Perhaps the secular nature of the Republic is one of the foremost distinctions of the American political system. The United States has been, for more than two centuries, a model of the separation between church and state. But while this has been an uninterruptable practice, it has not come without its fair amount of challenges and controversies. The oath to ‘preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States’ is also a solemn declaration to keep the legacy of religious freedom without any imposition or intrusion in public life. Faith, in the Jeffersonian tradition, is to remain strictly a private matter. However this has not always been the case.

Faith is invariably a divisive issue. To believers, it is comforting to see their leaders pronouncing religious sentiments. To sceptics, the idea that the Commander-in-Chief relies on ideas inspired by faith, may be disconcerting. In the words of Gary Scott Smith, “policy making should be based on objective, scientific, pragmatic, prudential, ‘neutral’ factors, not presuppositions or values”.

Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) a Presbyterian with profound religious convictions, tried incessantly to seek peace between nations, since individuals and nations were both accountable to God. At a younger age he had written that “all statesmen should trust Christ and follow scriptural standards”. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945), Episcopalian, invoked God’s blessing, used biblical images and referred to religious ideals in all four of his inaugural addresses. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1952-1960) believed that “America’s greatness had depended on its acknowledgement of God” and that the USA had a “pivotal role to play in God’s plan for civilization”. Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) believed that God intended America to be “a city on the hill”. To him, religion was a guide, often referred to in his speeches that inspired a generation. When in 2000, then Presidential candidate George W. Bush was asked who his favourite philosopher was, he did not hesitate – “Jesus Christ”. According to Newsweek, few Presidents “invoked faith more openly than, or as often as Bush”. Rumsfeld later said that Bush would start every Cabinet meeting with a prayer.

 

So help me God

While Article Six of the Constitution provides that “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States”, both candidates and sitting Presidents have often professed the importance of their faith and how it guides their decision-making. When the oath of office is administered, the addendum “So help me God” is always made – a phrase first recorded to have been made by Abraham Lincoln in his second inauguration of 1865, and then continued as tradition.

To date, no atheist or agnostic has made it to the Presidency. The speech given by John F. Kennedy a few weeks before the election of 1960 is emblematic for two reasons. As the first Catholic candidate for the Presidency, Kennedy stated that “the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the President (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote”. However, should a conflict occur, Kennedy’s choice was clear: “But if the time should ever come … when my office would require me to either violate my conscience or violate the national interest, then I would resign the office; and I hope any conscientious public servant would do the same.” It is unlikely that either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump will use religion in their campaign, but they both know that pandering to the religious population will be crucial to clinch the Presidency in November.   

 It is customary to hear the President being called “Mr President”, and this is now a long-standing tradition. However, all was not so obvious at the beginning when the Founding Fathers were debating what would be the most appropriate title for the leader of the nation. To make matters more difficult, the 1787 Constitution of the United States did not specify how the Chief Executive had to be addressed.

Presidential historian Michael Genovese records how controversy erupted over what the President should be called. Senators proposed “His Elective Majesty” or “His Elective Highness”, or “His Mightiness.” John Adams (Washington’s Vice President and Successor) proposed “His Most Benign Highness” and “His Highness, President of the United States and Protector of their Liberties”. Such titles brought more derision than acceptance, and at the end the House of Representatives decided on simply calling Washington “President of the United States”.

The quest of the Founding Fathers to build a republic had to be reflected in the persona and behaviour of its leader, the President. Ultimately, Washington “had to be careful not to give the impression that King George III (UK) was about to be replaced by George I in America”. The titles reserved for him had to be carefully selected. Although he privately preferred to be called “The General”, Washington accepted the recommendation that the title be “Mr President”. And so it remained.