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

= January 13 =

JFK's presidential oath
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)


 * According to the constitution (Article II, Section 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.
 * ApLundell (talk) 21:34, 13 January 2020 (UTC)
 * 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)
 * 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? carrots→ 05:55, 14 January 2020 (UTC)
 * Methinks Trump's minions were more afraid he'd commit reason. Clarityfiend (talk) 07:33, 14 January 2020 (UTC)
 * And the boy gets a cigar! ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 18:12, 14 January 2020 (UTC)