President Johnson Uses King Solomon’s Prayer in Inaugural Address

President Johnson, in his inaugural address today, deplored bigotry, cited the American tradition of welcoming the exile and stranger, and referred to the Cld Testament for a guiding philosophy.

The President declared, using the words of King Solomon in Solomon’s prayer when he ascended the throne of Israel on the death of King David, that “for myself, I ask only, in the words of an ancient leader: ‘Give me now wisdom and knowledge that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this, thy people, that is so great?'”

The President said also that justice requires that no American deny a fellow American because of race or creed; the man who does “betrays America,” he said. He stressed the concept of a national mission universal Justice and human rights.

Jewish participation in the inaugural ceremony was highlighted bya prayer offered by Rabbi Hyman Judah Schachtel, of Houston, Tex., one of the four clergymen representing America’s leading faiths, at the east portico of the National Capitol. The other faiths represented in the solemn Capitol ceremony were Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Greek Orthodox.

Before taking the inaugural cath, President Johnson and Vice-President Humphrey attended interfaith religious services at the National City Christian Church, a few blocks from the White House. At this special Inauguration Day service, held at the request of the President, the Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish faiths united in prayer. Rabbi Stanley Rabinowitz, of Congregation Adas Israel, Washington, represented the Jewish religion.