"Vice President Biden personally
selected Associate Justice Sotomayor, who will be the first Hispanic
and fourth female judge to administer an oath of office.
"Three women have previously sworn-in presidents and vice presidents:
Judge Sarah T. Hughes swore-in President Johnson in 1963; Justice
Sandra Day O’Connor swore-in Vice President Dan Quayle in 1989; and
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg swore-in Vice President Al Gore in 1997.
"'It's an incredible honor to have Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor
swear me in,' Vice President Biden said. 'I believed strongly that she
would make a great Justice, and it was one of the greatest pleasures of
my career to be involved in her selection to the Court. From the
first time I met her, I was impressed by Justice Sotomayor’s commitment
to justice and opportunity for all Americans, and she continues to
exemplify those values today. Above all, I’m happy for the chance to be
sworn in by a friend – and someone I know will continue to do great
things.'”
Bible:
"On Sunday and Monday, Vice President Biden will be sworn in using the
Biden Family Bible, which is five inches thick, has a Celtic cross on
the cover and has been in the Biden family since 1893. He used it every
time he was sworn in as a US Senator and when he was sworn in as Vice
President in 2009. His son Beau used it when he was sworn in as
Delaware’s attorney general."
- President Obama and
Vice President Biden joined by Major General Linnington, JTF-NCR laid a
wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.
- President Barack Obama took the
oath in a brief ceremony starting at 11:55 a.m. in the Blue Room at
the White House. Chief
Justice John Roberts administered the
oath, and the President used the Robinson Family Bible. A dozen family members were in attendance
along with several others including Chief Justice Roberts' wife Jane
and pool reporter Steven T. Dennis from CQ Roll Call.
Bible:
"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; this was
the only Bible she ever used."