The Bible has been the most important book to most of our presidents more than any other volume. The following is an excerpt from my new volume, The Book That Made America:
        Every president, from George Washington to President Barack Obama, has been sworn in on the Bible, saying the words, "So help me God." This too would have to be stopped. This custom is not actually spelled out in the Constitution, but George Washington started the practice, because that had been the common way to take an oath in the West for centuries. All presidents have followed suit. Furthermore, prayers have been said at the swearing in of each president. These too would have to be stopped. In fact, the atheist who sued to get the phrase under God in the Pledge of Allegiance banned also sued former President George W. Bush, unsuccessfully, because he had the audacity to let Reverend Franklin Graham officiate in prayer at his inauguration, something presidents have done from the beginning. They also tried to sue to prevent Rev. Rick Warren from praying at President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
        George Washington even stooped over and kissed the Bible when he was sworn in as president. Then he led everyone present across the street (in New York City, our capitol in 1789) where they participated in a two-hour prayer service at St. Paul’s Church, which still stands a block away from where the World Trade Center stood. Miraculously, St. Paul’s survived 9/11 while other buildings around it did not.
 

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