Religion and the American Presidency

Religion and the American Presidency shatters the myth that presidents, somehow, can place their religiosity aside and objectively deal with domestic and foreign issues. -- Miguel de la Torre, Iliff School of Theology By itself, this collection could serve as the basis for a course. The combination of analytical essays on thirteen presidents plus excerpts from their writings about religion gives students all they need to delve into the heart of this tangled, enduring issue. Gaston Espinosa's long introduction lays out the issues and provides a wealth of information. An extremely useful book. -- Richard Bushman, Gouverneur Morris Professor of History emeritus, Columbia University, and winner of the Bancroft Prize in American History A wonderful collection of careful examinations of religion's influence in different presidencies over the course of our country's history. The volume is unique in its breadth of coverage and the nuance of its argumentation, revealing how different presidents have chartered a path between strict separation and wholesale accommodation, all the while seeking to be faithful to the separation of church and state and mapping out new territory by revealing how religion was a much more important factor in a number of administrations that have been conventionally viewed as being largely devoid of religious influences. -- Corwin Smidt, director, Paul Henry Institute of Christianity and Politics, Calvin College This book is a valuable and an important contribution to scholars and students of religion, the presidency, and American politics. -- Laura Olson, professor of political science, Clemson University, coauthor of Religion and Politics in America This path-breaking study examines the influence of religion on presidential politics. It blends the best available scholarship with an excellent collection of sources. -- Denis Lacorne, professor of political science, Institut d'Etudes Politiques, Paris, France

This book challenges the idea that the mixing of religion and presidential politics is a new phenomenon. It explores how presidents have drawn on their religious upbringing, rhetoric, ideas, and beliefs to promote their domestic and foreign policies to the nation. This influence is evident in Washington's decision to add "so help me God" to the presidential oath, accusations by Adam's supporters that Jefferson was an infidel, Lincoln's biblical metaphors during the Civil War, and FDR's call to fight against Nazi totalitarianism on behalf of Judeo-Christian civilization. It is also apparent in Truman's support for Israel, Eisenhower's Cold War decision to add "In God We Trust" on American currency, the debate over JFK's Catholicism, Jimmy Carter's born-again Christianity, Reagan's "Evil Empire" speech, Clinton's public repentance, and George W. Bush's "crusade" against Islamic terrorists. This volume explores these issues of religion and power in the presidencies of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Lincoln, FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, JFK, Carter, Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush through scholarly interpretations, primary sources, and illustrations.