INAUGURATION BIBLES OF 41 U.S. PRESIDENTS

January 23, 2017

5096

trump and flag — President Donald Trump is one of 41 United States Presidents to use one or more Bibles during the Presidential Inauguration when taking Oath of Office.

Inauguration Bibles have been used during 41 of the 45 Presidential Inaugurations when vowing to take oath as President of the United States of America.

Following tradition Inauguration Bibles were used by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence Friday, January 20, 2017, to take oath for the 45^th term of presidency.

President Donald Trump used Abraham Lincoln’s Bible to take Oath of Office.

Inauguration Bibles of many of the deceased presidents are protected in the Library of Congress but can be used by elected presidents during their ceremonial opportunities. President Donald Trump chose two inauguration Bibles to use during his Inauguration Oath Ceremony. He chose Abraham Lincoln’s Bible and a personal Bible presented to him in 1955 by his mother when he graduated from Primary Presbyterian Sunday School.

It’s been the discretion of elected presidents to have Inauguration Bibles opened to a particular scripture reference when being sworn into office. Vice President Mike Pence did choose a scripture reference but President Donald Trump wanted to lay his left hand upon the two stacked Bibles while raising his right hand vowing to serve and honor the United States of America.

Vice President Mike Pence, known as a devout Christian, chose the Reagan Family Bible and had it opened to the same scripture reference used by former President Ronald Reagan and Dwight Eisenhower, 2 Chronicles 7:14 , “If my people, which are called by my name, shall themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2013 Common English Bible, http://www.coomonenglishbible.com

While Vice President Pence’s Christian faith was known throughout the election processes, President Trump’s faith was questioned. In fact, President Trump is one of only four presidents accused of being Atheist during their campaign run. Sharing accusations with President Trump includes Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and William Howard Taft.

President Trump gained the evangelical votes during the current election although many still question his Christian faith, interviews with Dr. James Dobson and Pastor Paula White confirm their belief in President Trump’s acknowledgment of God.

“I can tell you with confidence that I have heard Mr. Trump verbally acknowledge his faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his sins through prayer, and I absolutely believe he is a Christian who is growing like the rest of us. I know that from many personal conversations,” stated Pastor Paula White in an interview conducted with The christian post, http://www.christianpost.com/news/paula-white-on-donald-trumps-christian-faith-exclusive-interview-166205/

Historically the religious affiliation of presidential nominee’s has been important to citizens of the United States of America but isn’t a requirement under The United States Constitution. Through acquired documentation, historical references, speeches and practices, historians were led to believe each of the 45 Presidents of the United States were affiliated to a Protestant or Christian association at one or more time throughout their lifetime.

According to Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_affiliations_of_Presidents_of_the_United_States, of the 45 Presidents of The United States of America the following numbers represent religious affiliation; eleven Episcopalian, eight Presbyterian, four Baptist, four Unitarian, 3, Congregationalist, three Methodist, three unspecified Protestant, two Dutch Reformed, two Quaker, two none specified and one Roman Catholic.

EPISCOPALIAN	George Washington James Madison James Monroe William Henry Harrison John Tyler Zachary Taylor Franklin Pierce Chester A. Arthur Franklin D. Roosevelt Gerald Ford George H. W. Bush
PRESBYTERIAN	Andrew Jackson James Buchanan Grover Cleveland Benjamin Harrison Woodrow Wilson Dwight D.Eisenhower Ronald Reagan Donald Trump
BAPTIST	Warren Harding Harry Truman Jimmy Carter Bill Clinton
UNITARIAN	John Adams John Quincy Adams Millard Fillmore William Howard Taft
CONGREGATIONALIST	Calvin Coolidge
METHODIST	James Polk Ulysses Grant William McKinley George W. Bush
UNSPECIFIED PROTESTANT	Barack Obama Rutherford Hayes
DUTCH REFORMED	Martin Van Buren Theodore Roosevelt
QUAKER	Herbert Hoover Richard Nixon
NONE SPECIFIED	James Garfield Lyndon Johnson (Noted Restoration Movement)
ROMAN CATHOLIC	John F. Kennedy
NONE	Abraham Lincoln (Debated but unknown formal affiliation)

Additionally, throughout the history of presidencies nearly all of the elected presidents chose a Bible to be sworn into office. Only a mere few chose a different book with a deep personal meaning and only one chose not to use a book of any sort.

