# Obama will be sworn in a day late! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546 "2013-01-08T22:13:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![drew870mitchell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drew870mitchell/32/3946_2.png) [@drew870mitchell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drew870mitchell)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/21 "2013-01-08T23:47:24Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > It’s weird; they didn’t want to have the inauguration on a Sunday, so they moved it to a national holiday. A fitting national holiday for it to fall on. King had to walk before Obama could run. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/22 "2013-01-09T00:56:35Z")
> [@ctnguy](#): > > I believe there is a small private oath ceremony on the Sunday, and the repetition of the oath on Monday is technically redundant. Since all the constitution says is that he has to take the oath “before” exercising his powers, isn’t any repetition of the oath redundant? 2009 is obviously before 2013. It doesn’t say anything about the oath only having a four year shelf life. (If it’s like [Reagan’s “private” ceremony](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuxvQoHqJ2Y&t=45s), it will be anything but private. In 1985 there was a band, a sizable audience, and full television coverage.) ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/23 "2013-01-09T01:09:09Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Anyone else thinking this might cause future historians to wonder if John Boehner was President for a day??? 🙂 “One milestone of early 21st century America was the first President of (orange) color…” ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/24 "2013-01-09T02:24:54Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > And the other funny thing is that in 2008, they had the big public swearing-in on January 20, and then a small, private one on January 21 (because the Chief Justice screwed up the wording the first time). This time, the small, private swearing-in is on January 20, and the big public one on January 21. Which will no doubt lead to an interesting trivia question: “Besides FDR, what other president was sworn in four times?” ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/25 "2013-01-09T03:11:00Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > And the other funny thing is that in 2008, they had the big public swearing-in on January 20, and then a small, private one on January 21 (because the Chief Justice screwed up the wording the first time). This time, the small, private swearing-in is on January 20, and the big public one on January 21. …2009 > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Which will no doubt lead to an interesting trivia question: “Besides FDR, what other president was sworn in four times?” I think you’re right and this will be a trivia question/ answer. Unless there are other similar coincidences(?). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/26 "2013-01-09T17:04:51Z")
The biggest silliness about the David Rice Atchison thing is that Atchinson was never sworn in, either, and yet, the whole case for him being President is based on it supposedly being impossible to be President without being sworn in. ---
**Author:** ![tallcoldone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@tallcoldone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tallcoldone)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/27 "2013-01-09T17:17:55Z")
In 1985, the Super Bowl was played on January 20th - I always thought that the reason Reagan moved it was that it wouldn’t interfere with that momentous national event. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/28 "2013-01-09T18:44:12Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > It’s weird; they didn’t want to have the inauguration on a Sunday, so they moved it to a national holiday. It would conflict with church services if it was held on a Sunday. IIRC Inauguration Day is only a pulic holiday in DC & it’s suburbs; and that’s only to help cut down on traffic. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/29 "2013-01-09T20:58:20Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > (If it’s like [Reagan’s “private” ceremony](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuxvQoHqJ2Y&t=45s), it will be anything but private. In 1985 there was a band, a sizable audience, and full television coverage.) [hijack] And that fabulous week-long funeral they put on for him in 2004! Wow. What a spectacle! [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/30 "2013-01-09T21:04:13Z")
> [@tallcoldone](#): > > In 1985, the Super Bowl was played on January 20th - I always thought that the reason Reagan moved it was that it wouldn’t interfere with that momentous national event. :dubious: While I’m sure that would never ever be “officially” true (no way, no how!), and while I know nothing of the actual facts, that sounds like a very plausible theory for the “real unspoken” reason. (Such is the material of which urban legends are spawned. 😛 ) ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/31 "2013-01-09T21:24:33Z")
Well, good. Roberts [can get in a little practice this time](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28780417/ns/politics-white_house/t/obama-retakes-oath-office-after-flub/) before the public event. 😉 I’ve actually been wondering how they will manage to keep from cracking up. When Roberts walks up on that podium, if the President so much as tips an eyebrow at him, all bets are off. It will be full-on guffaws through the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/32 "2013-01-09T21:48:53Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > It’s weird; they didn’t want to have the inauguration on a Sunday, so they moved it to a national holiday. > > It would conflict with church services if it was held on a Sunday. IIRC Inauguration Day is only a pulic holiday in DC & it’s suburbs; and that’s only to help cut down on traffic. But MLK Day is a holiday everywhere in the US, and that’s the holiday to which I referred. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/33 "2013-01-09T21:55:20Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Basically: A President automatically becomes President on Jan 20 at noon. He must only take the oath before he “enters on execution of the powers of his office” or some such wording. This brings up a question: Obama has already taken the mandated oath, back in 2009. Does he _really_ have to take it again? Not “really?” as in “do we need to spend all of this money for something that technically may not be necessary?”, but “really?” as in “would he not be able to execute the duties of his office if he did not take the oath again?” ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/34 "2013-01-09T22:15:24Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Anyone else thinking this might cause future historians to wonder if John Boehner was President for a day??? 🙂 They’ll be sitting in a pub discussing it over a Black and Tan. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/35 "2013-01-10T00:02:01Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > Look up Zachary Taylor, and the David Rice Atchison “presidency”. “I liked president Haig.” – _Doonesbury_ ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/36 "2013-01-10T00:09:14Z")
> [@Kevbo](#): > > I suppose he is a dollar short too? Sixteen trillion or so, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/37 "2013-01-10T00:15:40Z")
What are the “executive actions” that presumably are not taken when the oath is late but we still have a president. So, say, if he’s walking around the White House. Besides starting a war, signing a bill, kissing babies. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/38 "2013-01-10T04:00:05Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > This brings up a question: Obama has already taken the mandated oath, back in 2009. Does he _really_ have to take it again? > > Not “really?” as in “do we need to spend all of this money for something that technically may not be necessary?”, but “really?” as in “would he not be able to execute the duties of his office if he did not take the oath again?” I think he would. A president’s term last for four years. If he is elected for another four years, he has to start fresh. He is “entering on the execution of his office” again. The oath four years ago was good for that four year term he won last time. He won again, so he needs to reaffirm his vows, if you will. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/39 "2013-01-10T04:03:02Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > What are the “executive actions” that presumably are not taken when the oath is late but we still have a president. I think he would need to take the oath before doing anything that a President has the power to do that you or I wouldn’t have the power to do if we were on a private tour of the oval office. Obama would still be President, but have no power to act as President. Now, that’s all theoretical. I’m sure that Congress would retroactively affirm whatever things Obama did in an emergency situation should one arise. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546/40 "2013-01-10T04:09:05Z")
Mitt Romney will be guest president for 24 hours. Sort of a consolation prize. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obama-will-be-sworn-in-a-day-late/646546.md?page=3)