The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (OurWhiteHouse.org) 1 The Our White House Inauguration Celebration Kit for Kids! Created by The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance for parents, family members, teachers, librarians, and community leaders The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance has created this Inauguration Celebration Kit to assist all adults who live and work with young people to engage with our kids in informed discussions about the presidency and American government, teach them to think critically, and energize them to learn more about the political process in America—using the presidency and inauguration as the focus. This Kit includes: • Exclusive articles covering such topics as why presidential inaugurations are held on January 20th, the oath of office, inaugural parades, and how Thomas Jefferson's first inauguration helped unite the country following a bitter election battle. • Hands-on activities to use with young people in the classroom or at home, such as ideas for designing a parade float, hosting an inaugural ball for kids, and writing poetry. • Games to engage kids in this year’s inauguration, such as “Inaugural I Spy.” • Discussion questions you can share during class, around the dinner table, and at a club meeting. We invite you to check out the interactive version of this Kit on our education website OurWhiteHouse.org, the online companion to our award-winning anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out (Candlewick Press). Our White House is an incomparable collection of essays, personal accounts, historical fiction, poetry, and a stunning array of original art, offering a multifaceted look at America’s history through the prism of the White House. Some of the ideas and activities provided in this Kit coordinate with the content and illustrations in Our White House, but most can be used independently of the book. We believe you know the kids with whom you live and work far better than we do, so we leave to your judgment the articles and activities that best serve the needs and ages of the young people in your life. Please print what you need and feel free to share this Kit with others. The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit education and advocacy organization, founded in 1997 by award-winning young people's authors and illustrators. The NCBLA acts as a freelance nonpartisan advocate creating and developing original projects and events that promote literacy, literature, humanities, and the arts and educate the public about practical literacy solutions. We are distinguished from other literacy organizations by the fact that we not only promote reading and learning, we also create books and online materials, both entertaining and educational, that motivate young people to read. We also believe there is a direct link between literacy and civic engagement, that literacy is intrinsic to a healthy democracy. To learn more about the NCBLA, please visit our website (thencbla.org) and our Facebook page (facebook.com/TheNCBLA).
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The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (OurWhiteHouse.org) 1
The Our White House Inauguration Celebration Kit for Kids!
Created by The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance
for parents, family members, teachers, librarians, and community leaders
The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance has
created this Inauguration Celebration Kit to assist all
adults who live and work with young people to engage
with our kids in informed discussions about the
presidency and American government, teach them to
think critically, and energize them to learn more about
the political process in America—using the presidency
and inauguration as the focus. This Kit includes:
• Exclusive articles covering such topics as why
presidential inaugurations are held on January 20th,
the oath of office, inaugural parades, and how
Thomas Jefferson's first inauguration helped unite
the country following a bitter election battle.
• Hands-on activities to use with young people in the
classroom or at home, such as ideas for designing a
parade float, hosting an inaugural ball for kids, and
writing poetry.
• Games to engage kids in this year’s inauguration,
such as “Inaugural I Spy.”
• Discussion questions you can share during class,
around the dinner table, and at a club meeting.
We invite you to check out the interactive version of this Kit on our education website
OurWhiteHouse.org, the online companion to our award-winning anthology Our White House:
Looking In, Looking Out (Candlewick Press). Our White House is an incomparable collection of essays,
personal accounts, historical fiction, poetry, and a stunning array of original art, offering a multifaceted
look at America’s history through the prism of the White House. Some of the ideas and activities
provided in this Kit coordinate with the content and illustrations in Our White House, but most can be
used independently of the book.
We believe you know the kids with whom you live and work far better than we do, so we leave to your
judgment the articles and activities that best serve the needs and ages of the young people in your life.
Please print what you need and feel free to share this Kit with others.
The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit education and advocacy
organization, founded in 1997 by award-winning young people's authors and illustrators. The NCBLA
acts as a freelance nonpartisan advocate creating and developing original projects and events that promote
literacy, literature, humanities, and the arts and educate the public about practical literacy solutions. We
are distinguished from other literacy organizations by the fact that we not only promote reading and
learning, we also create books and online materials, both entertaining and educational, that motivate
young people to read. We also believe there is a direct link between literacy and civic engagement, that
literacy is intrinsic to a healthy democracy.
To learn more about the NCBLA, please visit our website (thencbla.org) and our Facebook page
The Our White House Inauguration Celebration Kit for Kids!
