The Aspiring Autocrat and the Personal Loyalty Oath
I caught a short segment on the news a while back, showing a group of immigrants becoming Americans by taking the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance. It was very moving and got me thinking about how important these oaths are to those who hope to become autocrats.
Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God." {Code of Federal Regulations Section 337.1 }
Swearing loyalty to the Constitution and the laws, not to a tyrant
Those who take the oath pledge to support and defend the Constitution and laws of the US. All those who enlist in the armed forces and all federal officials take an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution before starting their jobs. <https://www.thoughtco.com/oaths-of-office-for-federal-officials-3368324>
It is much the same for all the people who wear the uniform of the United States, including the top brass:
US Military Oath of Enlistment
I, _____, 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; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.
(Title 10, US Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing the wording first adopted in 1789, with amendment effective 5 October 1962).
Tyrants Demand Personal Loyalty
We are very lucky in this country that no one has yet tried to replace the standard oath with a pledge of personal allegiance to the leader. History offers examples of aspiring autocrats who used personal loyalty oaths as a way of gaining power, often by getting control over the generals and admirals who lead the military. This is what happened in Germany in 1934:
Germany 1934
