "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." |
| The Lincoln Bible is part of the Library of Congress collection. The supreme court clerk bought the Bible, bound in burgundy velvet, especially for Lincoln's swearing-in. | The Lincoln Bible is part of the Library of Congress collection. The supreme court clerk bought the Bible, bound in burgundy velvet, especially for Lincoln's swearing-in. |
| The first lady's Robinson family Bible was a gift from her late father, Fraser Robinson III, to his mother, LaVaughn Delores Robinson, on Mother's Day 1958. The first lady's grandmother was the first black female manager of a Moody Bible Institute's bookshop, and her son's present was her favourite, inaugural planners said. | The first lady's Robinson family Bible was a gift from her late father, Fraser Robinson III, to his mother, LaVaughn Delores Robinson, on Mother's Day 1958. The first lady's grandmother was the first black female manager of a Moody Bible Institute's bookshop, and her son's present was her favourite, inaugural planners said. |
| They also said that the vice-president, Joe Biden, will use a Bible with a Celtic cross on the cover that has been in his family for 120 years. Biden has used the Bible every time he has been sworn into federal office from his entry into the Senate 40 years ago. | They also said that the vice-president, Joe Biden, will use a Bible with a Celtic cross on the cover that has been in his family for 120 years. Biden has used the Bible every time he has been sworn into federal office from his entry into the Senate 40 years ago. |
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