Religion and the American presidency : George Washington to George W. Bush with commentary and primary sources / edited by Gastón Espinosa..

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Ch. I. Religion and the presidency of George Washington / Daniel L. Dreisbach and Jeffery H. Morrison -- Ch. II. Religion and the presidency of Thomas Jefferson / Thomas E. Buckley -- Ch. III. Religion and the presidency of James Madison / Garrett Ward Sheldon -- Ch. IV. Religion and the presidency of Abraham Lincoln / Andrew R. Murphy -- Ch. V. Religion and the presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt / Gary Scott Smith -- Ch. VI. Religion and the presidency of Harry S. Truman / Elizabeth Edwards Spalding -- Ch. VII. Religion and the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower / Jerry Bergman -- Ch. VIII. Religion and the presidency of John F. Kennedy / Thomas J. Carty -- Ch. IX. Religion and the presidency of Jimmy Carter / Kenneth E. Morris -- Ch. X. Religion and the presidency of Ronald Reagan / Paul Kengor -- Ch. XI. Religion and the presidency of George H. W. Bush / Kjell O. Lejon -- Ch. XII. Religion and the presidency of William Jefferson Clinton / Gaston Espinosa -- Ch. XIII. Religion and the presidency of George W. Bush / David Aikman.

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.