Letter from Chief Justice William Howard Taft to President Herbert Hoover Regarding the Oath of Office

Fit the Supreme of the United States All March 1, 1929. for My dear Mr. President: I have thought that it would be wise to put in written form the details of the ceremony of taking the oath, so that, subject to your approval, you and I shall know what we are to do. The ceremony will begin behind the stand where the oath is to be taken, you with your back to the Senate, and I with my back to the House. Without any preliminaries, I am to say: "You, Herbert Hoover, do solemnly swear that you will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of your ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States". You will then answer "I do". Then the Clerk of our Court will be there with the open Bible, and will present it to you for kissing the page that you desire. Of course this is a matter of your own choice, for there is no form. If you have a Bible which you wish to use, and a page to which it shall be opened, the Clerk will follow your direction. I am sending Mr. Cropley, our Clerk, to talk with your Mr. Richey, so that Mr. Cropley will receive from Mr. Richey the Bible which you wish used. Mr. Cropley has already had communication with Mr. Richey, and merely awaits your approval of these arrangements. Sincerely yours, Hon.Herbert Hoover, Washington, D. C.