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• The Lincoln Bible is the bible that was used in the inaugural ceremony making Abraham Lincoln the 16th president of the United States. President Barack Obama asked for and was granted permission to use the bible at his inauguration on January 20, 2009.US News and World Report: Obama to Be Sworn in on Lincoln's Bible (December 23, 2008)

• Fast Facts

  1. The bible was printed in 1853Library of Congress: Inaugural Bible, 1861
  2. Bought for the swearing in, because Lincoln's personal bible was still en route to the White HouseLibrary of Congress: Inaugural Bible, 1861
  3. Donated to the Library of Congress by Mrs. Robert Todd LincolnLibrary of Congress: Inaugural Bible, 1861
  4. The bible is covered in burgundy velvet with a gold-washed white metal rim around the exterior edges of the coversNew York Times: Obama to Take Oath on Same Bible as Lincoln (December 23, 2008)
  5. The pages are heavily gilded and in the center of the top cover is a gold shield reading "Holy Bible"New York Times: Obama to Take Oath on Same Bible as Lincoln (December 23, 2008)
  6. Lincoln was sworn in on March 4, 1861U.S. Senate: Presidential Inauguration Chronology
  7. President Obama was the first president to use the Lincoln bible since Lincoln himselfMSNBC: Obama chooses Lincoln's Bible for inauguration (December 23, 2008)

• Presidents Obama and Lincoln

  Much has been made of President Obama's knowledge of history and his use of the Lincoln Bible is one of several nods to the 16th president. Among the homages President Obama paid to Lincoln were taking the same train route that Lincoln took from Philadelphia to Washington DC and a welcoming event at the Lincoln Memorial.New York Times: Obama to Take Oath on Same Bible as Lincoln (December 23, 2008) MSNBC: Obama chooses Lincoln's Bible for inauguration (December 23, 2008)

  "I, William Thomas Carroll, clerk of the said court do hereby certify that the preceding copy of the Holy Bible is that upon which the Honble. R.B. Taney, Chief Justice of the said Court, administered to His Excellency, Abraham Lincoln, the oath of office as President of the United States."—Annotation in the page of the Lincoln BibleNew York Times: Obama to Take Oath on Same Bible as Lincoln (December 23, 2008)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Abraham Lincoln | Barack Obama | Library of Congress | Team of Rivals | Barack Obama Quotes | Inauguration Day 2009 | Inaugural Ball | Philadelphia | Washington DC | Online Bible

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