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N0KFQ > TODAY 30.07.13 18:06l 83 Lines 3946 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Today in History - Jul 30
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Sent: 130730/1556Z 2395@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.55
Jul 30, 1956:
President Eisenhower signs "In God We Trust" into law
On this day in 1956, two years after pushing to have the phrase
"under God" inserted into the pledge of allegiance, President
Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a law officially declaring "In God We
Trust" to be the nation's official motto. The law, P.L. 84-140,
also mandated that the phrase be printed on all American paper
currency. The phrase had been placed on U.S. coins since the
Civil War when, according to the historical association of the
United States Treasury, religious sentiment reached a peak.
Eisenhower's treasury secretary, George Humphrey, had suggested
adding the phrase to paper currency as well.
Although some historical accounts claim Eisenhower was raised a
Jehovah's Witness, most presidential scholars now believe his
family was Mennonite. Either way, Eisenhower abandoned his
family's religion before entering the Army, and took the unusual
step of being baptized relatively late in his adult life as a
Presbyterian. The baptism took place in 1953, barely a year into
his first term as president.
Although Eisenhower embraced religion, biographers insist he
never intended to force his beliefs on anyone. In fact, the
chapel-like structure near where he and his wife Mamie are buried
on the grounds of his presidential library is called the "Place
of Meditation" and is intentionally inter-denominational. At a
Flag Day speech in 1954, he elaborated on his feelings about the
place of religion in public life when he discussed why he had
wanted to include "under God" in the pledge of allegiance: "In
this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith
in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly
strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our
country's most powerful resource in peace and war."
The first paper money with the phrase "In God We Trust" was not
printed until 1957.
Jul 30, 1956:
President Eisenhower signs "In God We Trust" into law
On this day in 1956, two years after pushing to have the phrase
"under God" inserted into the pledge of allegiance, President
Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a law officially declaring "In God We
Trust" to be the nation's official motto. The law, P.L. 84-140,
also mandated that the phrase be printed on all American paper
currency. The phrase had been placed on U.S. coins since the
Civil War when, according to the historical association of the
United States Treasury, religious sentiment reached a peak.
Eisenhower's treasury secretary, George Humphrey, had suggested
adding the phrase to paper currency as well.
Although some historical accounts claim Eisenhower was raised a
Jehovah's Witness, most presidential scholars now believe his
family was Mennonite. Either way, Eisenhower abandoned his
family's religion before entering the Army, and took the unusual
step of being baptized relatively late in his adult life as a
Presbyterian. The baptism took place in 1953, barely a year into
his first term as president.
Although Eisenhower embraced religion, biographers insist he
never intended to force his beliefs on anyone. In fact, the
chapel-like structure near where he and his wife Mamie are buried
on the grounds of his presidential library is called the "Place
of Meditation" and is intentionally inter-denominational. At a
Flag Day speech in 1954, he elaborated on his feelings about the
place of religion in public life when he discussed why he had
wanted to include "under God" in the pledge of allegiance: "In
this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith
in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly
strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our
country's most powerful resource in peace and war."
The first paper money with the phrase "In God We Trust" was not
printed until 1957.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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