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
Results 1-5 of 80
Page vii
... faith or they keep it'' locked in the closet.9 Moreover, it is difficult to delineate precisely how the faith of various presidents affected their actions and policies because many factors play a role. This study of eleven presidents ...
... faith or they keep it'' locked in the closet.9 Moreover, it is difficult to delineate precisely how the faith of various presidents affected their actions and policies because many factors play a role. This study of eleven presidents ...
Page viii
... faith was to them and argued that politicians must bring their faith into the public arena. Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush are notable examples of this approach. Another 2004 poll found that Americans ...
... faith was to them and argued that politicians must bring their faith into the public arena. Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush are notable examples of this approach. Another 2004 poll found that Americans ...
Page 6
... faith of an individual president or all the presidents. Most of these authors have been committed Christians who portrayed their subjects as virtuous, pious, and theologically astute. A few have been enemies of organized religion who ...
... faith of an individual president or all the presidents. Most of these authors have been committed Christians who portrayed their subjects as virtuous, pious, and theologically astute. A few have been enemies of organized religion who ...
Page 7
... faith, for God's sake keep quiet about it.''15 To many scholars and pundits, the religious views and values of the presidents are either avocations with no more relevance to their public lives than stamp collecting or bird watching or ...
... faith, for God's sake keep quiet about it.''15 To many scholars and pundits, the religious views and values of the presidents are either avocations with no more relevance to their public lives than stamp collecting or bird watching or ...
Page 8
... faith or how it affected his performance and policies as president. Americans have long been fascinated with the public and private lives of presidents. Their personalities and performance have been intensely scrutinized. Presidents ...
... faith or how it affected his performance and policies as president. Americans have long been fascinated with the public and private lives of presidents. Their personalities and performance have been intensely scrutinized. Presidents ...
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