We do a little sleuthing………..
So I cannot find ANYTHING showing any previous President’s – especially when America was still a Republic – doing the sole swearing in of Military Personnel. At first I thought perhaps this was something done when America was a Republic – thinking yesterday was a signal we are now officially a Republic.
So then I thought ok – what about during war time – can a President swear in Military Personnel?
Affirmative.
I woke up this morning with my thoughts wanting to figure out the whole “hand on bible” during both Trump and Kennedy’s inauguration. Trump’s inauguration this January felt so fake. First he did not place his hand on the bible unlike his first time around in January 2017. Melania looked serious – unlike how she appeared back in January 2017. She had on that hat and that royal navy blue jacket – straight out of V for Vendetta – which is very interesting considering the ending song of that movie as we now know, as I shared in my earlier piece today, was played at last night’s Fireworks Display following the Parade. And….It was also inside. Something tells me this was, as I said at the time, just another movie scene, wrought with symbolism.
As far as Kennedy – whether he did or didn’t – I found this:
KENNEDY SAYS HAND DROPPED FROM BIBLE – The New York Times
When he was assassinated, Johnson didn’t place his hand on the bible. It was a book of Catholic prayers.
There is no Constitutional requirement that the swearing in include a bible or religious text. It’s the words stated that matter. That said, I still find it verrrrrrrrrry interesting that the two inaugurations of Trump were as different as night and day.
