Gerald Ford for Integration of Church and State (1975)On January 28th, 1975, Gerald Ford gave a speech at the Annual Congressional Breakfast of the National Religous Broadcasters. He starts off his speech by thanking the religious community for their encouragement. Ford then states his view on spiritual matters in government. He announces an unpopular opinion on the subject: "the separation of church and state, although a fundamental principle to which I fully subscribe, was never intended, in my view, to separate public morality from public policy. It says that the power of government shall not be used to support or suppress any one faith, but in the same sentence protects the profession and the propagation of all faiths." Most politicians were strict enforcers of the separation of church and state. And even though Ford agrees with this position, he believes that since religion has such a widespread influence on United States society, it should also have a role in the government as well. He then quotes the constitution. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." He begins to analyze his stance on church and state and relates it to the constitution. The freedom of religion connects with all ofter freedoms. Without freedom of religion, there couldn't be freedom of speech or freedom of the press. The founding fathers created the ideals of freedom because they wanted to create a diverse, yet unified country. They urged politicians to embrace religion and morality. He then ends his speech reiterating his stance on the controversial issue, saying that the government should have "recognition of the need to keep strong the spiritual and moral ties that bind us together as a great nation."
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Bibliography:
Ford, Gerald R. "REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATIONAL RELIGIOUS
BROADCASTERS." 28 Jan. 1975, Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington D.C.
Speech.
Gerald R. Ford. 16 Sept. 2003. Flickr, www.flickr.com/photos/mountunion/
5547444515/in/
photolist-aC15YS-6ehser-bD7tp8-9sd6Z6-fKMzWD-p6mxwS-5DzFFt-pkNKwL-pkNKqJ-huPRqD-6
jN7GN-p6mxzY-6emC9s-ago1FV-o5CAbb-pnQP7z-6ehrPF-6jN7NJ-p6kAPM-6jHVEr-BvpgNC-CkCfv
k-BvwzW6-BvwChZ-HyxCeg-HyxCeB-pnQP7p-6jHVHB-6jN7KN-phKXcC-pnQNXB-pnPfPs-pnPfWw-xd
mSM-pnywpV-6jN7Hy-6jHVFR-6jHVyx-6jN7Jh-5DzFLt-ARFKoG-uckXz1-tMktBL-BUpDvn-fKYSom-
BvwCex-uckXyQ-wJBu7d-wJBu6S-tMktBA/. Accessed 10 Jan. 2018.
Photo, AP File. U.S. Chief Justice Warren Burger, right, administers the oath of
office to Gerald R. Ford as the 38th President of the United States. M Live
Media Group, www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/04/
how_phone_call_almost_cost_ger.html. Accessed 9 Jan. 2018.
House, White. First Commission Members Meet with President Gerald Ford. 1 Jan.
1975. Flickr, www.flickr.com/photos/nrcgov/15422785683/in/
photolist-puRNRZ-on8csP-BvpgNC-CkCfvk-BvwzW6-BvwCex-BvwChZ-BUpDvn. Accessed
10 Jan. 2018.
Ford, Gerald R. "REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATIONAL RELIGIOUS
BROADCASTERS." 28 Jan. 1975, Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington D.C.
Speech.
Gerald R. Ford. 16 Sept. 2003. Flickr, www.flickr.com/photos/mountunion/
5547444515/in/
photolist-aC15YS-6ehser-bD7tp8-9sd6Z6-fKMzWD-p6mxwS-5DzFFt-pkNKwL-pkNKqJ-huPRqD-6
jN7GN-p6mxzY-6emC9s-ago1FV-o5CAbb-pnQP7z-6ehrPF-6jN7NJ-p6kAPM-6jHVEr-BvpgNC-CkCfv
k-BvwzW6-BvwChZ-HyxCeg-HyxCeB-pnQP7p-6jHVHB-6jN7KN-phKXcC-pnQNXB-pnPfPs-pnPfWw-xd
mSM-pnywpV-6jN7Hy-6jHVFR-6jHVyx-6jN7Jh-5DzFLt-ARFKoG-uckXz1-tMktBL-BUpDvn-fKYSom-
BvwCex-uckXyQ-wJBu7d-wJBu6S-tMktBA/. Accessed 10 Jan. 2018.
Photo, AP File. U.S. Chief Justice Warren Burger, right, administers the oath of
office to Gerald R. Ford as the 38th President of the United States. M Live
Media Group, www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/04/
how_phone_call_almost_cost_ger.html. Accessed 9 Jan. 2018.
House, White. First Commission Members Meet with President Gerald Ford. 1 Jan.
1975. Flickr, www.flickr.com/photos/nrcgov/15422785683/in/
photolist-puRNRZ-on8csP-BvpgNC-CkCfvk-BvwzW6-BvwCex-BvwChZ-BUpDvn. Accessed
10 Jan. 2018.