"God Bless The United States Of America"

[Dr Adequate]

My wife and I were squabbling over when this became a conventional end to a speech by a PotUS. Did Kennedy ever finish a speech like that, for example? When and how did it become standard?

Thanks.

[gtc]

Have you tried JFK's library (http://www.jfklibrary.org/)?

[Dr Adequate]

Thanks. Unfortunately that website does not exclusively contain the words of JFK. However, assuming that it contains all his speeches, it does seem to suggest that he didn't use "God Bless The United States Of America" as a sign-off.

So when did it start?

[gtc]

Here are the Inaugural Addresses (http://wcbstv.com/national/inauguration.president.address.2.909192.html) from FDR's 1st:

In this dedication of a Nation we humbly ask the blessing of God. May He protect each and every one of us. May He guide me in the days to come.

to Reagan's second:


God bless you and may God bless America.



Obama seems (http://www.flickr.com/photos/29397320@N04/2813572854/)to say it quite often.

[gtc]

And more all the way back to Washington (http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/inaug.asp).

No mention of God there.

The word 'God' is not there but it refers to God.

[Mojo]

My wife and I were squabbling over when this became a conventional end to a speech by a PotUS. Did Kennedy ever finish a speech like that, for example? When and how did it become standard?


Maybe it sneezed.









Run for your lives! SWINE FLU!!!

[WildCat]

My wife and I were squabbling over when this became a conventional end to a speech by a PotUS. Did Kennedy ever finish a speech like that, for example? When and how did it become standard?

Thanks.
Not those exact words, but close. From Kennedy's inaugural speech (http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/jfk-inaug.htm):
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.

eta: JFK also quoted scripture in that speech.

[WildCat]

Seems pretty standard for JFK. From his Moon Speech (http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/jfk-space.htm):
Well, space is there, and we're going to climb it, and the moon and the planets are there, and new hopes for knowledge and peace are there. And, therefore, as we set sail we ask God's blessing on the most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked.

[WildCat]

FDR actually lead the nation in prayer on D-Day: http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/fdr-prayer.htm

[Undesired Walrus]

It's not to be forgotten that one of the arguments JFK had against the USSR was that it rejected God.

[UNLoVedRebel]

eta: JFK also quoted scripture in that speech.The Irish are so superstitious.

[Dr Adequate]

Yes, lots of Presidents have referred to God, it's this stereotypical way of ending speeches I was interested in.

Per gtc's link, the formula seems to have originated with Reagan.

Closing lines of inaugural speeches:

Reagan, 1st inaugural: God bless you, and thank you.

Reagan, 2nd inaugural: God bless you and may God bless America.

Bush I: God bless you and God bless the United States of America.

Clinton, 1st inaugural: Thank you and God bless you all. [Traitor! Why Does He Hate America?]

Clinton, 2nd inaugural: May God strengthen our hands for the good work ahead-- and always, always bless our America. [Ah, that's better.]

Bush II, 1st inaugural: God bless you all, and God bless America.

Bush II, 2nd inaugural: May God bless you, and may He watch over the United States of America.

Obama, 1st inaugural (:)): God bless you. And God bless America.

Whereas before Reagan they just finish off any old way.

[Pardalis]

Are you going to also count every time someone says "God bless" when someone else sneezes?

[WildCat]

Yes, lots of Presidents have referred to God, it's this stereotypical way of ending speeches I was interested in.

Per gtc's link, the formula seems to have originated with Reagan.

Closing lines of inaugural speeches:

Reagan, 1st inaugural: God bless you, and thank you.

Reagan, 2nd inaugural: God bless you and may God bless America.

Bush I: God bless you and God bless the United States of America.

Clinton, 1st inaugural: Thank you and God bless you all. [Traitor! Why Does He Hate America?]

Clinton, 2nd inaugural: May God strengthen our hands for the good work ahead-- and always, always bless our America. [Ah, that's better.]

Bush II, 1st inaugural: God bless you all, and God bless America.

Bush II, 2nd inaugural: May God bless you, and may He watch over the United States of America.

Obama, 1st inaugural (:)): God bless you. And God bless America.

Whereas before Reagan they just finish off any old way.
"God bless _____" is just a shorter way to say "we ask for God's blessings". It's the same thing, just a different way of saying it.

[cbish]

I think it was Reagan.

[WildCat]

Jimmy Carter ended his inaugural speech with "God bless you, and thank you.".
http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres61.html

Which is also exactly how Reagan ended his first inaugural speech: http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres61.html

[Dr Adequate]

Jimmy Carter ended his inaugural speech with "God bless you, and thank you.".
http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres61.html

Which is also exactly how Reagan ended his first inaugural speech: http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres61.html Those both appear to be the same speech, Reagan's first inaugural.

According to this link (http://wcbstv.com/national/inauguration.president.address.2.909251.html), Carter's inaugural speech ended:

These are not just my goals, and they will not be my accomplishments, but the affirmation of our Nation's continuing moral strength and our belief in an undiminished, ever-expanding American dream.

[timhau]

Obama, 1st inaugural (:)): God bless you. And God bless America.


Obama, 2nd inaugural: Allahu Akbar, suckers!

[T.A.M.]

Irving Berlin 1918...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Bless_America

I am guessing (a guess) that it may have inspired future POTUS to use it or something close.

TAM:)

[Regnad Kcin]

I think it was Reagan.Yeah, it's just Reagan. (http://zombiereagan2012.com/reagan_smash.gif)

[WildCat]

Those both appear to be the same speech, Reagan's first inaugural.

According to this link (http://wcbstv.com/national/inauguration.president.address.2.909251.html), Carter's inaugural speech ended:
These are not just my goals, and they will not be my accomplishments, but the affirmation of our Nation's continuing moral strength and our belief in an undiminished, ever-expanding American dream.

Well, that will teach me to post while also cooking lunch. :blush: