March 4, 1933.

A gray and cold inauguration day.

Outgoing President Herbert Hoover and incoming President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had on their

winter coats and they had blankets wrapped around their legs as they rode side by side in

an open touring car from the White House to the east port of Co. of the Capitol building

for Roosevelt swearing in.

There were secret ramps set up so that FDR could wheel himself nearly all the way to the

stage.

And then with the help of his son James, he propped himself out of the wheelchair and walked

slowly to the lectern.

He stared out at the crowd of Americans who were gathered there to watch his inauguration

during these dark days of the Great Depression and he took the oath of office.

I Franklin Delano Roosevelt who solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office

of President of the United States and will do the best of my ability to reserve, protect,

and defend the Constitution of the United States.

So help me God.

Roosevelt's hand was on his family's 250 year old Dutch Bible.

The page was open to 1 Corinthians 13, which has the words,

love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud,

it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record

of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.

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