This is not a political thread ---

[Woody]

I hear that the reason Obama is planning to say the Oath of Office twice - is that he doesn't want to have a big celebration on Sundays. But has to say the oath on the 20th due to the constitution.

Is this a religious reasoning? Is he trying to demonstrate that Sunday is the Sabbath? I've not heard a detailed explanation from the news media on this and it has just raised questions in my mind. RELIGIOUS questions mind you.

Please keep this to the religious aspects and not the political - or the powers that be will banish it to the realms of the political forum.

[cricket]

Perhaps he is following Reagan's lead. If you will recall, in 1985 Reagan was also sworn in "twice."

Quote:

January 20 was a Sunday, and the President took the oath of office, administered by Chief Justice Warren Burger, in the Grand Foyer of the White House. Weather that hovered near zero that night and on Monday forced the planners to cancel many of the outdoor events for the second inauguration. For the first time a President took the oath of office in the Capitol Rotunda. The oath was again administered by Chief Justice Burger. Jessye Norman sang at the ceremony.

Source

[Woody]

Thanks Cricket. But that still doesn't address the question of the OP.

[Woody]

Please peoples - keep your focus on the topic of the question - or this thread will be banished.

[cricket]

Is this a religious reasoning? Is he trying to demonstrate that Sunday is the Sabbath?

No, this is not religious reasoning. I gave evidence enough to deduct that this is not religious reasoning. No, Obama is not trying to demonstrate that Sunday is the Sabbath.

[Woody]

So - your evidence is that since Reagan did it - it's not religious reasoning?

[cricket]

Here's more evidence that indicates it has nothing to do with Obama's beliefs about the Sabbath. Rather, it is by tradition as set forth by Monroe consulting the Supreme Court:

Quote:

Why January 21?

The 20th Amendment to the Constitution, which changed the beginning of a Presidential term from March 4 to January 20, was ratified in 1933, and took effect for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s second term in 1937.

When Inauguration Day Falls on Sunday

Only six times in the nation's history has the constitutionally-mandated date for a Presidential Inauguration fallen on a Sunday. January 20, 2013 will be the seventh time, and following historical precedent, the public ceremony will be held at the U.S. Capitol on Monday, January 21, 2013. In a tradition that dates back to 1917, the White House will likely arrange a private swearing in before noon on January 20, 2013.

Setting the Precedent

The first time an Inauguration fell on a Sunday was in 1821 for President Monroe’s second swearing-in. Monroe decided, after consulting the Supreme Court, to hold the public ceremony on Monday since “courts and other public institutions were not open on Sunday.” There was no private swearing in on March 4, the date the previous term expired.

In 1849, the second time Inauguration Day fell on a Sunday, President-Elect Zachary Taylor followed the precedent set by President Monroe and had the oath of office administered Monday, March 5, at the public ceremony.

Changing the Precedent

Breaking the practice of both Presidents Monroe and Taylor, the Presidential oath was administered privately to President Hayes in the White House Red Room on Saturday, March 3, 1877 and repeated publicly at a ceremony on the East Front of the Capitol on Monday, March 5.

Working on Sunday

In 1917 President Wilson was the first president to take the oath of office on a Sunday. It was administered privately on Sunday, March 4, in the President’s Room of the U.S. Capitol by Chief Justice Edward D. White, witnessed by First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson who remembered the event in a diary entry. Following the precedent set by President Monroe, the public ceremony was held on Monday, March 5.

Both Presidents Eisenhower and Reagan, in 1957 and 1985 respectively, took the oath of office in private ceremonies at the White House on Sunday, January 20. On Monday, January 21, both Presidents took the oath in public ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol. President Eisenhower’s was on the East Front and President Reagan’s was moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda due to extremely cold weather. Source

[cricket]

So - your evidence is that since Reagan did it - it's not religious reasoning?

No, I'm just trying to say that it's not something Obama originated. And it's not that Obama is trying to convey that Sunday is the Sabbath.

[Woody]

Quote:

since “courts and other public institutions were not open on Sunday.”

Thanks Cricket. Now we got to the bottom of it. From reading the link - I've determined:

The reason is : "since “courts and other public institutions were not open on Sunday.” (Assuming Obama is following precedent.)

LOL. Yeah - and those people in the courts and public institutions would have no desire to attend unless they were open and getting paid. Just think - this way the judges in the courts get to close the courts and get paid to attend.

[Woody]

Now that we have the answer - perhaps a moderator can lock the thread - so we don't get responses that cause it to be banished.

[cricket]

No problem. Glad I could be of help.

[phkrause]

I hear that the reason Obama is planning to say the Oath of Office twice - is that he doesn't want to have a big celebration on Sundays. But has to say the oath on the 20th due to the constitution.

Is this a religious reasoning? Is he trying to demonstrate that Sunday is the Sabbath? I've not heard a detailed explanation from the news media on this and it has just raised questions in my mind. RELIGIOUS questions mind you.

Please keep this to the religious aspects and not the political - or the powers that be will banish it to the realms of the political forum.

It seems to me that if he didn't want to make it a big deal he wouldn't want to say it twice. And why would the meaning be any different than the way RR did it years ago?