Word: oaths
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1970-1979
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Government, the ordeal had ended. As the Spirit of 76 in one last errand arced across central Missouri carrying Richard Nixon to his retirement, Gerald Rudolph Ford stood in the East Room of the White House, placed his hand upon his eldest son's Bible, and repeated the presidential oath "to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." By the time the 37th President of the U.S. arrived at the Pacific, the 38th President had taken command of a new Administration...
Shortly after noon, everyone in the East Room rose as a military aide announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, the Chief Justice of the United States." Warren Burger, who had been hastily summoned from a vacation in The Netherlands, strode into the room to administer the oath of office. Although his role was traditional, Burger's presence had special meaning. As Chief Justice, he was symbolic of the law and of the constitutional processes that, set in motion by the excesses of the President and the men around him, had inevitably led to the toppling of Richard Nixon. As Burger entered...
...exit and the entrance were a poignant reminder of the smoothness with which the American system can transfer the world's most powerful office from one man to another. "Mr. Vice President," Burger intoned, "are you prepared to take the oath of office as President of the United States?" "I am, sir," Ford replied. Even before the Chief Justice asked him to do so, Ford raised his right hand, placing his left on a Bible held by his wife. It was opened to the Book of Proverbs, third chapter, fifth and sixth verses, which Ford says every night...
...oath that I have taken is the same oath that was taken by George Washington and by every President under the Constitution. But I assume the presidency under extraordinary circumstances, never before experienced by Americans. This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts...
...walked with the Nixons down the red carpet that had been laid from the Executive Mansion out to the lawn, and the couples exchanged kisses and handshakes at the helicopter door; Nixon touched Ford's elbow, as if in final encouragement. Though Ford was not to take the oath of office for another two hours, the famous black box, the repository for the nation's military codes-an ugly talisman that signifies the transfer of power in the nuclear age-was left behind with a military aide. It was the first time it had been away from Nixon...