Slo-mo replay, with analysis, of Presidential Oath.
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:41 am
I've watched the oath-taking a couple of times, just to see what happened.
BHO jumped his line, starting "I, Barack Hussein Obama," right after CJR said it, even as CJR was continuing the line with, "do solemnly swear." Realizing what he did, BHO started over when CJR finished his line, saying "I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear."
It may have been hearing that verbal mis-stip that caused CJR to muff the next line, because he followed with:
"...that I will execute the office of President to the United States faithfully...," substituting "to" for "of" and putting "faithfully" at the end of the phrase rather than before "execute."
BHO then says, "that I will execute-" and then stops, either because he realizes that CJR muffed the line, or he sees that CJR realizes he muffed the line. BHO looks at CJR and gives a little nod, which I think indicates that CJR signaled that he wanted to go back.
There's some overlap then, but CJR says "...faithfully execute the office of President of the United States," after which BHO says "...I will execute the office of President of the United States faithfully," echoing CJR's first version, but putting the "of" back where it belongs.
After that, it all goes swimmingly.
CJR appears not to have had any notes or prompter, so they were both working without a net.
BHO did in fact, say all of the words of the oath, some of them twice, one out of order, but he said all of it.
Not that it matters. As we all know, the incoming president assumes office automatically at noon on January 20, regardless of whether the oath is delivered at that time, even as a VP succeeds to the office upon the death of a President, even if the oath has not yet been delivered.
BHO jumped his line, starting "I, Barack Hussein Obama," right after CJR said it, even as CJR was continuing the line with, "do solemnly swear." Realizing what he did, BHO started over when CJR finished his line, saying "I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear."
It may have been hearing that verbal mis-stip that caused CJR to muff the next line, because he followed with:
"...that I will execute the office of President to the United States faithfully...," substituting "to" for "of" and putting "faithfully" at the end of the phrase rather than before "execute."
BHO then says, "that I will execute-" and then stops, either because he realizes that CJR muffed the line, or he sees that CJR realizes he muffed the line. BHO looks at CJR and gives a little nod, which I think indicates that CJR signaled that he wanted to go back.
There's some overlap then, but CJR says "...faithfully execute the office of President of the United States," after which BHO says "...I will execute the office of President of the United States faithfully," echoing CJR's first version, but putting the "of" back where it belongs.
After that, it all goes swimmingly.
CJR appears not to have had any notes or prompter, so they were both working without a net.
BHO did in fact, say all of the words of the oath, some of them twice, one out of order, but he said all of it.
Not that it matters. As we all know, the incoming president assumes office automatically at noon on January 20, regardless of whether the oath is delivered at that time, even as a VP succeeds to the office upon the death of a President, even if the oath has not yet been delivered.
or a "In My Opinion" or a "Certainly" as is your preference.)