
On this day in 1956, two years after pushing to have the phrase "under God" inserted into the pledge of allegiance, President
Dwight D. Eisenhower
signs a law officially declaring "In God We Trust" to be the nation's
official motto. The law, P.L. 84-140, also mandated that the phrase be
printed on all American paper currency. The phrase had been placed on
U.S. coins since the
Civil War when, according to the historical association of the
United States
Treasury, religious sentiment reached a peak. Eisenhower's treasury
secretary, George Humphrey, had suggested adding the phrase to paper
currency as well.

Although some historical accounts claim Eisenhower was raised a
Jehovah's Witness, most presidential scholars now believe his family was
Mennonite. Either way, Eisenhower abandoned his family's religion
before entering the Army, and took the unusual step of being baptized
relatively late in his adult life as a Presbyterian. The baptism took
place in 1953, barely a year into his first term as president.

Although Eisenhower embraced religion, biographers insist he never
intended to force his beliefs on anyone. In fact, the chapel-like
structure near where he and his wife Mamie are buried on the grounds of
his presidential library is called the "Place of Meditation" and is
intentionally inter-denominational. At a Flag Day speech in 1954, he
elaborated on his feelings about the place of religion in public life
when he discussed why he had wanted to include "under God" in the pledge
of allegiance: "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 and war."
The first paper money with the phrase "In God We Trust" was not
printed until 1957. Since then, religious and secular groups have argued
over the appropriateness and constitutionality of a motto that mentions
"God," considering the founding fathers dedication to maintaining the
separation of church and state.
Taken from:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-eisenhower-signs-in-god-we-trust-into-law [30.07.2012]
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