TR and In God We Trust
During his Presidency, one of the fights that Teddy Roosevelt got in was his effort to have the phrase "in God we trust" removed from US coins. It had been added to coinage in 1864 and TR believed that it was unconstitutional and sacrilegious. In a letter to Reverend Roland C. Dryer that TR wrote on Nov. 11 1907, he said
"My own feeling in the matter is due to my very firm conviction that to put such a motto on coins, or to use it in any kindred manner, not only does no good but does positive harm, and is in effect irreverence, which comes dangerously close to sacrilege...It is a motto which it is indeed well to have inscribed on our great national monuments, in our temples of justice, in our legislative halls, and in building such as those at West Point and Annapolis -- in short, wherever it will tend to arouse and inspire a lofty emotion in those who look thereon. But it seems to me eminently unwise to cheapen such a motto by use on coins, just as it would be to cheapen it by use on postage stamps, or in advertisements."
Roosevelt argued that the coinage with “In God We Trust” was being used in saloons and taverns to buy whiskey and prostitutes and he believed that the name of God should not be involved in such transactions. Roosevelt’s wishes were adhered to, and coinage from 1907 and 1908 do not have any mention of God.
The United States Congress had a different take on the issue, supported by church groups of the day. Congress wanted the motto proclaimed on all coins, especially the largest gold coins. In 1908, Congress prevailed and the Mint added "In God We Trust" to the design of the $20 gold coins. From late 1908 on minted coins were struck with the motto "In God We Trust."
"My own feeling in the matter is due to my very firm conviction that to put such a motto on coins, or to use it in any kindred manner, not only does no good but does positive harm, and is in effect irreverence, which comes dangerously close to sacrilege...It is a motto which it is indeed well to have inscribed on our great national monuments, in our temples of justice, in our legislative halls, and in building such as those at West Point and Annapolis -- in short, wherever it will tend to arouse and inspire a lofty emotion in those who look thereon. But it seems to me eminently unwise to cheapen such a motto by use on coins, just as it would be to cheapen it by use on postage stamps, or in advertisements."
Roosevelt argued that the coinage with “In God We Trust” was being used in saloons and taverns to buy whiskey and prostitutes and he believed that the name of God should not be involved in such transactions. Roosevelt’s wishes were adhered to, and coinage from 1907 and 1908 do not have any mention of God.
The United States Congress had a different take on the issue, supported by church groups of the day. Congress wanted the motto proclaimed on all coins, especially the largest gold coins. In 1908, Congress prevailed and the Mint added "In God We Trust" to the design of the $20 gold coins. From late 1908 on minted coins were struck with the motto "In God We Trust."