So Help Me God: Tracing The Emergence Of Religious Rhetoric In Presidential Speeches (1953-2020)

Abstract

The United States, since its founding has been a secular nation. No religious tests for office, no state-mandated religion, and no persecution for believers and non-believers alike. However, with fluctuations in the electorate and the introduction of new political issues, the political world has been shaken by religious influences. This study aims to navigate the nexus of religious and political thought by examining how presidents utilize religious rhetoric in a public capacity in order to understand what the effect of this rhetoric is on the American presidency. Further, the study aims to elucidate any detectable changes in frequency with which such religious behaviors are used along party lines, time periods, and voter attitudes. This analysis presents a novel contribution to the field by surveying presidential speeches over time and recording religious behaviors laced within. Finally, the reasoning behind such behaviors will be analyzed in order to understand why such behaviors may prove to be beneficial or detrimental to an individual or the office of the presidency. Findings suggest that republicans are more likely to use religious behaviors than democrats are; however, both parties have seen an increase in recent years.