2 The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (OurWhiteHouse.org)
Table of Contents Why Are Presidential Inaugurations Held on January 20th? .......................................................... 3
The Presidential Oath of Office .................................................................................................................. 5
Americans Love a Parade ........................................................................................................................... 10
United by Voice and Vision: Thomas Jefferson’s First Inauguration, March 4, 1801 .................................................................... 15
Come One, Come All! How Technology Transformed Inauguration Day .............................................................................. 20
Inaugural Activities and Discussion Questions for Young People ................................................ 24
• Play “Inaugural I Spy” ........................................................................................................................... 24
• Design a Parade Float ............................................................................................................................ 29
• Inaugural Themes and Art ................................................................................................................... 30
• Host an Inauguration Poetry Reading .............................................................................................. 32
• Write Poems Celebrating the Presidential Inauguration ........................................................... 33
• Bibles and Relics: Connecting with Past Presidents .................................................................... 34
• In His or Her Words: Listening to the Inaugural Speech ........................................................... 35
• Design the Oval Office ............................................................................................................................ 36
• Host a Kids’ Inaugural Ball! Ideas and Activities .......................................................................... 37
• Create a Political Cartoon ..................................................................................................................... 38
• Visit a Presidential Historic Site, Library, or Website ................................................................ 39
Presidential Fact Files Please visit OurWhiteHouse.org for the NCBLA’s extensive database of American presidents, which includes summaries of each president’s term and legacy, famous quotes, fun facts, and MORE.
First Lady Fact Files Please visit OurWhiteHouse.org for the NCBLA’s extensive database of American first ladies, which includes basic information of each first lady’s life and legacy, as well as famous quotes.
Presidents, the President’s House, and More: A Select List of Books (and a Few Web Sources) for Children and Young Adults Please visit OurWhiteHouse.org for the NCBLA’s list of books and web sources about American presidents, history, and civics topics created by librarian Maria Salvadore.
Great Presidential Inauguration Websites Please visit OurWhiteHouse.org for the NCBLA’s annotated list of inauguration websites.
Learn More About the Presidents and Inaugurations ...................................................................... 40
Editor’s Note: The NCBLA has always encouraged the adults who live and work with young people to
engage their kids in current events by watching and discussing them. This year the FBI is warning everyone
about the potential for armed protests in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals in the days leading up
to and including Inauguration Day. With the possibility for violence at hand, we recommend that educators and parents proceed cautiously in their decisions about whether to watch the inaugural activities live this
year. A possible alternative is to share the inauguration video with young people later in the day with
sensitivity as needed. This can be managed by video recording the events or by finding them on news
streaming services.
In addition, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has required major changes to inaugural activities. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies has announced that the 2021 inauguration will be
orchestrated mostly as a virtual event with no large public gatherings. President Biden and Vice President
Harris will be sworn in at the West Front of the Capitol as is traditional. Other events will take place
across the country and be broadcast on television and online.
This new interpretation of the inaugural activities provides a perfect educational opportunity for young people, teachers, and parents to COMPARE and CONTRAST how inaugural events were organized in the
past to how they will be organized this year when our nation is experiencing a public health crisis. We
encourage you to use these materials in creative ways to maximize their educational impact with the young
The Our White House Inauguration Celebration Kit for Kids!
24 The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (OurWhiteHouse.org)
Inaugural Activities and Discussion Questions for Young People
by Mary Brigid Barrett, Geri Zabela Eddins, and Heather Lang
Play “Inaugural I Spy”
The 2021 I Spy Presidential Inauguration Scorecard provides a
great nonpartisan opportunity to explore American history, civic
education, and current events with your kids!
The 2021 scorecard includes four pages of pictures and short
biographies of the incoming president and vice president and their
families, as well as the outgoing president and vice president and
the leaders of the Supreme Court and Congress.
Watch the inauguration, live on TV or the Internet, and have your
kids identify, then check, the important “players” taking part in
this year’s inaugural ceremonies. Be sure to have young people
look for and check off the historical sites, too! If you are unable to
watch the inaugural ceremonies live, then watch what you can
later that evening on the news or on YouTube.
The 2021 I Spy Presidential Inauguration Scorecard continues
on the following four pages.
The Our White House Inauguration Celebration Kit for Kids!
