Leaders’ Quotes

John Adams (2^nd POTUS)

4 March 1797, Inaugural Address, “And may that Being who is supreme over all, the Patron of Order, the Fountain of Justice, And the Protector in all ages of the world of virtuous liberty, continue His blessings upon this nation” (Proclaim Liberty (Dallas, TX: Word of Faith), p. 1).

11 October 1798, Address to the Military, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other” (Charles Francis Adams, Ed., The Works of John Adams—Second President of the United States (Boston: Little, Brown, & Co., 1854), Vol. IX, p. 229).

25 December 1813, In a Letter to Thomas Jefferson, “I believe the Bible is the best book in the world. It contains more philosophy than all the libraries I have seen” (L.J. Capon, ed., The Adams—Jefferson Letters (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1959), 2:412).

John Quincy Adams (6^th POTUS)

4 July 1821, “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this; it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity” (J. Wingate Thorton, The Pulpit of the American Revolution 1860 (reprinted NY: Burt Franklin, 1970), p. XXIX)

“The first and almost the only Book deserving of universal attention is the Bible” (Robert Flood, The Rebirth of America (Philadelphia: Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation, 1986), p. 37).

Omar Bradley (General of the Army)

1948, Armistice Day Address, “We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount” (John Bartlett, Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1855, 1980), p. 825).

James Buchanan (15^th POTUS)

4 March 1857, Inaugural Address, “In entering upon this great office I must humbly invoke the God of our fathers for wisdom and firmness to execute its high and responsible duties” (Proclaim Liberty (Dallas, TX: Word of Faith), p. 1).

George W. Bush (43^rd POTUS)

13 December 1999, when asked what political philosopher or thinker he identifies with and why: “Christ, because he changed my heart.”

Stephen Grover Cleveland (22^nd and 24^th POTUS)

4 March 1885, Inaugural Address, “I know there is a Supreme Being who rules the affairs of men” (Benjamin Weiss, God in American History: A Documentary of America’s Religious Heritage (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1966), p. 109).

“The citizen is a better business man if he is a Christian gentleman” (George F. Parker, ed., The Writings and Speeches of Grover Cleveland, pp. 182-183).

Calvin Coolidge (30^th POTUS)

4 March 1925, Inaugural Address, America “cherishes no purpose, save to merit the favor of Almighty God” (Benjamin Weiss, God in American History: A Documentary of America’s Religious Heritage (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1966), p. 131).

“The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country” (Robert Flood, The Rebirth of America (Philadelphia: Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation, 1986), p. 37)

Dwight David Eisenhower (34^th POTUS)

“The purpose of a devout and united people was set forth in the pages of The Bible” (“Our Christian Heritage,” Letter from Plymouth Rock (Marlborough, MH: The Plymouth Rock Foundation), p. 7).

“This Biblical story of the Promised land inspired the founders of America” (“Our Christian Heritage,” Letter from Plymouth Rock (Marlborough, MH: The Plymouth Rock Foundation), p. 7).

21 January 1957, Inaugural Address, “We seek our common labor as a nation, the blessings of Almighty God” (Robert Flood, The Rebirth of America (Philadelphia: Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation, 1986), p. 190).

“The Bible is endorsed by the ages. Our civilization is built upon its words. In no other book is there such a collection of inspired wisdom, reality, and hope.” (Gary DeMar, The Untold Story (Atlanta, GA: American Vision, Inc., 1993), p. 60).

Benjamin Franklin (Revolutionary Leader)

1748, “It is the duty of mankind on all suitable occasions to acknowledge their dependence on the Divine Being” (John Eidsmoe, Christianity and The Constitution (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1987), p. 209).

March 1778, “Whoever shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change the face of the world” (Charles E. Kistler, This Nation Under God (Boston: Richard G. Badger, The Gorham Press, 1924), p.83).

9 March 1790, “I think [Jesus’] System of Morals and his Religion, as he left them to us, is the best the World ever saw, or is likely to see” (John Bigelow, Complete Words of Benjamin Franklin).

James Abram Garfield (20^th POTUS)

15 April 1865, “Fellow citizens! God reigns” (John Bartlett, Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations (Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1855, 1980), p. 609).

Ulysses S. Grant (18^th POTUS)

“I believe in the Holy Scriptures, and whoso lives by them will be benefited thereby” (James P. Boyd, Military and Civil Life of General Ulysses S. Grant, pp. 709-710.)

Rutherford B. Hayes (19^th POTUS)

“I am a firm believer in the Divine teachings, perfect example, and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I believe also in the Holy Scriptures as the revealed Word of God to the world for its enlightenment and salvation” (Stephen Abbott Northrop, A Cloud of Witnesses (Portland, Oregon: American Heritage Ministries, 198), p. 223).

Patrick Henry (Revolutionary Leader)

“It cannot be emphasized too strongly too to often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ” (Steve C. Dawson, God’s Providence in America’s History (Rancho Cordova, CA: Steve C. Dawson, 1988), vol. 1, p. 5).

“The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed” (William Wirt, The Life and Character of Patrick Henry (Philadelphia: James Webster, 1818), p.402).

Herbert Hoover (31^st POTUS)

4 March 1929, Inaugural Address, “I ask the help of Almighty God in this service” (Benjamin Weiss, God in American History: A Documentary of America’s Religious Heritage (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1966), p. 132).

