[Alabama_Wild_Man]

I posed that very question to G. Gordon Liddy, on the air on his radio program. But, his answer failed to make any sense....

[dbbeebs]

"I, name, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and I will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." ---

----

I (insert name), having been appointed a (insert rank) in the U.S. Navy under the conditions indicated in this document, do accept such appointment and do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God.

[DSH]

My question is - why is that phrase, or something similar, not included in the Oaths of Office for the President and the Vice President?

The short answer to your question is that the specific wording of the Presidential oath of office is dictated by Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution.

[Bommer]

"...oppose any enemy of the Constitution, foreign or domestic..."

If the President takes the oath to "Preserve, Protect and Defend the Constitution of the United States" And the Constitution states that we should fight all of our enemies foreign and domestic, then I would think his bases are covered

[verity]

You are worthy of your screen name.

[jerod]

The President defends the constitution as a document, the Military defends the constitution from all enemies. Occasionally (as in was the case with Bill Clinton) the enemy of the constitution is the President.

That's why the Senate never convicted Clinton. The military would have to choose between supporting the constitution, or their Commander if Chief, the President. And we all know that they would've had to drag his sorry *ss out of the White House. It would have been very messy.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

The Constituition only prescribes the oath of office for one office, the President. The Constituition has worked pretty well for 200 years, if we'd only pay attention to it.

[RightRules]

You folks have it all wrong. I have just received a copy of a new world history textbook for high school students recommended by the NEA. On page 42, it is said that such language was forsaken by our forefathers to compromise with Delegate William C. Blythe of Mass.(the Great Great Great Grandfather of Hillary Rodham) who wanted the wording to read:

"... to oppose any enemy of nationalized health care, real or perceived..."

Ironically, the book points out that Mr. Blythe missed the Constitution signing session because he was in an important meeting with a staff intern.

I have only skimmed Chapter 2, The Clinton Years (it's 230 pages) but the book points out that in his great war on terrorism, President Clinton missed bin Laden by thismuch.

[riley1992]

But, his answer failed to make any sense....

My guess is he was thinking the exact same thing about your question.