The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (OurWhiteHouse.org) 25
“I Spy” Scorecard 2021 Presidential Inauguration
Created by The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance
On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, watch the presidential inauguration at home or in your classroom, and
see if you can “I SPY” these people and places! Check them off your list one at a time.
Editor’s Note: The NCBLA has always encouraged the adults who live and work with young people to engage their kids in current events by watching and discussing them. This year the FBI is warning everyone about the
potential for armed protests in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals in the days leading up to and
including Inauguration Day. With the possibility for violence at hand, we recommend that educators and parents proceed cautiously in their decisions about whether to watch the inaugural activities live this year. A
possible alternative is to share the inauguration video with young people later in the day with sensitivity as
needed. This can be managed by video recording the events or by finding them on news streaming services.
In addition, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has required major changes to inaugural activities. The Joint
Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies has announced that the 2021 inauguration will be orchestrated mostly as a virtual event with no large public gatherings. President Biden and Vice President
Harris will be sworn in at the West Front of the Capitol as is traditional. Other events will take place across
the country and be broadcast on television and online.
This new interpretation of inaugural activities provides a perfect educational opportunity for young people,
teachers, and parents to COMPARE and CONTRAST how inaugural events were organized in the past to how they will be organized this year when our nation is experiencing a public health crisis. We encourage you to
use these materials in creative ways to maximize their educational impact with the young people in your lives.
The President and His Family
President Joseph R. Biden is the 46th president of the United States.
Biden has dedicated his life to public service. He served as vice
president with President Obama for two terms, from 2009-2017.
Previously, he served the state of Delaware as senator for 36 years,
serving six full terms.
The president was a halfback and wide receiver on his high school
football team. His Secret Service codename is “Celtic,” given to him
because of his Irish heritage. This was the same code name the Secret
Service used for Biden when he was vice president.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden holds an Ed.D. in Education. As second lady,
Dr. Biden worked to bring attention to the sacrifices made by military
families, to highlight the importance of community colleges to America’s
future, and to raise awareness around areas of particular importance to
women, including breast cancer prevention, all while continuing to teach
English full-time at Virginia Community College.
Dr. Biden plans to continue her professional career when she moves into
the White House, becoming the first First Lady to do so.
President Joe Biden is father to four children, two of whom are
deceased. His daughter Naomi died in a car accident with
Biden’s first wife in 1972, and his son Joseph "Beau" R. Biden
III died in 2015 following a battle with brain cancer. Biden’s
two surviving children include his son Robert Hunter Biden
from his first marriage and his daughter Ashley Blazer Biden
from his marriage to Jill Biden.
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26 The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (OurWhiteHouse.org)
The President and His Family (continued)
The president and first lady
have seven grandchildren.
Left to right: daughter-in-law
Melissa Cohen, son Hunter
Biden, grandson Beau Biden,
granddaughter Naomi Biden,
President Joe Biden, Dr. Jill
Biden, granddaughter Maisy
Biden, granddaughter
Finnegan Biden, grandson
Hunter Biden, granddaughter
Natalie Biden, daughter
Ashley Biden, and son-in-
law Dr. Howard Krein.
The Vice President and Second Gentleman
Vice President Kamala Harris is the 49th vice president of the United
States. As an attorney and politician, she served California as senator for
four years and previously as attorney general. The vice president is married
to Douglas Emhoff and is stepmother to his two children from his previous
marriage. Her stepchildren Cole and Ella call her “Momala.” Harris is the
daughter of two immigrant parents. Her mother was born in India, and her
father was born in Jamaica. Her Secret Service code name is “Pioneer,”
which she chose because she is the first female vice president, as well as the
first woman of color.
Douglas Emhoff is an entertainment and media lawyer, who most recently
practiced at the multi-national law firm DLA Piper. Emhoff chose to resign
his position and put his career on hold to support his wife as she campaigned
with Joe Biden. As second gentleman, he plans to teach at Georgetown
Law’s Institute for Technology Law and Policy as a distinguished fellow.
Emhoff was born in Brooklyn and moved to California with his family when
he was in high school. He is the first Jewish spouse of a vice president.
The Outgoing President and First Lady
Former President Donald J. Trump served one term as president of the
United States. The presidency was his first role in public office. Before
being elected, Trump earned a degree in Economics from the Wharton
School of the University of Pennsylvania and worked with his father in real
estate, eventually developing properties in New York City and across the
world. He also worked as a reality TV personality on The Apprentice and
authored many books, including the bestseller The Art of the Deal. Trump
enjoys playing golf.
