Faith and the Presidency From George Washington to George W. BushIn 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 31
... urged him to ''bear the misfortune with that fortitude and complacency of mind, that becomes a Man and a Christian ... urging the bereaved to seek consolation in religion, he never assured them George Washington and Providential Agency 31.
... urged him to ''bear the misfortune with that fortitude and complacency of mind, that becomes a Man and a Christian ... urging the bereaved to seek consolation in religion, he never assured them George Washington and Providential Agency 31.
Page 32
... urged the grieving to accept God's decrees ''with as little repining, as the sensibilities of our natures'' permitted and provided little emotional comfort.95 For much of his adult life, Washington was an actor playing various roles ...
... urged the grieving to accept God's decrees ''with as little repining, as the sensibilities of our natures'' permitted and provided little emotional comfort.95 For much of his adult life, Washington was an actor playing various roles ...
Page 33
... urged Washington to affirm his faith in Christianity publicly or expressed regret that he had not. Shortly after the Virginian became president, Congregationalist Samuel Langdon sent Washington a sermon praising his character and ...
... urged Washington to affirm his faith in Christianity publicly or expressed regret that he had not. Shortly after the Virginian became president, Congregationalist Samuel Langdon sent Washington a sermon praising his character and ...
Page 37
... urged Americans to build their new nation on four pillars: a permanent union of the states, lasting peace, public justice, and the proper dispositions of its citizens. In underscoring this fourth prop, the general exhorted his ...
... urged Americans to build their new nation on four pillars: a permanent union of the states, lasting peace, public justice, and the proper dispositions of its citizens. In underscoring this fourth prop, the general exhorted his ...
Page 38
Gary Scott Smith. He urged the federal government to build a canal connecting the Potomac to Ohio, where he owned nearly 60,000 acres, which would have greatly increased the value of his property. Washington received no pay during his ...
Gary Scott Smith. He urged the federal government to build a canal connecting the Potomac to Ohio, where he owned nearly 60,000 acres, which would have greatly increased the value of his property. Washington received no pay during his ...
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