Roberts, Obama falter through swearing-in

WASHINGTON — Chief Justice John Roberts stumbled slightly over the 35-word constitutionally prescribed oath of office as he swore in Barack Obama as the 44th president Tuesday, sending the new chief executive into a verbal detour of his own.

"Are you prepared to take the oath, Senator," Roberts asked Obama, who's hand rested on the Bible that Abraham Lincoln used the day he became president in 1861.

The swearing-in began simply enough as Roberts started reciting the oath Obama was to repeat, a few words at a time.

"I Barack Hussein Obama," began Roberts.

"I Barack," said Obama, and before he could continue, Roberts said, "do solemnly swear."

Obama: "I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear"

Roberts: "That I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully ..."

Obama: "that I will execute..."

Roberts: "faithfully execute the office of president of the United States ..."

Obama: "The office of president of the United States faithfully ..."

At that point, Roberts got back on course, leading as Obama followed with "and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

"So help you God?" said Roberts.

"So help me God."

By tradition, the presidential oath is administered by the chief justice, and in Roberts' case, it was his first inauguration.

Later, as he and Obama chatted briefly before lunch in the Capitol, Roberts appeared to take responsibility for the error.

Roberts hosted Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at the high court last week in a social call. The swearing-in was one of the first of what could be many important interactions between the heads of two branches of government who have some background similarities.

Both are late baby boomers. Roberts is 53, Obama 47. And both got their law degrees from Harvard and made rapid ascents to power. But their politics diverge sharply.

Roberts was an official in Republican administrations before becoming an appeals court judge and then chief justice under Bush.

Obama was one of 22 Senate Democrats to vote against Roberts' confirmation to the Supreme Court in 2005 — the first time a Supreme Court justice has sworn in a president who voted against him.