The Inaugural Bible: Presidential Rhetoric and the Politics of Scripture

Abstract

Abstract This article examines the reception of Scripture in presidential inaugurations, considering both the Bible as a material object within the oath of office ceremony and the Bible as a source of rhetoric within the inaugural address. Data from select presidential archives are also included in this study, especially letters from citizens, which offer a useful glimpse into the public impact of scriptural rhetoric. The broad chronological parameters of the data, which encompass 58 inauguration ceremonies from George Washington to Donald Trump, permit analysis of the varied functions of Scripture within the inaugural ceremony alongside consideration of larger diachronic trends. Analysis of this data underscores the capacity of the Bible to operate as a useful and remarkably flexible political tool that infuses this important transition of power with an aura of sanctity and divine authority. Appropriation of this ancient text functions to sacralize modern political speech, to fan the flames of American patriotism, to reinforce and enhance executive power, to facilitate efforts to persuade the public on a wide range of political agendas, and to furnish a language that justifies a variety of domestic and global policies. The inaugural Bible thus demonstrates the extent to which Scripture remains inextricably woven into the tapestry of American political discourse.