President Barack Obama takes the oath of office from U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, as first lady Michelle Obama holds the Bible and daughters Malia, 14, and Sasha, 11, look on in the Blue Room of the White House on Sunday, January 20. Both Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were officially sworn in Sunday, with a public ceremony on Monday.
Roberts arrives to administer the oath of office to Obama at the White House on Sunday.
Michelle Obama hugs her husband after he took the oath of office on Sunday.
A stage technician from Maryland Sound International sets up microphones for the presidential inauguration at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Sunday.
David Carr poses with one of the Barack Obama doll heads he is selling as Washington prepares on Sunday for Obama's second inauguration.
A chorus rehearses at the U.S. Capitol building on Sunday.
Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York greets people at the Capitol on Sunday.
Christian evangelist Mary Clement of Silver Spring, Maryland, sings and reads from her Bible as she walks along Pennsylvania Avenue outside the White House on Sunday.
Obama and Biden lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on January 20.
An American flag waves at the U.S. Capitol building on January 20 as Washington prepares for Obama's second inauguration.
Biden takes the oath of office from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor at the Naval Observatory on Sunday as his wife, Jill Biden, right, looks on.
Workers prepare the parade route in front of the U.S. Capitol building on Sunday.
The Smithsonian's Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture is decoratively lit for the 2013 Inaugural Youth Ball on Saturday, January 19, in Washington.
The inaugural reviewing stand is under construction in front of the White House on Friday, January 18.
A souvenir salesman displays inauguration memorabilia on sale on Friday.
Workers prepare the U.S. Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony on Friday.
- Obama used family Bible at Sunday's swearing-in; Will use two others on Monday
- 'So help me God' not required part of presidential oath, but has been said
- Legal challenge fell short before 2009 inauguration
Watch CNN's comprehensive coverage of President Barack Obama's second inauguration this weekend on CNN TV and follow online at CNN.com or via CNN's apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. Then, on Monday, follow our real-time Inauguration Day live blog at cnn.com/conversation. Need other reasons to watch inauguration coverage on CNN's platforms? Click here for our list.
Washington (CNN) -- At his request, President Barack Obama is ending his inaugural oath with: "So help me God."
Those four words are not legally or constitutionally required, unlike other federal oaths that invoke them as standard procedure.
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Historians have wrangled over whether George Washington established precedent by adding the phrase on his own during his first Inaugural acceptance, but the Library of Congress website states he did.
Abraham Lincoln was reported to have said it spontaneously in 1861 and other presidents over the years have followed suit.
A Bible is traditionally used in administering the oath.
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Obama took the official oath on Sunday at the White House with his left hand on the family Bible of his wife, Michelle.
At Monday's ceremonial swearing-in at the Capitol, he will use Bibles from Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr.
Obama took the oath with the same Lincoln Bible in 2009 when he made history as the first African-American president.
The Constitution lays out the exact language to be used in the oath: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Four years ago, a California atheist, Michael Newdow, objected and went to federal court to prevent Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts from prompting the president-elect to repeat the "so help me God phrase."
Newdow, along with several non-religious groups, argued the words violate the constitutional ban on government "endorsement" of religion.
The high court ultimately rejected the lawsuit two years ago, and no such legal challenges are expected this time.
Lyndon Johnson's 1965 swearing-in marked a change from tradition.
His wife Claudia, known batter as Lady Bird, held the Bible, a job previously managed by the high court's clerk.
Spouses have since had the honor.
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CNN's Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.
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