Most people witness a President-Elect of the United States stand on the steps of the Capitol and take an oath of office that is prescribed by the Constitution of the United States. What many may not know is that a version of that oath is also taken by senior federal officials serving in the White House, cabinet departments, agencies and the U.S. Congress.
This second oath goes as follows:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
For decades, individuals entering the highest ranks of our government have taken this oath and stayed true to it during their service to the people of the United States.
The hearings last week brought this to mind and took me back to January 21, 1981 when, at the age of 29, I took this oath as I became a senior member of the White House staff. The morning ceremony was solemn. The senior members of the staff assembled in the East Room of the White House. As we settled, President Ronald Reagan, who took his oath of office one day earlier at his Inauguration, entered the room. He stepped to the podium and with no prepared remarks shared his thoughts about the journey on which we were embarking.
Leadership, it is said, starts at the top. That morning, President Reagan wanted all of us to know that we were one group, joined with him to do the work of the American people. He also wanted us to know that we had a higher loyalty than to any one individual. With that, Chief Justice Warren Burger was invited to deliver our oath of office. (In case you are looking at the video, he stood right in front of me.)
Yes, the moment was recorded and can be viewed on a six-minute video: CLICK HERE.
So, I reflected during the past week on how one individual, Cassidy Hutchinson, who probably was not even senior enough to take this oath, lived up to the oath so many around her took and yet abandoned as they substituted their self-interest for a commitment made to the American people.
No one told Cassidy Hutchinson just what “support and defend the Constitution of the United States” would look like. But, she was clearly certain that encouraging people known to have firearms to march on the U.S. Capitol in an effort to prevent the certification of an election lost by an incumbent President called for actions avoided by others in the White House more senior than she.
The oath is given to impress upon all who take it the importance of their service. Throughout history, our nation has withstood challenges, mostly from foreign threats. The fact that this oath has motivated people like Cassidy Hutchinson and Congresswoman Liz Cheney to accept responsibilities to a higher authority than a defeated President or a reelection campaign suggests the wisdom of our founding fathers in having the belief that if not all, at least most would indeed support and defend the Constitution of the United States.
On this 4th of July holiday, I surely will be saying thanks to all those who took and lived by this oath.
Craig Fuller served four years in the White House as assistant to President Reagan for Cabinet Affairs, followed by four years as chief of staff to Vice President George H.W. Bush. Having been engaged in five presidential campaigns and run public affairs firms and associations in Washington, D.C., he now resides on the Eastern Shore.
JT Smith says
It is a deep shame that Republicans like Craig Fuller appear to an endangered species.
Al DiCenso says
Donald J. Trump broke his solemn oath, sworn on the Bible, and betrayed the constitution and the citizens of the United States. Whether or not he is ever brought to justice for that offense, he must be branded as a traitor, and carry that “Scarlet Letter” on his back for the rest of his life.
Deirdre LaMotte says
This is such an important piece. Perhaps it essentially boils down to people who look at government service as a calling
to help society though their elected President and those who look at government service as a way to
achieve person success. When this insurrection occurred, so out of line with what we can comprehend, a person’s
honor, faith and duty is tested. It is sad but not a surprise that it took a lower level staffer to be the honest adult in the room.
Today is July 4, a time to honor our nation. I’m a lineal descendent of a signer from Maryland and I remember my
parents telling me how much personal risk he took to sign the Declaration. These men risked “life and fortune” to
help a group of colonies break off to form a nation where all men are created equal. It took hundreds of years
of twinking that concept to include all Americans, regardless of race.
How truly awesome is that? Now, we have an established freedom yanked away from women.
Our task is to fight like our forefathers did for liberty for all.
Michael Davis says
When I was a high-level official in the Department of Defense, I took this oath multiple times. The oath-taking ceremonies were very serious. Taking this oath was not done lightly or with any sense of fleeting commitment, such as “checking the box.” It was and is an act at the core of patriotism.
It is tragic that so many Republicans, including Andy Harris, substituted “Donald Trump” for “the Constitution of the United States.” One can appreciate the courage of Ms. Hutchinson and also appreciate that hundreds of thousands of patriots work daily for our country after taking the same oath of office.
I hope we can recover the significance of this oath among a large group of leaders. We are all in trouble if we cannot.
Barbara Perry says
This is essentially the same oath that all military officers take upon their commissioning. I took this oath as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army in 1973 and as a retired Army Officer, I still am committed to this oath.