Description:

Eisenhower on W. H. Stationary Adds "Under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance

On June 14, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed into law a joint resolution amending the Pledge of Allegiance by adding the words “Under God”. This later printed typescript showcases the statement by the President Upon Signing the Bill, and is boldly signed “Dwight Eisenhower”

1p, measuring 8.5 x 11", The White House, Washington, dated June 14, 1954 and reads:

“From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural schoolhouse, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty. To anyone who truly loves America, nothing could be more inspiring than to contemplate this rededication of our youth, on each school morning, to our country's true meaning.

Especially is this meaningful as we regard today's world. Over the globe, mankind has been cruelly torn by violence and brutality and, by the millions, deadened in mind and soul by a materialistic philosophy of life. Man everywhere is appalled by the prospect of atomic war.

In this somber setting, this law and its effects today have profound meaning. 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 or in war.

Dwight Eisenhower”

The Pledge of Allegiance was reportedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a minister from New York as an expression of fealty to the U.S. It read:

"I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Over the next 50 years, Bellamy’s version of the pledge would be adjusted to eventually include "of the United States" after "flag" and a simple "to" before “republic."

In 1948, an attorney from Illinois named Louis Bowman, added the phrase "under God," claiming Abraham Lincoln used the same phrase in his Gettysburg Address. Almost all reported transcripts from the speech do include "that the nation shall, under God, have a new birth of freedom.” Bowman would continue to deliver his version of the pledge and others including the Knights of Columbus began reciting it as well. As this version of the pledge gained in popularity, various Americans wrote letters and met with President Harry Truman to request the more religious tone moving forward.

Finally, in 1953 the government became involved when Michigan Democrat Louis Rabaut sponsored a resolution to add the words "under God" to the Pledge. It failed. But by then, the decision was up to President Eisenhower who encouraged Charles Oakman, a republican also from Michigan, to re-introduce the bill, which Congress would then pass. On June 14, 1954, Eisenhower would sign the bill into law. A story announcing the news in the Washington Post quoted him as saying the new version of the Pledge of Allegiance would add "Spiritual weapons which will forever be our country's most powerful resource."

Many historians claimed Eisenhower was raised a Jehovah’s Witness, but most presidential scholars today believe his family was Mennonite. Before entering the army, Eisenhower would abandon his family’s religion, and in 1953, barely a year into his first term as President, Eisenhower took the unusual step of being baptized late in his adult life.

Two years after the words “Under God” were added to the Pledge of Allegiance, Eisenhower would sign a law officially declaring “In God We Trust” to be the nation’s official motto. In 1957, the first paper money with the phrase “In God We Trust” was printed. Since the Eisenhower presidency, many groups have disagreed over the appropriateness and constitutionality of a motto that mentions “God,” considering the founding fathers dedication to maintaining the separation of church and state.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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