Former First Lady Melania Trump was born in Slovenia and became an
American citizen in 2006. She was the second foreign-born first lady of the
United States. As her primary initiative as first lady, Mrs. Trump created the
BE BEST awareness campaign for young people, which concentrates on
well-being, online safety, and opioid abuse. She also redesigned the White
House Rose Garden and added a tennis pavilion. Mrs. Trump has one child
with husband Donald, a son named Barron Trump.
Photo by Adam Schultz; November 2020
The Our White House Inauguration Celebration Kit for Kids!
The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (OurWhiteHouse.org) 27
The Outgoing Vice President and Second Lady
Former Vice President Michael R. Pence served one term as vice president
of the United States. Before being elected as vice president, he served the
public in many roles, including as governor of Indiana, for which he served
from 2013 to 2017. Pence also served six terms as a member of the United
States House of Representatives. Before entering public service, Mr. Pence
practiced law and worked as a radio talk show host.
Former Second Lady Karen Pence, like her husband, grew up in Indiana.
She taught elementary school for 25 years before becoming First Lady of
Indiana.
As second lady of the United States, Mrs. Pence advocated for the benefits of
art therapy and launched Healing with HeART in 2017. She also worked to
support military service members and their families. Mr. and Mrs. Pence are
the parents of three children: Michael, Charlotte, and Audrey.
The Supreme Court
John G. Roberts, Jr. is the 17th and current Chief Justice of the United States.
He has served in the Supreme Court since 2005, having been nominated by
President George W. Bush after the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist.
The United States Congress
Nancy D'Alesandro Pelosi is the current Speaker of the United States House of
Representatives. A member of the Democratic party, she is the U.S.
Representative from California’s 12th congressional district, serving since 1987.
Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from
Kentucky. A member of the Republican party, he has been the Majority Leader
of the Senate since 2015.
Charles E. Schumer is the senior United States Senator from New York and has
served in the Senate since 1999. A member of the Democratic party, he has
served as Minority Leader since 2019.
Charles E. Grassley is President Pro Tempore of the Senate. A Republican,
Grassley has served as a senator from Iowa since 1981. The President Pro
Tempore is the second highest-ranking leadership position in the Senate.
Steny H. Hoyer is the U.S. Representative for Maryland’s 5th congressional
district. A member of the Democratic party, he became House Majority Leader
2019. He has served in the House of Representatives since 1981.
Kevin D. McCarthy, a member of the Republican party, has served as Minority
Leader of the House of Representatives since 2019. He was first elected to the
House of Representatives in 2007 and serves California’s 23rd district.
The Our White House Inauguration Celebration Kit for Kids!
28 The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (OurWhiteHouse.org)
Washington, D.C. Landmarks
The White House is both the home and
office of the president of the United States
and his or her family.
The National Mall is a national park in
downtown Washington, D.C. that stretches
from the Capitol building to the Lincoln
Memorial.
The United States Capitol is where
Congress—the Senate and House of
Representatives—convene to do their work in
the legislative branch of our government.
The Washington Monument is an obelisk on
the National Mall in Washington, D.C. built to
commemorate the first American president,
General George Washington.
The Our White House Inauguration Celebration Kit for Kids!
The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (OurWhiteHouse.org) 29
Design a Parade Float
Months of design planning and hard labor go into the
construction of the elaborate floats we see during the
inaugural parade. Some floats reflect the theme of the
inauguration, others show off the industries and
resources of a particular state, and then there’s the
president’s float—a float designed to celebrate the
newly inaugurated president’s life. The float created
for Eisenhower was a golf course putting green. For
George Bush the president’s float was an aircraft
carrier that hauled one of the planes Bush had flown
during WWII. For President Obama’s first
inauguration in 2009, floats representing his home
states of Hawaii and Illinois were created. Whatever is
being fashioned for the next inaugural parade will be a
surprise until it glides down Pennsylvania Avenue on
Inauguration Day!
Pose this question to your kids: If you could design a
float for the new president, what would it look like? Draw a picture of your design.
Your class or family might want to create your own inaugural parade of floats. Each person can choose a
theme for his or her float. A larger class might consider having each student create a float for a certain
state. Or, you might want to show off your school or community in your float design!
