Obama: Don't Blame Roberts for Oath Hiccup

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 20, 2009 10:01 PM CST

(Newser) – President Obama is not among those blaming Chief Justice John Roberts for their little oath glitch today. “We’re up there, we’ve got a lot of stuff on our mind, and he actually helped me out on a couple of stanzas there,” Obama told ABC News. Roberts has taken grief for misplacing the word "faithfully" in one line, but many have pointed out that Obama may have thrown him off by interrupting an earlier line, the Hill notes.

“Overall, I think it went relatively smoothly and I’m very grateful to him," said Obama. The offending line should have said, "I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States," but Roberts put the word "faithfully" at the end. It tripped up Obama, who had broken in early on a previous line (near his name) and set off the series of stops and starts.

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President Barack Obama, left, shakes hands with Chief Justice John Roberts after taking the oath of office. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Barack Obama, left, joined by his wife Michelle, takes the oath of office from Chief Justice John Roberts. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

President Barack Obama is congratulated by Chief Justice John Roberts after the swearing-in. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

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