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June 10, 2024

Title: D-Day and the Faith of Dwight D. Eisenhower
Topic: History

Discussed by Dr. Gary Scott Smith
with The Institute for Faith and Freedom (www.FaithAndFreedom.com)

Part 1 of 3

Dwight D. Eisenhower once stated: “Religious faith gives you the courage to make decisions that must be made in a crisis and the confidence to leave the results to a Higher Power.”

Today, Dr. Gary Scott Smith discusses his latest editorial "D-Day and the Faith of Dwight Eisenhower”. Dr. Smith is a Professor of History Emeritus at Grove City College and a fellow for faith and politics with The Institute for Faith and Freedom.

Dr. Gary Scott Smith has also written many books, which can be found here.

Questions/Issues Discussed:

What did Dwight D. Eisenhower do before he ordered the command to go to war? What did he do nearly one year later as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expedition Forces in Europe?

Is Eisenhower’ faith in Almighty God well documented? Dr. Gary Scott Smith included Dwight D. Eisenhower’s story in his book: “Faith and the Presidency From George Washington to George W. Bush”.

June 6 of this year marked the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

How did D-Day change the world?

Why is D-Day so significant?

Was D-Day and the subsequent battles costly, with many lives lost?

Was D-Day a major step in ending the horrors of the most destructive war in world history? Dr. Smith and others believe that, if the invasion into Normandy had not been successful, the outcome of the war could have been dramatically different.

Were certain civilians treated badly during the war?

Does war affect the mentality of soldiers? Did many soldiers suffer from PTSD after WWI and WWII?

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Title: Part 2 of 3 - D-Day and the Faith of Dwight D. Eisenhower
Topic: History

Discussed by Dr. Gary Scott Smith
with The Institute for Faith and Freedom (www.FaithAndFreedom.com)

Questions/Issues Discussed:

Did Dwight D. Eisenhower pray as a child?

If the doctor’s had amputated his leg when he was sixteen, would we even know his name today? Dr. Smith discusses Eisenhower’s background and how each life event connected together to ultimately take him to the White House.

Dwight D. Eisenhower believed in the efficacy of prayer. Is he one of the most religious presidents in American history?

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Title: Part 3 of 3: D-Day and the Faith of Dwight D. Eisenhower
Topic: History

Discussed by Dr. Gary Scott Smith
with The Institute for Faith and Freedom (www.FaithAndFreedom.com)

Questions/Issues Discussed:

Did Eisenhower’s interest in religious matters and support of religious causes while president create controversy about violating the separation between church and state? Dr. Smith explains what “separation between church and state” means and how people at that time were not concerned about a president’s personal belief.

As President, did Eisenhower support the beginning of the National Prayer Breakfast?

Did Eisenhower support the addition of the words “Under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance?

Did Eisenhower support making the phrase “In God We Trust” the national motto?

What are important lessons we can learn by studying the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower? Dr. Smith reveals what he has personally learned from his studies of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Click here to help support The Institute for Faith and Freedom, part ofGrove City College.

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January 17, 2024

Title: What Did Cause the Civil War?
Topic: History

Discussed by Dr. Gary Scott Smith
with The Institute for Faith and Freedom (www.FaithAndFreedom.com)

Part 1 of 3

Republican Presidential Candidate, Nikki Haley, recently provoked a firestorm of controversy and criticism for failing to name slavery as the cause of the Civil War.

In response, Dr. Gary Scott Smith wrote an excellent op-ed, “What Did Cause the Civil War”?

Click here for more information about The Institute for Faith and Freedom.

Questions/Issues Discussed:

Other than the debate over slavery, what other fears, confusions, and misunderstandings contributed to the Civil War?

From a political perspective, do some historians argue that the issue of states’ rights versus nationalism was a major point of contention?

Do other historians emphasize the role of blundering politicians, especially ineffectual presidents, as irresponsible agitators?

Are the causes of the Civil War complicated to understand?

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Title: Part 2 of 3 - What Did Cause the Civil War?
Topic: History

Discussed by Dr. Gary Scott Smith
with The Institute for Faith and Freedom (www.FaithAndFreedom.com)

Questions/Issues Discussed:

The disagreement over sovereignty was one of the major contributors to the Civil War. Was the national government all-powerful or were the federal powers voluntary over each state?

Up until that time, had almost every state, at some time, proclaimed its own sovereignty while denouncing similar declarations by other states?

What were some of the other causes of the Civil War? Dr. Smith discusses economic, cultural, and religious differences.

Was either side free from warts? Is there any country in the world that is free from warts?

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Title: Part 3 of 3 - What Did Cause the Civil War?
Topic: History

Discussed by Dr. Gary Scott Smith
with The Institute for Faith and Freedom (www.FaithAndFreedom.com)

Questions/Issues Discussed:

What really led to the beginning of the Civil War?

What caused the states of the deep South to secede after Abrahm Lincoln’s election in 1860?

Are all the causes of the Civil War intertwined together?

Click here to help support The Institute for Faith and Freedom.

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February 21, 2022

Title: Should We Celebrate President’s Day?
Topic: Presidential Politics

Discussed by Dr. Gary Scott Smith
with The Institute for Faith and Freedom (www.FaithAndFreedom.com)

Part 1 of 2

Dr. Gary Scott Smith has been a Professor of American History for 39 years. He is currently a Fellow for Faith and Politics with the Institute for Faith and Freedom with Grove City College.

Dr. Smith is the author of numerous books including: “Faith and the Presidency From George Washington to George W. Bush”, “Religion in the Oval Office”, “Heaven in the American Imagination”, and “Mark Twain: Preacher, Prophet, and Social Philosopher”.

Dr. Smith recently wrote this about President’s Day: “Statues of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and Theodore Roosevelt are being removed or torn down because of their involvement in slavery, racism, or imperialism… Are Americans becoming more cynical, judgmental, and difficult to please? To what extent has our nation’s toxic and divisive political climate contributed to these negative assessments of our chief executives?”

Click here to read the article from Dr. Gary Scott Smith on this topic.

Click here for more information about the Faith and Freedom Institute.

Click here for more information about Grove City College.

Questions/Issues Discussed:

When and why did America begin to celebrate President’s Day?

Is our current President performing more poorly than his predecessors? Dr. Smith says: “The standards for Presidential behavior and Presidential leadership have risen because of a variety of factors.”

Are Americans just more cynical, judgmental, and simply more difficult to please?

Is America more divided now than at any other time in our history? Dr. Smith reveals that there have been many close Presidential races throughout our history, resulting in much division.

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Title: Part 2 of 2 - Should We Celebrate President’s Day?
Topic: Presidential Politics

Discussed by Dr. Gary Scott Smith
with The Institute for Faith and Freedom (www.FaithAndFreedom.com)

Questions/Issues Discussed:

Do the majority of media outlets favor one party over another? Dr. Smith explains that this has been true since basically the founding of our country!

Side Bar: Why did Dr. Smith write a book on Mark Twain?

Is the President viewed as the moral leader of America?

If King David were on the ballot today, knowing his past sins, would a vote for him be wise?

Should Americans respect the office of the President with more reverence? Dr. Smith says: “Imagine having your whole life on display… I don’t know how they sleep at night… All they can do is make the best decisions they can.”

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