Young people can also find inspiration for parade and float themes from the articles and illustrations in
Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out. For example, “Presidential Pets” might be a great theme for
elementary and middle school students who will find inspiration in Steven Kellogg’s article and double-
page illustration of White House pets in Our White House.
There are many ways kids can create their own parade of floats. One way is to draw pictures on paper and
then tape them in a long parade line on a classroom or hall wall. Or, they can make their floats using shoe
boxes or tissue boxes. Cut pictures from magazines. Puff balls and pipe cleaners make great animals.
Brightly colored construction paper, foam sheets, and even popsicle sticks can be used to create and build
just about anything they might want to add to their floats. They may also want to make floats from
wagons, or other wheeled toys or objects, and form a mini-inaugural parade in a neighborhood
playground or recreation center or school hallway.
Read all about inaugural parades on OurWhiteHouse.org in the article “Americans Love a Parade.”
You can find pictures of past parades and floats at your local library. You can also find photographs
online on the Library of Congress website LOC.gov.
Eagle float in the inaugural parade for President H.W. Bush taken by photographer Carol Highsmith on January 20, 1989. (Source: https://catalog.loc.gov/vwebv/search?searchCode=LCCN&searchArg=2011632685&searchType=1&permalink=y)
The Our White House Inauguration Celebration Kit for Kids!
30 The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (OurWhiteHouse.org)
Inaugural Themes and Art
The inaugural luncheon is held in National Statuary Hall within the Capitol. A new tradition was started
in 1985 for one or two paintings to be selected to serve as a backdrop for the head table. The painting is
chosen to reflect the official theme of the inaugural ceremony. In 1997 portraits of John Adams and
Thomas Jefferson were selected to highlight the 200th anniversaries of their inauguration as president and
vice president in 1797. In 2005 a gleaming portrait of Wyoming titled Wind River, Wyoming and painted
by Albert Bierstadt in 1870 was borrowed from a collection in Colorado to commemorate the 1905
inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt, as well as the 1803-1806 Lewis and Clark expedition.
The theme for President
Obama’s first inauguration
was “A New Birth of
Freedom,” which was
selected to commemorate
the 200th anniversary of
Abraham Lincoln’s birth.
The committee selected a
landscape titled View of the
Yosemite Valley by
Thomas Hill, having noted
that “the painting reflects
the majestic landscape of
the American West and the
dawn of a new era. The
subject of the painting,
Yosemite Valley,
represents an important but
often overlooked event
from Lincoln’s
presidency—his signing of
the 1864 Yosemite Grant,
which set aside Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias as a public reserve.”
The theme for President Trump’s inauguration in 2017 was “Uniquely American.” To highlight that
theme, the painting The Verdict of the People by George Caleb Bingham was borrowed to hang at the
inaugural luncheon. (photo on next page) The painting features citizens in a Missouri town celebrating
and mourning the results of an election.
For the inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden, the theme is “Our Determined Democracy: Forging a
More Perfect Union.”
View of Yosemite Valley by Thomas Hill (1885) was hung at the luncheon for President Obama’s first inauguration. (Source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/11101)
The Our White House Inauguration Celebration Kit for Kids!
The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (OurWhiteHouse.org) 31
Have your kids consider
paintings that reflect this
year’s inaugural theme.
Together, look at art books
and catalogs of museum
collections at your library.
Also, most major museums
provide pictures of their
collections on their
websites. A good place to
start a search might be the
online collection of the
National Gallery of Art.
Your kids might want to
paint their own piece of art
for the inaugural. For
example, young people
who are inspired by
Abraham Lincoln might
choose to paint a portrait of
Lincoln or a landscape
featuring the log cabin in
which he was born. For
links to homes and historic sites associated with Lincoln, check out “Abraham Lincoln” in the “The
Presidential Fact Files” on OurWhiteHouse.org.
And, ask your kids: If you were elected president what would you choose for your inaugural theme? Draw
and/or paint a picture that symbolizes that theme. This is a wonderful opportunity to discuss the concept
of theme and symbols. There are many incredible illustrations in Our White House: Looking In, Looking
Out that you can show to your students to inspire them.
