The Washington herald., 1909-02-21
BIBLE At The INAUGURATION
Not Always New Book Used at the
Swearing in Of President.
Grover Cleveland Had His own
Family Bible. as Did Several
Other Presidents.

That the incoming President always
takes the oath OF Office on a Bible and
that the Chief Justice OF the United
States administers the oath is generally
known. but where the Bible comes from
is a fact concerning which the public
knows much less. The one who is able
70 give more information OF this Subject
than any other IS James H. Mckinney.
clerk Of the Supreme Court. who Is the
man who always has the sacred book Al
the right place at the right time. and in
whose hands. strange TO say, il always
so opens. that the august parsonage who
is about 10 pledge his fidelity 10 the Con
stitution and the best interests OF the
people Of the United States. hnds his
palm resting upon some passage which
is an augUry OF good for al concerned.
The purchase Of the book is one Of the
''perquisites" Of the clerk.
No, said Mr.. Mckenney. in response
10 a question. no. We do not use our
century-oid Bible for the swearing in OF
Presidents. but il often happens that the
clerk supplies a new book for the occa-
sion II is the intention that the man
who takes the oath Of Office should have
the volume as a keepsake. and il gen
orally transpiTes that his family, If not
himself. set much s;ore BY IT, Not al
ways. however, nor even in a majority OF
cases. are We called upon 10 supply a
new book for 1; frequently happens that
the President or some member Of his
family is the owner Of some treasured
volume Of the Scriptures, which It is de-
sired that he should use upon this sacred
and important occasion.
This was the case when Mr.. Cleveland
was inaUgurated. He was the owner Of
a small Bible. not larger than your hand.
and which apparently has seen much
usage. His mother had presented It TO
him when be was a boy. and he had
treasured il ever since. When ne vas
consulted about taking the oath. Vslen
first insugurateG as President. he stated
that he desired his mothers present
should be used for this purpose When
the oath was administered TO him al the
beginning OF his second administration.
the same volume. which on this occasion
had been hunted out by Mrs Cleveland
was again brought forward and presented
as the one upon which heT husband
should make his pledges
Quite in contrast with this little vol
ume was the one used in administering
the oath 20 M Mckinley. The negro
bishops Joined together and presented to
Mr.. Mckinley one OF the biggest books
I have ever seen Il was an extrsordi-
nary large family Bible, bound in heavy
morocco. trimmed - gold and stored in
a much ornamented box. remember
well that I was much tagged out from
carrying Z 20 the Senate chamber and
from that chamber 10 the platform in
front OF the Capitol After the Bible had
been used for this purpose I turned it
over 70 the President, but. notvithstand-
ing he had already received IL the donors
afterWard called al the White House
and presented It with formal speeches.
TO which Mr. Mckinley made appropriate
reply
President Roosevelt was sworn in on
Bible which had been used for the
same purpose when he was inaUgurated
governor OF New York. We had bought
a Bible fo~ his inauguration when We re-
ceived word from Mrs. Roosevelt that
she preferred the use Of their Own vol
ume. and il was accordingly substituted.
We still have on hand the Bible bought
for that occasion. but We shall not use
it for Mr. Taft Unless he furnishes a
book himself We VIII get 2 new one and
will keep the Roosevelt Bible on hand for
emergencies. such. for instance. as oc-
CURED when Arthur took the oath OF Of
fee in this city. He had been sworn in
New York. but II was Suddenly decided
that il would be safer 70 again administer
the oath In Washington. Accordingly
Chief Justice Waite and about twenty
other people Of prominence were called
very suddenly together in the Vice Presi-
dents room at the Capitol 7 had 10
send uptown for q book. and had but a
few minutes in which 10 execute the
commission succeeded however IN
getting the book in time for the ceremony
and was one Of the few present when
Mr.. Garneld's successor was initiated into
his high Office.
We now make Il a point TO have an
available book on hand at all times, and
viii probably keep the Roosevelt Bible
for that purpose.