Why Mike DeWine used 9 Bibles to take the Ohio governor's oath

Jackie Borchardt | Cincinnati Enquirer

CEDARVILLE, Ohio – Elected officials often choose to take their oaths of office on a family Bible or other text with significant meaning.

Mike DeWine chose nine.

The new Ohio governor was officially sworn in at 12:01 a.m. EST Monday at his home in Cedarville. His son, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Pat DeWine, administered the oath. His wife Fran held the Bibles – all nine of them.

Here is the rundown of the stack of Bibles he used:

His late daughter, Becky DeWine’s, childhood Bible
His great-grandmother Gertrude Budd’s Bible
His grandmother Ruth Perkins Liddle’s New Testament, given to her by her father, a minister, on her 18th birthday, 100 years ago
His grandfather Albert Liddle’s New Testament, issued to him by the United States Navy while he has was serving during World War I
His Aunt Mickey’s (Elizabeth Ann DeWine Harwood’s) Bible, given to her by her grandmother
A New Testament that the Governor and First Lady acquired many years go in Jerusalem
A Study Bible given to the Governor by Lloyd Ogilvie, chaplain of the United States Senate
His mother, Jean DeWine’s, Bible
A Bible that Fran gave to Mike on their 10th wedding anniversary

A DeWine spokesman said the governor and first lady wanted a Bible to represent each of their eight children.

DeWine will take the oath again in a public ceremony at noon in the Ohio Statehouse rotunda.

More: From President Trump to kids, 7 ways Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine will be different than John Kasich

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