Introduction: the importance of religion to understanding the presidency / Harold F. Bass, Mark J. Rozell and Gleaves Whitney -- 2. Faith of George Washington / Gary Scott Smith -- 3. Thomas Jefferson and the myth of separation / Thomas E. Buckley, S.J. -- 4. Religion in the life, thought, and presidency of James Madison / Vincent Phillip Munoz -- 5. Lincoln's political religion and religious politics: or, what Lincoln teaches us about the proper connection between religion and politics / Lucas E. Morel -- 6. "We must put on the armor of God": Harry Truman and the Cold War / Elizabeth Edwards Spalding -- 7. Dwight D. Eisenhower: Civil religion and the Cold War / Jack M. Holl -- 8. Secular iron of Catholic hero?: Religion and the presidency of John F. Kennedy -- 9. Jimmy Carter and the politics of faith / Jeff Walz -- 10. Ronald Reagan's faith and attack on Soviet communism / Paul Kengor -- 11. The religion of Bill Clinton / James M. Penning -- 12. The faith of George W. Bush: the personal, practical, and political / Carin Robinson and Clyde Wilcox -- 13. President Barack Obama and his faith / Robert P. Jones and Daniel Cox -- 14. Donald Trump and the enduring religion factor in US elections / Mark J. Rozell -- Index.
Summary:
This book chronologically analyzes key US Presidents, from Washington to Trump, to highlight how religion has informed or influenced their politics and policies. For years, leading scholars have largely neglected religion in presidential studies. Yet, religion has played a significant role in a number of critical presidencies in US history. This volume reveals the deep religious side to such presidencies as Truman, Eisenhower, and Reagan, among others, and the impact that faith had on their administrations. Now in its third edition, this work also provides a fresh look at the legacy of Obama's faith-based administration, as well as a new chapter on the 2016 Trump campaign's dependence on religious voters in order to provide a timely update to a key text in the study of religion and the presidency--back cover.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.