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Presidents and God: Religion's role in inauguration
http://www.wtop.com/1220/3193770/Presidents-and-God-on-Inauguration-Day
?filter=wtop_article
John F. Kennedy Shakes hands with Father Richard J. Casey after attending Mass at Holy Trinity Church. (Courtesy Library of Congress)
Thursday - 1/17/2013, 8:19am ET
Megan Cloherty, wtop.com
WASHINGTON - The separation of church and state is unique to American democracy, but when it comes to celebrating the start of a president's term, God has played a role in nearly every inauguration since George Washington.
President Barack Obama's second swearing-in will be no different.
Incorporating religion into the ritual of the day started with the first inauguration in 1789, when Washington attended a service at St. Paul's Chapel in New York City following his swearing-in.
While every president from then on chose to worship privately, almost all have placed their hand on a Bible when taking the oath of office on Inauguration Day.
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