1825-1829	John Quincy Adams	Law Book
1853-1857	Franklin Pierce	Law Book
1901-1909	Theodore Roosevelt	No book/Bible used
1963-1969	Lyndon Johnson	Roman Catholic Missal upon Air Force One after the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. A Bible was unavailable and time was of the essence.
2013-2017	Barrack Obama	First elected term 2009-2012 Obama used a Bible, it’s been speculated he used a Quran but is unfounded; he didn’t use a Bible during his second term. Instead he choose Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr.’s book of Holy Scripture. Obama’s second inauguration was on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, reasoning for choosing the civil rights leader’s book.

In The United States, separation of church and state has and continues to be a divisive topic amongst Christians, non-Christians and secular religious affiliations. Although controversial, Presidents of this great nation have primarily associated or been associated with Christian ideology, lending credence to the argument America is a Christian nation, culturally adhering to Christian beliefs and values.

Official prayer was part of Presidential Inaugurations until the 1930s, Inauguration Bibles used by the vast majority of former and present presidents, “So Help Me God” is standard at the end of The United States Constitution, “In God We Trust” continues to be printed on American currency and The Pledge of Allegiance is quoted “One Nation Under God, further lends credence America has and is perceived a Christian Nation. America, known for Freedom of Religion, is embraced by numerous religious and non-religious organizations but Christianity is still the primary religion practiced in today’s society.

Scripture References Chosen By United States Presidents

According to a January 19, 2017 article on Time, by Mahita Gajahan, twenty-five of the formerly elected presidents chose to have the Bible opened to specific scripture references to lay their upon while taking oath to be President of the United States of America. Provided below is a list of six former Presidents and the scripture reference chosen. To view the former remaining nineteen presidents and their chosen scripture reference used at Presidential Inaugurations visit http://time.com/4639596/inauguration-day-presidents-bible-passages/.

Former President FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT chose 1 Corinthians 13 at each of his four Presidential Inaugurations in 1933, 1937, 1941 and 1945, “Now for each of your tribes, choose wise, discerning, and well regarded individuals. I will appoint them as your leaders.” 2013 Common English Bible, http://www.commonenglishbible.com

Former President DWIGHT EISENHOWER chose Psalms 33:13 and 2 Chronicles 7:14 during both of his Presidential Inaugurations in 1953 and 1957, “The Lord looks down from heaven; He sees every human being.” 2013 Common English Bible, http://www.commonwealthbible.com

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive them their sin, and will heal their land.” 2013 Common English Bible, http://www.commonenglishbible.com

Dwight Eisenhower, to date, is the only President documented, or known, to have been baptized while serving as President of the United States of America.

Former Presidents JIMMY CARTER in 1977 and WARREN G. HARDING in 1921 both chose Micah 6:8, “He has told you, human one, what is good and what the Lord requires of you; to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.” 2013 Common English Bible, www.commonenglishbible.com

Former President BILL CLINTON chose Isaiah 58:12 for his second Presidential Inauguration in 1997, “They will rebuild ancient ruins on your account; the foundations of generations past you will restore. You will be called Mender of Broken Walls, Restorer of Livable Streets. 2013 Common English Bible, www.commonenglishbible.com

Former President GEORGE W. BUSH in 2005 chose Isaiah 40:31, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will fly up on wings like eagles; they will run and not be tired; they will walk and not be weary.” 2013 Common English Bible, www.commonenglishbible.com

For more information on Presidential Inaugurations, Inauguration Bibles and religious beliefs visit the following sites referenced herein this article: