John Quincy Adams chose to place his hand on a law book instead of a Bible during his inauguration as the sixth US president in 1825. He was known for being an unusual leader and later presidents, such as Franklin Pierce and Theodore Roosevelt, also skipped the Bible during their inaugurations. Adams lost the popular vote to Andrew Jackson but ultimately won the contingent election to the House of Representatives. He kept a pet alligator in the White House and is the only former president to become a U.S. Representative after leaving office.
While many US presidents are known to have earned a law degree on their way to the White House, it could be argued that John Quincy Adams was the most legally minded: the nation’s sixth president chose to lay his hand on a volume of law rather than a Bible for its inauguration. It was a rainy, cool March 4, 1825, in Washington, D.C., and Adams showed up in slacks and no powdered wig, which should have been a hint that things weren’t going to be their usual way. Previous presidents had worn knee breeches and the traditional wig to take the oath, and only Thomas Jefferson had been sworn in without a Bible. Since Adams was known to be a rather unusual leader, his actions may not have been all that unexpected. And truth be told, while placing the left hand on the Bible has become the prevalent custom, there is no constitutional requirement for a new president to be sworn in with a Bible or any other book. Franklin Pierce and Theodore Roosevelt would later follow suit, skipping the Bible for their inaugurations.
All about the sixth American president:
Adams lost both the electoral and popular votes to Andrew Jackson, but neither candidate had a majority in the electoral college. Adams ultimately won contingent election to the United States House of Representatives.
For a few months after moving into the White House, Adams kept a pet alligator, given to him by the Marquis de Lafayette, in a bathtub.
Adams is the only former president to become a U.S. Representative after leaving office.
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