American Rhetoric: Movie Speech

"Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939)

Mr. Jefferson Smith Takes the Constitutional Oath of Office

Audio mp3 delivered by Harry Carey and Jimmy Stewart

 

Senate President: The Gentleman will raise his right hand: 

Do you solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic and that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same? That you take this obligation freely without mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which you are about to enter, so help you God?

Mr. Smith: I do.

Senate President: Senator, you can talk all you want to now.