Oliver Otis Howard (MG, Union Army)

1863, Address to the 127^th Pennsylvania Volunteers, “I would to God, that all the men of my command were true followers of Christ Jesus, the Lord. Solders, allow me to express, with your chaplain, the sincere desire of my hear, that we may meet at the right hand of the Great Judge in that day, which he has described to us” (Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Glory of America (Bloominton, MN: Garborg’s Heart N Home, Inc., 1991), 2;19).

Andrew Jackson (7^th POTUS)

29 May 1845, in reference to the Bible, “Upon that sacred volume I rest my hope for eternal salvation, through the merits and blood of our blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ” (Robert V. Remini, Andrew Jackson and the Course of American Freedom, 1822-1832 (New York: Harper and Row, 1981), p. 519).

8 June 1845, in reference to the Bible, “That book, Sir, is the rock upon which our republic rests” (Gary DeMar, The Untold Story (Atlanta, GA: American Vision, Inc., 1993), p. 59).

Thomas Jefferson (3^rd POTUS)

“Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern, which have come under my observation, none appear to me so pure as that of Jesus” (Thomas Jefferson, Writings, vol. xiii, p. 377).

“The doctrines which flowed from the lips of Jesus himself are within the comprehension of a child; but thousands of volumes have not yet explained the Platonisms engrafted on them” (Thomas Jefferson, Writings, vol. xiv, p. 149).

“Had the doctrines of Jesus been preached always as pure as they came from his lips, the whole civilized world would now have been Christians” (Tryon Edwards, The New Dictionary of Thoughts—A Cyclopedia of Quotations (Garden City, NY: Hanover House, 1852, The Standard Book Company, 1963), p. 91).

Religion is “deemed in other countries incompatible with good government and yet proved by our experience to be its best support” (Stephen K. McDowell and Mark A. Beliles, America’s Providential History (Charlottesville, VA: Providence Press, 1988), p. 148).

JFK (35^th POTUS)

20 January 961, Inaugural Address, “The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God” (Benjamin Weiss, God in American History: A Documentary of America’s Religious Heritage (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1966), p. 146).

Francis Scott Key

14 September 1814, The Star Spangled Banner, “Conquer we must, when our cause it is just; and this be our motto, “In God is our trust!”

Abraham Lincoln (16^th POTUS)

“The only assurance of our nation’s safety is to lay our foundation in morality and religion” (Stephen K. McDowell and Mark A. Beliles, America’s Providential History (Charlottesville, VA: Providence Press, 1988), p. 148).

“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has given to man” (Stephen Abbott Northrop, A Cloud of Witnesses (Portland, Oregon: American Heritage Ministries, 198), p. 285).

30 March 1863, “We have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own” (James D. Richardson, A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents, 1789-1897 (Published by Authority of Congress, 1899), vol. vi, p. 164).

3 October 1863, “Set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens” (Gary DeMar, The Untold Story (Atlanta, GA: American Vision, Inc., 1993), pp. 16-17).

3 October 1863, “It is announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord” (Gary DeMar, The Untold Story (Atlanta, GA: American Vision, Inc., 1993), pp. 16-17).

William McKinley (25^th POTUS)

“The Christian religion is no longer the badge of weaklings and enthusiasts, but of distinction, enforcing respect” (Stephen Abbott Northrop, D.D., A Cloud of Witnesses (Portland, OR: American Heritage Ministries, 1987), introduction).

“The more profoundly we study this wonderful Book, and the more closely we observe its divine precepts, the better citizens we will become and the higher will be our destiny as a nation” (Gary DeMar, The Untold Story (Atlanta, GA: American Vision, Inc., 1993), p. 60).

Ronald Reagan (40^th POTUS)

4 October 1982, “Renewing our knowledge of and faith in God through Holy Scripture can strengthen us as a nation and a people” (Public Law 97-280).

FDR (32^nd POTUS)

20 January 1937, Second Inaugural Address: “I shall do my utmost . . . seeking Divine guidance” (Benjamin Weiss, God in American History: A Documentary of America’s Religious Heritage (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1966), p. 137-8).

Theodore Roosevelt (26^th POTUS)

“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education” (Alfred Armand Montapert, Distilled Wisdom (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall Inc., 1965), p. 36).

4 March 1901, Inaugural Address: “I reverently invoke for my guidance the direction and favor of Almighty God” (Benjamin Weiss, God in American History: A Documentary of America’s Religious Heritage (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1966), p. 166).

William H. Taft (27^th POTUS)

4 March 1909, Inaugural Address: “I invoke the aid of Almighty God” (Benjamin Weiss, God in American History: A Documentary of America’s Religious Heritage (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1966), p. 120).

Harry Truman (33^rd POTUS)

20 January 1949, Second Inaugural Address: “We believe that all men are created equal because they are created in the image of God” (Proclaim Liberty (Dallas, TX: Word of Faith), p. 2).

George Washington (1^st POTUS)

“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible” (David Barton, The Myth of Separation (Aledo, TX: WallBuilder Press, 1991), p. 150).

20 July 1776, General Order to troops under his command: “It is strictly enjoined on all officers and soldiers to attend Divine service. And it is expected that all those who go to worship do take their arms, ammunition and accoutrements, and are prepared for immediate action, if called upon” (Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Light and The Glory (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1977), p. 289).

19 February 1795, National Thanksgiving Proclamation, “Acknowledge our many and great obligations to Almighty God, and implore Him to continue and confirm the blessings we experienced” (Library of Congress Rare Book Collection, Washington, D.C.).