God Wills It is a comprehensive study of presidential religious rhetoric. Using case studies, careful analysis of hundreds of speech transcripts, and experimental data, David O'Connell provides strong evidence that when religious rhetoric is used it doesn't work out well for the president's agenda. This book shows that presidents do not talk this way because they want to, but because they felt they must. God Wills It shows that even if presidents attempt to call on the deity, the more important question remains: Will God come when they do?
Inhaltsverzeichnis
List of Illustrations List of Tables Preface Introduction 1. Conceptualizing Presidential Religious Rhetoric 2. Aid, Arms, and Armageddon: Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and the Religious Rhetoric of Defense 3. Holy Warriors: George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and the Religious Rhetoric of War 4. Protecting Our Blessings: Jimmy Carter and the Religious Rhetoric of Environmental Policy 5. All God's Children: John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and the Religious Rhetoric of Civil Rights 6. I Have Sinned: Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, and the Religious Rhetoric of Scandal 7. An Experimental Evaluation of Religious Rhetoric Conclusion References Index
