Clarence Thomas Will be First African-American to Administer Oath of Office
- Updated Jan 19, 2017
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas will be the first African-American to administer the oath of office at a presidential inauguration.
The Independent Journal Review reports that Thomas will administer the oath of office to Vice President-elect Mike Pence.
Pence will be sworn in on the Bible of former president Ronald Reagan. He will also have the Bible opened to the same passage that Reagan chose, II Chronicles 7:14:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Pence has expressed his deep respect and admiration for Thomas.
“It will be my honor to take the Oath of Office to defend our Constitution from a man who has dedicated his life to the same noble pursuit,” he said, adding that he has “long admired Justice Clarence Thomas and deeply respect his judicial philosophy, dedication to the rule of law, and his historic service on the bench of our nation’s highest court.”
Thomas has served on the Supreme Court for 25 years and was appointed by President George H. W. Bush in 1991 to replace retiring Justice Thurgood Marshall.
To read about the two Bibles Trump will be sworn in on during tomorrow’s inauguration ceremony, click here.
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: January 19, 2017
