Barack Obama retakes Oath of Office today amid speculations that his first Oath of Office during the inauguration was technically flawed. When Obama took his oath before millions of supporters in Washington DC and billions around the world yesterday, he became the 44th President of the United States of America. Or did he? Well, according to some experts, maybe not. During that inauguration oath-taking, Barack Obama and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts fumbled a few lines of the affirmation, words that are prescribed in the Constitution of the United States. This prompted advisers and political experts to worry that a technicality may ensue because of the mistake.
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
But this was how it went on Tuesday during the inauguration:
ROBERTS: I, Barack Hussein Obama…
OBAMA: I, Barack…
ROBERTS: … do solemnly swear…
OBAMA: I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear…
ROBERTS: … that I will execute the Office of President to the United States faithfully…
OBAMA: … that I will execute…
ROBERTS: … the off -- faithfully the Pres -- the Office of President of the United States…
OBAMA: … the Office of President of the United States faithfully…
ROBERTS: … and will to the best of my ability…
OBAMA: … and will to the best of my ability…
ROBERTS: … preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
OBAMA: … preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
ROBERTS: So help you God?
OBAMA: So help me God.
As a result, in an effort to ensure the validity of his presidency, Barack Obama again stood before Chief Justice John Roberts and retook the Oath of Office, erasing any doubt that he is now the 44th President of the United States of America.
According to news reports, at 7:35 PM earlier tonight in the White House, John Roberts asked Barack Obama if he was ready to retake his oath, the President reportedly replied: "I am, and we're going to do it very slowly." He took his second Oath of Office without the Bible this time. No video cameras were present during his second oath-taking thus no videos are available for posting.
It was not the first time that a retake of the Presidential Oath of Office happened. Several past United States presidents have also taken the oath of office a second time for a variety of reasons. President Calvin Coolidge and President Chester A. Arthur both retook their oaths after the first one was taken in private when notified about the death of their predecessor. President Woodrow Wilson, on the other hand, took his first oath when the Inauguration fell on a Sunday. He later took a second oath during a public ceremony.
0 comments:
Post a Comment