presidential phrases

[dottie12]

Who was the first president to use the phrase "One nation under God?"

[Big Al1st]

Hi Dottie,
As you probably know this is part of the American pledge of allegiance.

One nation was already in the saying when on June 14 1954 Dwight Eisenhower suggested adding "under one God"

All is explained
www.flagday.org/Pages/StoryofPledge.html

Rgds Al

[shammydodger]

Abraham Lincoln used it in his Gettysburg Address in November 1863, when he made a short (2 minutes) speech during the dedication of the War Cemetery. Won't quote the entire speech here (Google it if you wish) but I do recall that he had drafted the speech, using the words "one nation", then later inserted the words "under God" in the following passage:

"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. "

The insertion is apparent in one of the surviving transcripts of the speech.