(The Root) — When President Barack Obama takes the oath of office for a second term on Jan. 21, he will use two Bibles: the one used by Abraham Lincoln at his first inauguration, which the president used during his first ceremony in 2009, and a Bible used by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., according to a news release from the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
"President Obama is honored to use these Bibles at the swearing-in ceremonies," Steve Kerrigan, president and CEO of the committee, said in the release. "On the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, this historic moment is a reflection of the extraordinary progress we've made as a nation."
Though there is no constitutional requirement for the use of a Bible during the swearing-in, Presidents have traditionally used Bibles for the ceremony, choosing a volume with personal or historical significance. In 2009, President Obama became the first President sworn in using the Lincoln Bible since its initial use in 1861.
On Sunday, Jan. 20, the president will use a Bible from the first lady's family for a private swearing-in ceremony at the White House.
The Robinson Family Bible was selected specifically for the occasion. The bible was a gift from the First Lady's father, Fraser Robinson III, to his mother, LaVaughn Delores Robinson on Mother's Day in 1958. Mrs. Robinson was the first African-American woman manager of a Moody Bible Institute's bookstore and she used the Bible regularly.
The Lincoln Bible is part of the collections of the Library of Congress and was originally purchased by William Thomas Carroll, Clerk of the Supreme Court, for use during Lincoln's swearing-in ceremony on March 4, 1861. The Bible itself is bound in burgundy velvet with a gold-washed white metal rim around the three outside edges of both covers, and all of its edges are heavily gilded.
The King Bible was Dr. King's "traveling bible." An avid reader who was constantly on the road, Dr. King typically traveled with a selection of books that included this Bible. It was used for inspiration and preparing sermons and speeches, including during Dr. King's time as pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.
"We know our father would be deeply moved to see President Obama take the Oath of Office using his bible," Dr. King's children said today. "His 'traveling bible' inspired him as he fought for freedom, justice and equality, and we hope it can be a source of strength for the President as he begins his second term. With the Inauguration less than two weeks away, we join Americans across the country in embracing this opportunity to celebrate how far we have come, honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. through service, and rededicate ourselves to the work ahead."