Talk Elections

OK, as we all know, President is sworn in by the Chief Justice of the United States except in extraordinary circumstances (like JFK assassination). However, Vice President can pick a person of his choice to administer the oath, usually some other high-ranking government official.

For example, Biden was sworn in by Associate Justice John Paul Stevens. Cheney was sworn in by Chief Justice William Rehnquist in 2001 and by Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert in 2005. Gore was sworn in by Associate Justice Byron White in 1993 and Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 1997. Quayle was sworn in by Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and Bush 41 was sworn in by Associate Justice Potter Stewart both in 1981 and in 1985 (Stewart, a Skull-and-Bonesman like Bush, was retired in 1985). Mondale was sworn in by Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill.

However, I'm mostly drawing blanks before 1977 and I would appreciate if somebody would help me fill those blanks. I apologize if this matter was discussed before somewhere in this forum.

Actually, Constitution and, as far as I know, no act required President to be sworn-in by CJ, or anyone to adminster it. It just mention taking an oath.

As of VP, same.

Richard Nixon wss sworn-in, twice, by Senator William F. Knowland.

Spiro Agnew wa sworn-in in 1969 by Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen.

By the way the First Congress passed an oath act on June 1, 1789, authorizing only senators to administer the oath to the Vice President (who serves as the president of the Senate)

Futher informations: http://inaugural.senate.gov/history/daysevents/vpswearingin.cfm

Thanks for the tip about Nixon and Knowland. Also, LBJ was (not surprisingly) sworn in by Speaker Sam Rayburn in 1961. For those among us who are ghoulish, Rayburn died later that year, just like Dirksen in 1969 and Stewart in 1985.

Does anybody know who swore in Agnew in 1973 or Humphrey in 1965?

edit: House Speaker John McCormack administered the oath to Humphrey.

Guderian, I find complete list :)

http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/inaugural/vp_list.cfm

Thanks, that's great.

Great find!

So between 1861 and 1945, it was common for the outgoing VP to administer the oath to the incoming VP.

I'll bet that was pretty awkward in a few cases.

Well, 1953 and 1957 were pretty awkward, given Nixon-Knowland uneasy relationship ;)

Adams had been sworn in several days before Washington.  He fussed whether he should introduce himself as President Adams or not.

Interesting that Adams wasn't sworn in for his 2nd term until 9 months into the term.

New Senate didn't meet until then.