Our Framers were very specific about the oath that the incoming President must take. So specific, in fact, that the actual words that must be spoken, have been carefully chosen and printed in Article II, Section I of the Constitution.
I _______, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Notice that the ending, “So help me God”, is not required by the Constitution but is commonly included.
President Elect Obama, with the help of Liberal Chief Justice Roberts, managed to get the wording incorrect during the ceremony causing the need to repeat the entire process hours later. During the “do-over”, Mr. Obama did not place his left hand upon a bible nor was there even a Bible present. This is the First and Only American President…Ever…that was not officially sworn in with his hand on the Bible.
