The Lincoln Inaugural Bible

Oxford is playing a key role in a historical event today – as President-Elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office on a Bible published by Oxford University Press.

In addition to this, a number of Oxford University alumni will be playing key roles in President Obama’s new team.

Today (20 January 2009), President-Elect Obama will swear on the Lincoln Inaugural Bible – the same one upon which Abraham Lincoln swore March 4, 1861, to uphold the Constitution.

The 1,280-page Bible was published in 1853 by the Oxford University Press, and was originally purchased by William Thomas Carroll, Clerk of the Supreme Court.

The Bible itself is bound in burgundy velvet with a gold-washed white metal rim around the three outside edges of both covers. Its edges are all heavily gilt. In the centre of the top cover is a shield of gold wash over white metal with the words "Holy Bible" set into it. The book is 15 cm long, 10 cm wide, and 4.5 cm deep when closed.

In the back of the volume, along with the seal of the Supreme Court, it is annotated: ‘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 Hon. 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 ...'

Today’s inauguration is even more historic than Lincoln’s remarkable swearing-in, almost 150 years ago. On that occasion, the oath of office was administered by Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney, then 84 years old. As the author of the infamous "Dred Scott" decision of 1857, which held in part that Congress did not have the power to abolish slavery in the territories, Taney was no friend to Lincoln or the cause of emancipation. In the Inaugural Address which followed, President Lincoln appealed to his countrymen to follow ‘the better angels of our nature.’

In addition to the OUP-published Bible playing such a key role, there are also a number of Oxonians in President Obama’s team. Dr Susan Rice (New College, 1986), who will be the Ambassador to the UN, has an MPhil and DPhil in International Relations from Oxford. Michèle Flournoy (Balliol College, 1983), Under Secretary of Defense (Policy), also holds an MLitt in International Relations. And Retired Admiral Dennis C Blair (Worcester College, 1968), Director of National Intelligence, has a BA in Modern History and Modern Languages (Russian). Finally Oxford Professor Diana Liverman was appointed to the new committee on ‘America’s Climate Choices’ convened by the US National Academies at the request of Congress, to advise the Government on responses to climate change.

http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2009/090120_2.html