Presidential Oath Essay
I Do Solemnly Swear
Every four years, the president of the United States utters the words “I do solemnly swear...” as he swears in to the most revered office of the United States. With these words he takes on all the responsibilities of arguably the most powerful individual in the world. Although the traditions surrounding the inauguration of the president United States have evolved over the years, the exact wording of the Presidential oath of office was written into the Constitution at the beginning. Presidential inauguration ceremonies include several traditions not mandated by the Constitution. Of particular importance are two: swearing in on the Bible and including the words “so help me God” at the end of the presidential oath. Some would …show more content…
Blomquist’s article, “The Presidential Oath, the American National Interest and a Call for Presiprudence,” he devotes a section to exploring what presidents have said about the oath in their inaugural speeches. During his second inaugural speech, George Washington spoke these words: “This oath I am now about to take, and in your presence: that if it shall be found during my administration of the Government I have in any instance violated willingly or knowingly the injunctions thereof, I may (besides incurring constitutional punishment) be subject to the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony.” Our first president acknowledged that he was held accountable by and to this oath, and was subject to legal punishment as well as public ridicule if he were to violate it. Thomas Jefferson took an equally sober position in his 1801 inaugural speech when he said that he availed himself to “declare a sincere consciousness that the task is above my talents, and that I approach it with those anxious and awful presentiments which the greatness of the change and the weakness of my powers so justly inspire.” Jefferson’s humility while taking this office is astounding. Have we lost the respect that the Founding Fathers had for the executive office? Jefferson shows a reverence appropriate for the great responsibility of the chief executive of this
Every four years, the president of the United States utters the words “I do solemnly swear...” as he swears in to the most revered office of the United States. With these words he takes on all the responsibilities of arguably the most powerful individual in the world. Although the traditions surrounding the inauguration of the president United States have evolved over the years, the exact wording of the Presidential oath of office was written into the Constitution at the beginning. Presidential inauguration ceremonies include several traditions not mandated by the Constitution. Of particular importance are two: swearing in on the Bible and including the words “so help me God” at the end of the presidential oath. Some would …show more content…
Blomquist’s article, “The Presidential Oath, the American National Interest and a Call for Presiprudence,” he devotes a section to exploring what presidents have said about the oath in their inaugural speeches. During his second inaugural speech, George Washington spoke these words: “This oath I am now about to take, and in your presence: that if it shall be found during my administration of the Government I have in any instance violated willingly or knowingly the injunctions thereof, I may (besides incurring constitutional punishment) be subject to the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn ceremony.” Our first president acknowledged that he was held accountable by and to this oath, and was subject to legal punishment as well as public ridicule if he were to violate it. Thomas Jefferson took an equally sober position in his 1801 inaugural speech when he said that he availed himself to “declare a sincere consciousness that the task is above my talents, and that I approach it with those anxious and awful presentiments which the greatness of the change and the weakness of my powers so justly inspire.” Jefferson’s humility while taking this office is astounding. Have we lost the respect that the Founding Fathers had for the executive office? Jefferson shows a reverence appropriate for the great responsibility of the chief executive of this