Guests: James Reichley
Historian of American political parties, the presidency, and religion and ethics in American politics
Senior Visiting Fellow in Georgetown University's Graduate Public Policy Program
Author of "Religion in American Public Life" (Brookings Institution, 1985),
The Life of the Parties (new edition now out in paperback, Roman & Littlefield, 2000), and
The Values Connection (forthcoming, Roman & Littlefield, March 2001)
Other Guest TBA In this year's presidential campaign, it's been hard not to notice all the talk about religion. During a primary debate, George W. Bush cited Jesus as his favorite political philosopher. Al Gore calls himself a "born-again Christian." And vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman regularly makes references to God on the campaign stump. It's a far cry from the example set by John F. Kennedy who wanted voters in 1960 to know his Roman Catholicism wouldn't interfere with his policies as President. Has our culture changed so much over the past forty years that religious expressions by politicians are now more acceptable? Are Americans more open to hearing about a candidate's religious beliefs?
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