JFK Assassination Aftermath, Judge Sarah T. Hughes Affidavit; She Swore In LBJ on Air Force One

1p typed affidavit signed by Sarah T. Hughes (1896-1985), the U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas who swore in Lyndon B. Johnson, as "Sarah T. Hughes" near bottom. Dated April 4, 1978. With expected light paper folds, including a horizontal one which bisects Hughes's signature. Two isolated areas discretely daubed with correction fluid. Else near fine. 8.5" x 11".

The document reads in full:

"Judge Sarah T. Hughes administered this oath to Lyndon B. Johnson on the airplane immediately after the Kennedy Assassination.

'I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God.'

[signed] Sarah T. Hughes

[typed] Judge Sarah T. Hughes".

Hughes officiated over the first inauguration of Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973) on November 22, 1963 aboard Air Force One, just a little over 1 hour after John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) was declared dead at Dallas's Parkland Memorial Hospital. Hughes was the first and only woman ever to swear in a U.S. President. (This task is usually reserved for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.)

Hughes later recalled of that day: "I got in my car and started toward the airport. Now there was another job to be done -- a new President who had to carry on, and he must qualify for the office as quickly as possible. He had much to do, and I must think of him, and do the job that had been assigned to me. There was no time to find the oath administered to a president, but the essentials of every oath are the same…I was not afraid. I could do it without a formal oath" (As reported in the Texas Observer, November 29, 1963.)

Hughes served as a District Judge for the Northern District of Texas between 1961-1975.

A remarkable piece of Kennedyiana!

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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