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Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2020 January 13

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January 13

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JFK's presidential oath

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From the videos you can clearly see that he does not rest his left hand on the Bible, but keeps it attached to the body. Was the oath equally valid? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.41.100.198 (talk) 20:34, 13 January 2020 (UTC)[reply]

According to the constitution (Article II, Section 1) [1], he just has to say the words. The bible, the judge, and all the rest are just ceremony.
A few presidents have skipped the bible altogether. Oath_of_office_of_the_President_of_the_United_States#Use_of_Bibles.
ApLundell (talk) 21:34, 13 January 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Indeed, see the No Religious Test Clause of the U.S. Constitution: "…no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." --47.146.63.87 (talk) 23:59, 13 January 2020 (UTC)[reply]
When Keith Ellison was sworn in as the nation's first Muslim member of Congress, he chose to place his left hand on a copy of the Quran. To hear the right-wingers whine, you'd have thought he'd committed treason. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots05:55, 14 January 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Methinks Trump's minions were more afraid he'd commit reason. Clarityfiend (talk) 07:33, 14 January 2020 (UTC) [reply]
And the boy gets a cigar! ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots18:12, 14 January 2020 (UTC)[reply]