I see that 'everyone' thinks that President Obama "flubbed" / "mis-spoke" / etc the Oath of Office. (Some say otherwise.)

I guess that a great majority* of those people have not administered an oath. (* Let's agree on between 80 and 95%, although I'd favour the higher, but actually I'd like 99%.)

However, I have personally administered about five similar oaths (or "solumn obligations") giving the words from memory. I can say without any doubt in my mind that Chief Justice John Roberts expected too much of himself, and his President, by not chopping up the Oath into smaller pieces. I'll leave alone that he also should have used a small palm card.

Roberts got it wrong. Obama tried to help Roberts straighten it out, and Roberts continued to get it wrong which confused them both.

How it should have been administered (with my suggested chop marks): "I [name] / do solemnly swear / that I will faithfully execute / the office of / President of the United States / and will / to best of my ability / preserve, protect, and defend / the Constitution of the United States."

Here is how it came out.

R: I, Barack Hussein Obama...
O: I, Barack...
R: ... do solemnly swear...
O: I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear...
R: ... that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully...
O: ... that I will execute... (pause and nod to Roberts)
R: ... the o'/faithfully the office of president of the United States...
O: ... the office of president of the United States faithfully...
R: ... and will to the best of my ability...
O: ... and will to the best of my ability...
R: ... preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
O: ... preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
R: So help you God?
O: So help me God.
R: Congratulations, Mr. President.

(video)

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Peter