Oh, the Places You’ll Go Sworn in with Dr. Seuss
by
John J. Dunphy
(published in the 8/24/19 edition of The Telegraph of Alton, IL)
We as children loved being read books written by Dr. Seuss. In addition to entertaining wee tykes, however, did you know that a Dr. Seuss book can be used to swear in a newly-elected politician?
Kelli Dunaway, a Democrat who was recently elected to the St. Louis County Council, took her oath of office on a copy of Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” Her children held the book during the swearing-in ceremony.
Totally inappropriate, you say? There’s no law on the books that mandates St. Louis County Council members take their oath of office on a Bible. Indeed, such a stipulation would be in violation of Article 6, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution, which states “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”
“Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” at least contains a positive message. The text includes: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes.You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” At a time in our nation’s history when many politicians and their constituents celebrate ignorance, we desperately need an affirmation such as “You have brains in your head.”
To the best of my knowledge, Kelli Dunaway, who is originally from Eldorado, IL, is the first elected official to be sworn in using a Dr. Seuss book. In 2018, however, Mariah Parker was sworn in as District 2 Commissioner in Athens, GA, with her left hand placed on “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.” Parker used her right hand to give a clenched-fist salute.
John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States, was administered the oath of office on March 4, 1825 by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall. Adams said that he placed his hand on a law book rather than a Bible. Did he break precedent? Perhaps — and perhaps not. There is no historical record of any president from John Adams — the father of John Quincy Adams — to John Tyler being sworn into office using a Bible.
John F. Kennedy, the only Catholic ever elected to the presidency, took his oath of office on a Bible — more specifically, a Catholic Bible. The Old Testament of the Bible used by the Roman Catholic Church contains seven books that are not included in Bibles used by Protestant denominations. Nonetheless, only the most narrow-minded Americans dared to suggest that Kennedy’s inauguration was therefore invalid.
Members of the House of Representatives are sworn into office en masse on the House floor. Individual members, however, sometimes have ceremonial swearing-ins as well. Keith Ellison in 2007 used Thomas Jefferson’s 1734 translation of the Quran during his swearing-in. Rashida Tlaib used a Quran that “my best friend of 25 years gifted to me for the ceremonial swear in.” Ilhan Omar used her grandfather’s Quran during her ceremony.
Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate last November, is the only current member of the senate with no religious affiliation. She chose to be sworn in while holding a book that contains the constitutions of the United States and Arizona. While serving in the Arizona state senate, Sinema received the Award for the Advancement of Science and Reason in Public Policy from the Center for Inquiry. Still, her campaign spokesperson has stated that Sinema “believes the terms non-theist, atheist or non-believer are not befitting her life’s work or personal character.”
Anyone even vaguely familiar with American history will agree that being sworn in on a Bible is no assurance that a politician will be a paragon of virtue while in office. Of course I would expect nothing but great things from anyone sworn in while holding a copy of a book that I’ve written.
John J. Dunphy’s books include Abolitionism and the Civil War in Southwestern Illinois and Unsung heroes of the Dachau Trials: The Investigative Work of the U.S. Army 7708 War Crimes Group.