Which president did not use the Bible to take the oath of office?
Asked by: Prof. Jordane Klein DDS | Last update: March 5, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (33 votes)
The U.S. Presidents who did not use a Bible for their oath of office include Theodore Roosevelt (no book at all), John Quincy Adams (a law book), and Lyndon B. Johnson (a Catholic missal/prayer book). While George Washington started the Bible tradition, the Constitution doesn't require it, allowing for variations like using law books or other religious texts, as seen in these notable instances.
Which presidents did not swear on a Bible?
Several U.S. Presidents have not used a Bible for their oath, including John Quincy Adams (used a law book), Theodore Roosevelt (no book after McKinley's death), Calvin Coolidge (didn't use his family Bible in Vermont), and Lyndon B. Johnson (mistakenly used a Catholic missal on Air Force One). The Constitution doesn't require a Bible, making it a tradition, not a mandate.
Does the president have to take the oath of office on a Bible?
The Constitution does not say what the swearing-in must include. While most Presidents-elect chose a Bible, as George Washington did, John Quincy Adams used a book of law, and Teddy Roosevelt did not use any book. The President-elect is usually sworn in by the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, but not always.
Which president tried to rewrite the Bible?
For those who know much about Thomas Jefferson, the idea that he wanted his own version of the Bible shouldn't be surprising. He took issue with the idea of organized religion dictating what people should and shouldn't believe, and he believed that faith was a very personal thing.
Did JFK swear on a Bible?
The oath of office of the president was administered to Kennedy by Chief Justice Earl Warren using a closed family Bible at 12:51 (ET) although he officially became president at the stroke of noon.
Trump's hand wasn't on the Bible during oath of office - does it matter? | REUTERS
Did Bill Clinton swear on the Bible?
Presidential oath
At noon, the oath of office was administered to Clinton by Chief Justice William Rehnquist. The oath was sworn on a King James Bible, which was given to him by his grandmother.
Did Obama use a Bible when he was sworn in?
The bible was the oath book of President Abraham Lincoln at his inauguration in 1861. It was also used by President Barack Obama at his inaugurations in 2009 and 2013, as well as by President Donald Trump at his inaugurations in 2017 and 2025. The bible was returned to Carroll after Lincoln's first inauguration.
What word is mentioned 365 times in the Bible?
There isn't a single word mentioned exactly 365 times, but the popular spiritual claim is that the phrase "Fear not" (or "do not be afraid") appears about 365 times, once for each day of the year, as a divine encouragement, though actual counts vary by Bible version and translation, with some finding closer to 100 or so, while others find many more instances when including synonyms and different forms like "do not fear" or "be not afraid".
Why is Matthew 23/14 missing?
Matthew 23:14 is missing from many modern Bibles because it doesn't appear in the earliest and most reliable Greek manuscripts, suggesting it was a later scribal addition, though it's present in later Byzantine texts and thus in older translations like the KJV, with the same teaching found in Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47. Textual critics, using older Alexandrian manuscripts (like P45, P46, Aleph, B, C, L), omit it to get closer to the original text, while others include it with brackets or footnotes, acknowledging its presence in some traditions but not the earliest ones.
What did Einstein say about the Bible?
Albert Einstein viewed the Bible as a collection of "honorable, but still primitive legends" and called the concept of God in theology the product of human weakness, stating he didn't believe in a personal God but rather a Spinozan God revealed in the universe's lawful harmony. He felt scientists are alien to the Bible's literal creation story and that religious faith shouldn't interfere with scientific understanding, seeing religion's domain as distinct from nature's laws.
What is the only Bible endorsed by Trump?
The God Bless the U.S.A. Bible, also known as the Trump Bible, is an anthology or compilation of texts—some of them deliberately incomplete—in the realm of American Civil Religion and Trumpism, containing an edition of the King James Version of the Christian Bible, alongside texts related to the foundation and politics ...
Can you refuse to swear on a Bible in court?
Today it is well settled that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution denies the government any authority to coerce a person into performing a religious act, including swearing oaths on a bible.
What happens if the President violates the Constitution?
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. The Federalist No. 65 (Alexander Hamilton); Peter Hoffer & N.E.H. Hull, Impeachment in America, 1635–1805 59–95 (1984).
What Bible did Trump use?
The "Trump Bible" refers to the God Bless the USA Bible, a special edition featuring the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, promoted by Donald Trump and inspired by Lee Greenwood's song. It's not a new translation but a compilation including America's founding documents (Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, Pledge of Allegiance) alongside Scripture, marketed to promote Christian values in America, with copies printed in China despite Trump's "America First" stance.
What president didn't believe in God?
While no president so far has ever openly identified as an atheist, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and William Howard Taft were speculated to be atheists by their opponents during political campaigns; in addition, a survey during the first presidency of Donald Trump showed that 63% of Americans did not believe he ...
Where in the Bible does it say not to swear an oath?
Matthew 5:34-37 King James Version (KJV)
but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Why was the book of Adam and Eve removed from the Bible?
It wasn't removed. It was never included because it was written in the 6th century and the canon had long been closed.
Where in the Bible does it say Jesus was unrecognizable?
The Bible describes Jesus as unrecognizable due to severe physical disfigurement from his passion in Isaiah 52:14, saying his appearance was "so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness". This Old Testament prophecy highlights the profound suffering and brutality of his scourging, making him seem less than human, a description reflected in the New Testament accounts of his battered state.
What does it mean even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs?
The phrase "even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs" means that even those considered low in status can benefit from the overflow of blessings or resources meant for the privileged, demonstrating great humility and faith by accepting even the smallest portion of grace or help, as seen in the biblical story where a Gentile woman uses it to ask Jesus for healing for her daughter, emphasizing that any small blessing from God's bounty is sufficient for her.
What word is in the Bible 7000 times?
So we can think of it as “Yahweh God.” From that point, Yahweh appears over 7,000 additional times in the Bible. It is by far the most common way the biblical writers referred to God, and that makes sense because it's His name.
What is mentioned 222 times in the Bible?
There isn't one single English word appearing exactly 222 times in most common Bible translations, but in the original Hebrew Old Testament, the word nachalah (inheritance/heritage) appears 222 times, while some sources suggest the word "wisdom" appears around 220-222 times, pointing to numbers and significant words within scripture.
How many times is the word "do not be afraid" in the Bible?
While popular tradition claims the Bible says "do not be afraid" 365 times (once for each day of the year), this isn't literally true for any single translation; counts vary widely by version, but it's generally over 100 times, with the KJV having around 100 instances of "fear not" or "be not afraid," while the total count of the concept of not fearing, including related phrases and mentions of "fear," is much higher, often exceeding 365.
What is the Trump's oath?
Donald Trump has taken the U.S. Presidential Oath of Office twice, pledging to "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," concluding with "so help me God," administered by the Chief Justice on both occasions (2017 and 2025). His oaths involved using family Bibles, including the historic Lincoln Bible, and marked his terms as the 45th and 47th U.S. President.
Which religion did Barack Obama have?
Barack Obama is a practicing Christian who identifies as a Protestant, having been raised Methodist and later attending the United Church of Christ, particularly the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, though he has since attended various Protestant denominations. His faith, rooted in the social gospel, emphasizes compassion, service, and justice, influencing his policies and public life as a guide for moral action and common good, despite persistent misinformation about him being Muslim.
What Bible did Abraham Lincoln use?
On March 4, 1861, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney administered the oath of office to Abraham Lincoln using a Bible provided by William Thomas Carroll, clerk of the Supreme Court, because Lincoln's family Bible was packed with other belongings that still were en route to Washington from Springfield, Illinois.