Faith and the Presidency From George Washington to George W. Bush (Hardcover)

by Gary Scott Smith (Author)
Key Phrases: ecumenical prayer breakfast, republican prophet, infrequent church attendance, United States, White House, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Wonderfully informed...one could do far worse than approach his text as an alternative biographical portrait of certain chief executives. But he does such a fantastic job of explicating the Presidents' career trajectories by means of their religious convictions that the book is in fact far more than this."
--Journal of American Studies
"At a time when presses (and readers) groan under the weight of panicky punditry on religion and the presidency, it is a welcome relief to possess Smith's well-researched, balanced and fair-minded study of a perennially interesting topic."
--Christian Century


Product Description
In 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.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 680 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (October 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195300602
• ISBN-13: 978-0195300604
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #741,688 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for 2007, February 10, 2007

By	Raymond I. Hylton (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you are looking for fresh information about the role of faith and religion in the lives of some of America's greatest presidents then I highly recommend purchasing Faith and the Presidency.
The author, Gary Smith has done his homework. His research is very thorough and his style of writing is clear and free of technical jargon.
I thought the book presented a balanced view of democrat and republican presidents; and the author covers each president's religious affiliation without bias. After reading this book I finally understand why religion is such a hot topic during every presidential election.
Reading about Abraham Lincoln and how his faith helped him address the crises of the civil war is the best I have read to date.
Students, teachers of history, religious leaders and those with a love of presidential history need this book to complete their library. A must read for 2007!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent review and analysis of an important and timely subject, February 7, 2007

By	Hoodlum (Frederick, MD USA) - See all my reviews

I very much enjoyed perusing this new volume on faith and the
presidency. I happen to know the most about Lincoln's faith, and I thought the author did a great job with the elusive subject of Lincoln's religious beliefs.

Also, in an era in which many books are overpriced--$150 for a hardcover from some presses--it is good to find a book with so much valuable material offered at such a low price.

This book is thorough, well balanced, and reliable. Many books go into the making of one book, as Samuel Johnson said, and Gary Smith has clearly read virtually everything on these various presidents (regarding faith). I especially liked the chapters on TR, FDR, and Eisenhower.

The author demonstrates good sense throughout. Sound judgment is so
important for a historian. This book is an excellent contribution to the fields of history, religious studies, and government. Highly recommended.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, February 7, 2007

By	Dr. Michael Lindsay (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Gary Scott Smith's Faith and the Presidency is fascinating to read and weighty in substance. Full of personal details drawn from the lives of various presidents as well as important observations about public policy and religious impulses, Smith hits the sweet spot between bold, exciting claims and strong supporting evidence.

I was particularly persuaded by the book's observation that the foreign policy of presidents more readily reveals their philosophical commitments because the U.S. presidency has greater latitude abroad than at home.

This is a book worth reading from cover to cover. Smith hits a home run with this exceptional book. A tour de force!