# Obama's Oath/ So help me God **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 21, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261 "2009-01-21T03:55:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/1 "2009-01-21T03:55:47Z")
When I first heard the oath, I was struck by the intonation Of Chief Justice Roberts during the final phrase. His intonation was that of a question. The second time (on CNN) I heard the administration of the oath I thought it went like this: Chief Justice Roberts: " So help _ **you** _ God ?" President Obama: So help me God. Now I’ve been under the impression that the officer who administers the oath recites the exact oath he expects the person in front of him to repeat. What’s going on here? Is this an unusual departure from normal practice? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/2 "2009-01-21T04:24:47Z")
Not sure, but it’s worth noting that technically the “So help me God” bit isn’t even part of the oath (nor is saying your name). ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/3 "2009-01-21T04:33:40Z")
Seemed obvious to me this was Roberts’s first time doing this. Rehnquist, OTOH had this grand performance perfected where he would hold his hand up as if he were anointing the new President, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/4 "2009-01-21T04:42:57Z")
Also just looked on Wikipedia and found my ears weren’t incorrect about another departure I heard yesterday: Roberts said “President **to** the United States”, not “President **of** the United States.” According to Wikipedia, Roberts blamed “incorrect prompting”. Dude, [_seriously_ . . .](http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=7258) ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/5 "2009-01-21T14:45:38Z")
The “So help me God” part is optional. Roberts was essentially asking if he wanted to say it; Obama did. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/6 "2009-01-21T14:50:48Z")
I’ve never heard a Chief Justice pose it so obviously as a question, though. What a shame that Roberts so badly screwed up the oath; you could see Obama pause and look at him as if to say, “Do you maybe wanna rephrase that?” Justice John Paul Stevens, age 88, meanwhile, flawlessly led Joe Biden through the longer Vice Presidential oath. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![CalD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7feea3/32.png) [@CalD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalD)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/7 "2009-01-21T15:10:21Z")
I understand the “Recite after me” guy was nervous as hell, but he made so many blunders, you’d think he’d have been better prepared for such an important occasion. If you want people to “recite after you”, for crying out loud, keep the word sequences short, and recite each sequence using a continuous vocal drone! ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/8 "2009-01-21T15:12:40Z")
What would have been the appropriate response if Obama refused to go along with Roberts’ prompt of “So help you God?” ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/9 "2009-01-21T15:14:08Z")
> [@Hi\_Neighbor](#): > > What would have been the appropriate response if Obama refused to go along with Roberts’ prompt of “So help you God?” Something like “I so affirm.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/10 "2009-01-21T15:14:29Z")
Roberts would probably have blanched and said, “Ooooooooookay then!” I think they work out those details beforehand, including exactly what form of his name the new President wishes to use. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/11 "2009-01-21T15:15:18Z")
> [@Hi\_Neighbor](#): > > What would have been the appropriate response if Obama refused to go along with Roberts’ prompt of “So help you God?” Obama communicated to Roberts earlier that he was going to include the “So help me God” part. If he hadn’t wanted to use it, Roberts wouldn’t have prompted it in the first place. Otherwise, I guess the answer is awkward silence, followed by Roberts shaking Obama’s hand and congratulating him. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/12 "2009-01-21T15:19:29Z")
Obama had previously asked Stevens to incude “So help me God” as part of the recitation. If he hadn’t wanted to say it, Stevens wouldn’t have included it. If, hypothetically, the CJ solicited those words and the new POTUS didn’t want to say them, he could just ignore the prompt. The oath is over after the word “States.” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/13 "2009-01-21T15:21:00Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Something like “I so affirm.” That’s at the beginning. You can say “I affirm,” rather than “I solemnly swear.” ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/14 "2009-01-21T15:22:22Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > That’s at the beginning. You can say “I affirm,” rather than “I solemnly swear.” How about “So mote it be”? The blogosphere would SHIT! ---
**Author:** ![anson2995](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/15 "2009-01-21T15:29:15Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I’ve never heard a Chief Justice pose it so obviously as a question, though. What a shame that Roberts so badly screwed up the oath; you could see Obama pause and look at him as if to say, “Do you maybe wanna rephrase that?” Justice John Paul Stevens, age 88, meanwhile, flawlessly led Joe Biden through the longer Vice Presidential oath. Go figure. To amplify this point, Roberts’ performance at a seemingly simple task was embarrassing. The oath is 35 words, and he bungled it in at least three places. It appeared as if he hadn’t done any preparation at all, either to learn the words or the pacing with which the phrases have usually been said. This was a historic moment, which would have become one of a handful of iconic image’s in our nation’s history if the Chief Justice he’d demonstrated the slightest competency. It would be exaggerating to say that Roberts ruined the day, but he sure put a stain on it. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/16 "2009-01-21T15:31:55Z")
In fairness, this was not Stevens’ first performance of the piece. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/17 "2009-01-21T15:41:14Z")
Give the poor guy a break guys, it’s not as if the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court should be intimately familiar with an obscure, rarely referenced text like the Constitution of the United States… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/18 "2009-01-21T15:50:39Z")
Sarcasm duly noted. And as Sen. Feinstein correctly said in introducing him, it’s “Chief Justice of the United States.” See 28 U.S.C. 1. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/19 "2009-01-21T16:09:14Z")
> [@Hi\_Neighbor](#): > > What would have been the appropriate response if Obama refused to go along with Roberts’ prompt of “So help you God?” “Yes, _insh’allah_” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261/20 "2009-01-21T17:11:46Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Obama had previously asked Stevens to incude “So help me God” as part of the recitation. If he hadn’t wanted to say it, Stevens wouldn’t have included it. Minor nitpick. Obama asked Roberts. Stevens gave the vice presidential oath. While I’m nitpicking, I noticed that because of the stumbling, Obama missed repeating an entire clause, so he did not in fact recite the entire oath. Imagine what the Freepers will make of that! :eek: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-oath-so-help-me-god/482261.md?page=2)