<P> It is believed that this was the common procedure at least until the early 20th century . In 1881, the New York Times article covering the swearing in of Chester A. Arthur, reported that he responded to the question of accepting the oath with the words, "I will, so help me God ." In 1929, Time magazine reported that the Chief Justice began the oath uttering, "You, Herbert Hoover, do you solemnly swear ...", Hoover replied with a simple "I do". </P> <P> Under the second, and current form, the administrator articulates the oath in the affirmative, and in the first person, so that the president takes the oath by repeating it verbatim . Franklin Roosevelt, in 1933, stood silent as Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes recited the entire oath, then repeated that oath from beginning to end himself . By the time of Harry Truman's inauguration in 1949, the practice was for the Chief Justice to utter the oath in phrases, with the president - elect repeating those phrases, until the oath was completed . </P> <P> By convention, incoming presidents raise their right hand and place the left on a Bible or other book while taking the oath of office . In 1789, George Washington took the oath of office with an altar Bible borrowed from the St. John's Lodge No. 1, Ancient York Masons lodge in New York, and he kissed the Bible afterward . Subsequent presidents up to and including Harry Truman, followed suit . Dwight Eisenhower broke that tradition in 1953 when he said a prayer instead of kissing the Bible . </P> <P> Theodore Roosevelt did not use a Bible when taking the oath in 1901 . Both John Quincy Adams and Franklin Pierce swore on a book of law, with the intention that they were swearing on the constitution . Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in on a Roman Catholic missal on Air Force One . Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump each swore the oath on two Bibles . </P>

When did presidents start swearing on the bible