Religion and the American Presidency

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Beginning with George Washington and ending with George W. Bush, Gastón Espinosa explores the influence of religion on the American presidency, especially with regard to the formation of domestic and foreign policy. The fine line between allowing and endorsing religious expression has always been problematic for the president. From supporters of John Adams, who accused Thomas Jefferson of being an atheist and an infidel, to Carter and Reagan, who were both very vocal about their faith, American presidents have had to make a place for their religion, or lack thereof, somewhere between the poles of church and state. Focusing on the religious upbringing and political careers of Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Lincoln, FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, JFK, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and George H. W. and George W. Bush, this volume demonstrates how presidents of all parties have injected or invoked religion in their policies. The contributors are experts in their chosen presidents, and they build their history from a wealth of primary-source materials (speeches, letters, proclamations, and other documents) that refute revisionist accounts of these presidents' tenures in office. Their interdisciplinary and unbiased approach reveals the undeniable influence of the clergy and religious symbols, traditions, values, and rhetoric on these presidents' enduring political legacies. Espinosa adds photos and two primary-source speeches/autobiographical entries to each chapter and concludes with a bibliography.