Trinity University Digital Commons @ Trinity History Faculty Research History Department 11-2014 Religious Rhetoric and the Evolution of George W. Bush's Political Philosophy Lauren Frances Turek Trinity University,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.trinity.edu/hist_faculty Part of the History Commons Repository Citation Turek, L.F. (2014). Religious rhetoric and the evolution of George W. Bush's political philosophy. Journal of American Studies, 48(4), 975-998. doi: 10.1017/S0021875814000681 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the History Department at Digital Commons @ Trinity. It has been accepted for inclusion in History Faculty Research by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Trinity. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. 1 Title: Religious Rhetoric and the Evolution of George W. Bush’s Political Philosophy Abstract: This manuscript surveys George W. Bush’s public statements from 1993 to 2001 to examine the evolution of his religious and political rhetoric. Bush’s personal religiosity and his use of religious rhetoric during his campaigns for the presidency and in his two terms in office have received extensive comment from the press as well as from scholars. Yet very little scholarly work has considered the role of religion in his earlier political career. Although Bush had evinced a deep and genuine evangelical faith for years before he launched his bid for governor, he did not begin his political career as an overtly Christian leader. Instead, over the course of his governorship, he gradually incorporated Christian tropes in his speeches to develop, explain, and gain support for his “compassionate conservative” policies and to build rapport with voters.