The Verdict of the People by George Caleb Bingham (1854) was the featured painting at the inauguration of President Trump. (Source: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/arts/2016-12-16/binghams-verdict-of-the-people-to-take-center-stage-at-trumps-inauguration)
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32 The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (OurWhiteHouse.org)
Host an Inauguration Poetry Reading
Poet Elizabeth Alexander read a poem she wrote to
celebrate President Obama’s first administration at
the inaugural ceremony in 2009. And in 2013,
Cuban-American poet Richard Blanco delivered the
inaugural poem. But poetry reading has not been
standard tradition at presidential inaugurations. In
fact, prior to President Obama, only two previous
presidents included a poetry reading. Robert Frost
recited a poem for the inauguration of John F.
Kennedy in 1961, and Bill Clinton included poets on
the schedule for both of his inaugurations. Maya
Angelou read a piece for the 1993 inauguration, and
Miller Williams read a poem he wrote for the 1997
inauguration.
Read and share with your kids one or all of the
previous inaugural poems. Read them aloud or have
the young people in your life read them aloud.
Poems are meant to be heard!
• “The Gift Outright,” the poem that Frost
recited from memory at Kennedy’s inauguration.
• “Dedication,” the poem Frost wrote for
Kennedy’s inauguration, but was not able to
read due to the glare on his paper from the sun reflecting off the snow.
• “On the Pulse of Morning,” written by Maya Angelou for Bill Clinton’s first inauguration.
• “Of History and Hope,” written by Miller Williams for Clinton’s second inauguration.
• “Praise Song for the Day,” written by Elizabeth Alexander for Obama’s first inauguration.
• “One Today,” written by Richard Blanco for Obama’s second inauguration.
A poem was not recited at the inauguration of Donald Trump.
Ask young people: Is it important to include a poetry reading at the presidential inauguration? If so, then
why? And what poet would they invite to their own presidential inauguration?
Poet Robert Frost delivered the poem “A Gift Outright” at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy in 1961. (Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/after-an-inauguration-the-stars-come-out-to-play-45735308/).
The Our White House Inauguration Celebration Kit for Kids!
34 The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance (OurWhiteHouse.org)
Bibles and Relics: Connecting with Past Presidents
For his first inauguration, President Barack Obama swore the oath of office on the same Bible used by
Abraham Lincoln. The president used the Lincoln Bible for his second inauguration as well, but was also
sworn in using a second Bible—a Bible owned by Martin Luther King, Jr., a gesture recognizing that that
year’s inauguration fell on the federal holiday that honors the civil rights leader. Journalist Nedra Pickler
wrote that the selection of the two Bibles, “is richly symbolic of the struggle for equality in America,
beginning with Lincoln’s emancipation of slaves 150 years ago this month, through King’s leadership of
the civil rights movement, and ultimately to Obama becoming the nation’s first black president.”
In 2017 President Donald Trump also chose to use
the Lincoln Bible. In addition, he swore the oath on
a second Bible, his own personal Bible that had been
a gift from his mother in 1955. First Lady Melania
Trump held both Bibles, following the tradition
established in 1965 when First Lady Claudia Taylor
(Lady Bird) Johnson became the first First Lady to
hold a Bible for the presidential oath of office.
President George W. Bush had wanted to swear his
oath in 2001 on the same Bible used by George
Washington, but poor weather thwarted his plan.
Four other presidents did swear their oaths on
Washington’s Bible: Warren G. Harding in 1921,
Dwight Eisenhower in 1953, Jimmy Carter in 1977,
and George Bush in 1989. Most presidents choose to
swear on a family Bible, but Carter chose to swear
on both the Washington Bible and a family Bible.
John Quincy Adams actually chose to swear his oath using a book of constitutional law that had been
given to him by Chief Justice John Marshall. Although Ulysses S. Grant and James Garfield did not swear
on Washington’s Bible, they both chose to sit in the same chair Washington had used during his
inauguration. Theodore Roosevelt chose one of the more unusual relics of a predecessor—he wore a ring
that contained a lock of Lincoln’s hair!
Ask young people:
• If you were being sworn in as president, would you choose to be sworn in using a Bible? If so, would
you choose a family Bible or one used by a past president? Why?
• Would you choose to honor a previous president by swearing on his Bible or using an object
connected to him? Which president would you like to honor and remember during your own
inauguration? What object of that president’s would you like to use?
Read more about the presidential oath of office in “The Presidential Oath of Office” on
OurWhiteHouse.org.
President Donald Trump being sworn in on January 20, 2017 at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. He holds his left hand on two versions of the Bible, both held by First Lady Melania Trump. (Source: https://www.facebook.com/WhiteHouse/photos/a.11)