Faith and the Presidency From George Washington to George W. BushOxford University Press, 2006 M10 12 - 680 pages In the wake of the 2004 election, pundits were shocked at exit polling that showed that 22% of voters thought 'moral values' was the most important issue at stake. People on both sides of the political divide believed this was the key to victory for George W. Bush, who professes a deep and abiding faith in God. While some fervent Bush supporters see him as a man chosen by God for the White House, opponents see his overt commitment to Christianity as a dangerous and unprecedented bridging of the gap between church and state. In fact, Gary Scott Smith shows, none of this is new. Religion has been a major part of the presidency since George Washington's first inaugural address. Despite the mounting interest in the role of religion in American public life, we actually know remarkably little about the faith of our presidents. Was Thomas Jefferson an atheist, as his political opponents charged? What role did Lincoln's religious views play in his handling of slavery and the Civil War? How did born-again Southern Baptist Jimmy Carter lose the support of many evangelicals? Was George W. Bush, as his critics often claimed, a captive of the religious right? In this fascinating book, Smith answers these questions and many more. He takes a sweeping look at the role religion has played in presidential politics and policies. Drawing on extensive archival research, Smith paints compelling portraits of the religious lives and presidencies of eleven chief executives for whom religion was particularly important. Faith and the Presidency meticulously examines what each of its subjects believed and how those beliefs shaped their presidencies and, in turn, the course of our history. |
From inside the book
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Page iv
... Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Smith, Gary Scott, 1950– Faith and the presidency : from George Washington to George W. Bush / Gary Scott Smith. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13 978-0-19-530060-4 ...
... Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Smith, Gary Scott, 1950– Faith and the presidency : from George Washington to George W. Bush / Gary Scott Smith. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13 978-0-19-530060-4 ...
Page ix
... Congress in Washington, D.C. The foundation's aid also gave me release time from teaching four intersessions at my college. Finally, its subvention allowed the length of the book to be increased without increasing its price. I want to ...
... Congress in Washington, D.C. The foundation's aid also gave me release time from teaching four intersessions at my college. Finally, its subvention allowed the length of the book to be increased without increasing its price. I want to ...
Page 12
... affirms specific Christian convictions. Although the First Amendment prohibited Congress from establishing a national church and guaranteed freedom of worship to individuals, it did not resolve the issue 12 faith and the presidency.
... affirms specific Christian convictions. Although the First Amendment prohibited Congress from establishing a national church and guaranteed freedom of worship to individuals, it did not resolve the issue 12 faith and the presidency.
Page 15
... Congress, deferential behavior toward the flag, and national days of prayer).53 From the earliest days of the American republic, this religion, while sharing ''much in common with Christianity,'' Bellah maintains, was not in ''any ...
... Congress, deferential behavior toward the flag, and national days of prayer).53 From the earliest days of the American republic, this religion, while sharing ''much in common with Christianity,'' Bellah maintains, was not in ''any ...
Page 24
... Congress.19 To these authors, ''abundant evidence'' demonstrates Washington ''was a true Christian in every sense that the word implies.''20 They point to the piety of his parents, who instructed him in the Anglican catechism ...
... Congress.19 To these authors, ''abundant evidence'' demonstrates Washington ''was a true Christian in every sense that the word implies.''20 They point to the piety of his parents, who instructed him in the Anglican catechism ...
Contents
3 | |
21 | |
53 | |
Saving the Last Best Hope of Earth | 91 |
4 Theodore Roosevelt and the Bully Pulpit | 129 |
Presbyterian Statesman | 159 |
6 Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Quest to Achieve an Abundant Life | 191 |
7 Dwight David Eisenhower Dynamic Conservatism and the Religious Revival of the 1950s | 221 |
The First Catholic President | 259 |
First Servant of the Nation | 293 |
Making America Gods Shining City on a Hill | 325 |
A FaithBased Presidency | 365 |
Conclusion | 415 |
Notes | 431 |
Index | 635 |
Other editions - View all
Faith and the Presidency From George Washington to George W. Bush Gary Scott Smith Limited preview - 2006 |
Faith and the Presidency From George Washington to George W. Bush Gary Scott Smith Limited preview - 2006 |
Faith and the Presidency From George Washington to George W. Bush Gary Scott Smith Limited preview - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
abortion Abraham Lincoln administration American argued Baptist believed Bible biblical Billy Graham Bush Bush’s campaign Catholic Christ Christian church Civil Religion claimed Clergy Letters Congress conservative contended David declared Democratic divine Eisenhower Eisenhower’s election evangelical faith faith-based federal foreign policy Franklin Franklin Roosevelt freedom George W George Washington God’s Graham human ibid Inaugural Address insisted Iraq issues James Jesus Jewish Jews Jimmy Carter John July June justice Kennedy Kennedy’s leaders liberty Methodist ministers moral National National Religious Broadcasters pastor peace political PPF 21A pray Prayer Breakfast Presbyterian president Presidential Protestant quotation Quoted relationship Republican Robert role Ronald Reagan separation of church Sept sermons slavery social Soviet speeches spiritual Theodore Roosevelt theological Thomas Jefferson United University Press urged vote White House William Woodrow Wilson wrote York