Obama Makes Bible Pick
Dec. 23 2008, Published 5:05 a.m. ET
THE LINCOLN BIBLE Chief Justice Roger B. Taney administered the oath of office to Abraham Lincoln using the Bible shown here. Oxford, 1853 A press release from the Presidential Inaugural Committee reveals that President-Elect Barack Obama has selected the Bible he will use for his swearing-in:
"On January 20th, President-elect Barack Obama will take the oath of office using the same Bible upon which President Lincoln was sworn in at his first inauguration. The Bible is currently part of the collections of the Library of Congress. Though there is no constitutional requirement for the use of a Bible during the swearing-in, Presidents have traditionally used Bibles for the ceremony, choosing a volume with personal or historical significance. President-elect Obama will be the first President sworn in using the Lincoln Bible since its initial use in 1861."
For the record, George W. Bush was sworn in using the Bible of first President George Washington. That one is kept in Federal Hall in NYC.
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