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 4
... prayer amendment, tuition tax credits, a strong military defense, and efforts to reduce welfare payments and government regulations on businesses. Some saw Reagan's campaign to decrease abortions, pornography, drug usage, and sex ...
... prayer amendment, tuition tax credits, a strong military defense, and efforts to reduce welfare payments and government regulations on businesses. Some saw Reagan's campaign to decrease abortions, pornography, drug usage, and sex ...
Page 14
... prayer, the military from appointing chaplains, or the government from minting coins stating ''In God We Trust.'' Nor has it inhibited presidents from proclaiming days of prayer and thanksgiving. Moreover, some chief executives held prayer ...
... prayer, the military from appointing chaplains, or the government from minting coins stating ''In God We Trust.'' Nor has it inhibited presidents from proclaiming days of prayer and thanksgiving. Moreover, some chief executives held prayer ...
Page 24
... prayed almost constantly wherever he was—''in his library, in his army tent, at the homes of friends and strangers ... prayer in the snow at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777–78, when the American cause seemed desperate. According ...
... prayed almost constantly wherever he was—''in his library, in his army tent, at the homes of friends and strangers ... prayer in the snow at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777–78, when the American cause seemed desperate. According ...
Page 26
... praying.35 She regularly received Communion and discussed the consolation her faith had afforded her through her ... prayer, God, Christ, salvation, human nature, and life after death all help substantiate this claim. During 26 faith and ...
... praying.35 She regularly received Communion and discussed the consolation her faith had afforded her through her ... prayer, God, Christ, salvation, human nature, and life after death all help substantiate this claim. During 26 faith and ...
Page 28
... prayer. After his first inaugural, he attended a prayer service at St. Paul's. He frequently asked religious bodies to pray for him, especially in his work as president, thanked groups for praying for him, and told individuals he was ...
... prayer. After his first inaugural, he attended a prayer service at St. Paul's. He frequently asked religious bodies to pray for him, especially in his work as president, thanked groups for praying for him, and told individuals he was ...
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