“The Shining City Upon the Hill”
Christian Zionism & the Politics of Woodrow Wilson & Harry S. Truman
Maggie Winton Senior Honors Thesis Wagner College Honors Program Thesis
Within their addresses and speeches to the American public, their personal writings, and the first-had accounts from those who worked closely with them, Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Harry S. Truman displayed Christian Zionist beliefs, connecting their personal religious beliefs to their political duties during their respective tenures as President of the United States. Why Wilson and Truman?
● Devoutly religious (Baptist) ● Devoutly religious (Presbyterian) ● VPOTUS & POTUS during and ● POTUS during and immediately after immediately after WWII WWI ● Use of religious rhetoric in public ● Use of religious rhetoric in public addresses addresses ● Benefit of historical hindsight Key Terms
Christian Zionism Dispensationalism
The return of the Jewish people to Biblical history is divided by God the Holy Land is in fulfillment of into specific eras where God has Biblical prophecy and will bring tasked humanity with a distinctive about the return of Jesus Christ. divine mission.
Manifest Destiny
The United States is destined by God to spread its politics, culture, and religion throughout the world. Personal Religious Beliefs
“The Bible and Progress” “Radio Address for ‘Religion May 7, 1911 in American Life’” October 30, 1949
“Let no man suppose that progress can “[Our faith] inspires us to work for a world in which life will be more worthwhile...every problem in the world be divorced from religion, or that there is today could be solved if men would only live by the any other platform for the ministers of principles of the ancient prophets and the Sermon on reform than the platform written in the the Mount…Religious faith and religious work must be our reliance as we [Americans] strive to fulfill our utterances of our Lord and Savior.” destiny in the world. Manifest Destiny
“Address at the Cornerstone Laying of the New York “State of the Union Avenue Presbyterian Address” Church” December 7, 1920 April 3, 1951
“This is the mission upon which Democracy “I do not think that anyone can study the history of this came into the world...This is the time of all Nation of ours -- study it deeply and earnestly -- without others when Democracy should prove its purity becoming convinced that divine providence has played and its spiritual power to prevail. It is surely the a great part in it. I have the feeling that God has manifest destiny of the United States to lead created us and brought us to our present position of power and strength for some great purpose.” in the attempt to make this spirit prevail.” Christian Zionism
Truman’s response to being Wilson to Rabbi Stephen introduced as “the man Wise, in Wise’s who helped create Israel” at autobiography the Jewish Theological Challenging Years Seminary in NYC in 1953
“To think that I, son of manse, “What do you mean, ‘helped to create should be able to help restore the [the State of Israel]’? I am Cyrus.” Holy Land to its people....” European Imperialism
European empires Postwar Context: WWI remained powerful after the war
US Isolationism
US Senate worried about internationalism compromising American Wilson in Pueblo, CO September 25, 1919 economic endeavors
1920 Election
Wilson’s presidential term coming to an end “The Pueblo Speech” Woodrow Wilson September 25, 1919
“[T]he principle that America has always fought for, namely, the equality of self-governing peoples… Let us accept what America has always fought for, and accept [The League of Nations] with pride that America showed the way and made the proposal...” Problems During the Interwar Period
October 1919 March 1920 1921-1933 1920s-1930s
Senate falls 3 isolationist Wilson has a short of ⅔ presidents stroke and majority and New wave of (Harding, becomes doesn’t join the antisemitism Coolidge, incapacitated League of Hoover) Nations New Global Superpower
America took advantage of Postwar Context: the global power vacuum created by the destruction WWII of European empires The Holocaust
Holocaust renewed interest in and support of an Truman with Israel’s first president, Chaim independent Jewish nation Weizmann May 25, 1948 “Striped pants boys”
Truman had contentious relationship with FDR’s advisors Harry S. Truman, to Merle Miller
Plain Speaking: An Oral Biography of Harry S. Truman 1974
“[A]s far as I was concerned, the United States would do all that it could to help the Jews set up a homeland. I’d already had a communication from some of the “striped pants” boys warning me...in effect telling me to watch my step, that I didn’t really understand what was going on over there… that I ought to leave it to the experts...” Recognition of Israel
“The United States recognizes the provisional government as the de facto authority of the new State of Israel.”
Signed, Harry S. Truman May 14, 1948 “Address in Little Rock at the Dedication of the World War Memorial Park” Harry S. Truman June 11, 1949 “We entered the First World War to restore peace and to preserve human freedom; but when that war was finished, we turned aside from the task we had begun...
We failed to join with others to take the steps which might have prevented a second world war… This time we are fully aware of the mistakes that were made in the past… We have assumed the responsibility which I believe God intended this great Republic to assume.” Why is this relevant today?
Religious Relevance Historical Relevance
Christian Zionism is ingrained in Christian Zionism is present mainstream American evangelical throughout American history and Protestant theology. is not exclusive to the presidencies of Wilson or Truman.
Political Relevance
Christian Zionism and all it encompasses continues to influence American politics. Thank you!
Dr. Alison Smith Dr. Steve Snow Dr. Amy Eshleman Thesis Advisor Second Reader Honors Program Director