RELIGION & POLITICS IN AMERICA, SPRING 2011

REAGAN, BUSH, & RELIGION IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Balmer chapter 4 and appendix 5

Wednesday, March 9

1. During the 1976 election Carter’s born again status gathered a lot of support from white evangelicals, but he was unable to maintain that support throughout his presidency.  What made the evangelicals throw their loyalties to Reagan in 1980 when, of the candidates running, he had “the weakest claim to evangelical faith” (110)?

2. Why do you think Reagan was able to drum-up and maintain so much support from the Religious Right even though he did not attend church regularly or deliver on his promises to outlaw abortion and restore prayer to public schools?

3. Like Johnson, Reagan was a member of the Disciples of Christ, which, apart from its fundamental commitment to follow Jesus, does not have an official doctrine.  Would this religion’s lack of dogma present a problem for voters who look to religion to provide the moral values for a candidate or do voters just care that candidates have some form of religion?

4. Before running for President Reagan and his running mate George Bush had supported bills allowing abortions. Heading into their presidential campaign however both changed their position and became pro-life. Were these moves to gain the evangelical vote or do you think that there was another reason for this shift in opinion?

5. In Reagan's speech at the unveiling of the newly refurbished Statue of Liberty, what religious message was he sending? Was there something hidden in the speech other than America is God's chosen nation?