Quote by David Herbert Donald
In Lincoln's day a President's religion was a very private affair. There were no public prayer meetings, no attempts to woo the Religious Right. Few of Lincoln's countrymen knew anything at all of his religious beliefs.
Summary
This quote highlights the contrast between the approach towards religion in Abraham Lincoln's era and the contemporary political landscape. During Lincoln's time, a President's religious beliefs were considered personal matters and were not openly discussed or used as a means to gain support from religious groups. Unlike today, there were no public displays of religious devotion or explicit efforts to appeal to the Religious Right. Lincoln's religious beliefs were largely unknown to the public, indicating that the personal faith of a President held little relevance in the political realm of that time.