Blog Post — In God We Trust – Our Real National Motto 
President Obama and fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton (and probably many more Democrats) are confused about what our nation’s official motto is. President Obama has been insistent that it is E Pluribus Unum and Hillary Clinton, in her acceptance speech, said the same thing. It’s even referenced in their party’s platform!
Well, for those of you who don’t know on July 30, 1956 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation establishing “In God We Trust” as our national motto. For sixty years it has been our national motto, but there are those who are seeking to rewrite history and remake America into something our Founding Fathers would not recognize.
President George Washington, in his First Inaugural Address, said that “it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes”
President George Washington said in his final farewell address: ” Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of man and citizens.”
The national motto is prominently engraved in the wall above the Speaker’s dais in the Chamber of the House of Representatives, appears over the entrance to the Chamber of the Senate, and is depicted on all United States coins and currency.
Here’s some more history:
On MARCH 3, 1931, Congress adopted “The Star-Spangled Banner” as the National Anthem.
Written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, the 4th verse of includes the lines:
“O thus be it ever when free men shall stand,
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation;
Blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven-rescued land,
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just;
And this be our motto ‘IN GOD IS OUR TRUST’!
And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave,
Over the land of the free and the home of the brave!”
The ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ stirred patriotism across America, with its 4th verse inspiring the 125th Pennsylvania Infantry to use ‘IN GOD WE TRUST’ as its battle cry at the Battle of Antietam.
During the Civil War, Rev. M.R. Watkinson wrote to the Treasury Department, November 13, 1861, suggesting the recognition of “Almighty God in some form in our coins.”
Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase, who Lincoln later appointed Chief Justice, assigned the task to James Pollock, the Philadelphia Director of the Mint.
James Pollock was the former Governor of Pennsylvania and a former U.S. Congressman.
Complying with Secretary Chase’s request, The Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of the Finances (U.S. Dept. of the Treasury, 1863, page 190-191), printed James Pollock’s reply:
“We claim to be a Christian nation – why should we not vindicate our character by honoring the God of Nations… Our national coinage should do this. Its legends and devices should declare our trust in God-in Him who is ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords.'”
On MARCH 3, 1865, Congress voted to approve the motto ‘IN GOD WE TRUST’ for all U.S. coins.
House Speaker Schuyler Colfax noted:
“The last act of Congress ever signed by President Lincoln was one requiring that the motto…’IN GOD WE TRUST’ should hereafter be inscribed upon all our national coin.”
President Reagan stated in his National Day of Prayer Proclamation, March 19, 1981:
“Our Nation’s motto ‘IN GOD WE TRUST’ – was not chosen lightly. It reflects a basic recognition that there is a divine authority in the universe to which this Nation owes homage.”
Reagan stated at a White House observance of National Day of Prayer, May 6, 1982:
“Our faith in God is a mighty source of strength. Our Pledge of Allegiance states that we are ‘one nation under God,’ and our currency bears the motto, ‘IN GOD WE TRUST.'”
Reagan said following a meeting with Pope John Paul II in Vatican City, June 7, 1982:
“Ours is a nation grounded on faith, faith in man’s ability through God-given freedom to live in tolerance and peace and faith that a Supreme Being guides our daily striving in this world. Our national motto, ‘IN GOD WE TRUST,’ reflects that faith.”
However times changed and in 2008, the over half-billion dollar Capitol Visitor Center opened for the purpose of educating over 15,000 Capitol visitors daily on the “legislative process as well as the history and development of the architecture and art of the U.S. Capitol.” Yet, Capitol Visitor Center historians had sanitized the public building of any references to our national motto, including replacing the inscription of ‘In God We Trust,’ inscribed above the Speaker’s Rostrum with stars in a replica of the House Chamber and cropping an actual picture of the chamber so you could not see the words ‘In God We Trust.’ Only until Members of Congress intervened publically and legislatively were these omissions and inaccuracies corrected.
In November 2011 the US House reaffirmed by a vote of 396 to 9 “In God We Trust” as our national motto in all public buildings, public schools and other government institutions. This resolution was introduced by Representative Randy Forbes (R-VA) in direct response to President Obama telling an audience in Indonesia that our national motto is E Pluribus Unum. https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/11/10/remarks-president-university-indonesia-jakarta-indonesia
The current President’s response to the resolution? “That’s not putting people back to work. I trust in God, but God wants to see us help ourselves by putting people to work.” Obama called on Congress to approve his jobs package.
We must be constantly vigilant in order to preserve our freedoms and to even preserve our history!
Economist Milton Friedman said, “Eternal vigilance is required and there have to be people who step up to the plate, who believe in liberty, and who are willing to fight for it.”
Before him abolitionist Wendell Phillips said, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
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