Reagan “ended 90 percent of his major addresses by requesting divine guidance. George H. W. Bush also did so in 90 percent of his speeches, and Bill Clinton and George W. Bush followed suit 89 percent and 84 percent of the time, respectively.”9 Religion became the weapon in a rhetorical arms race, with each president needing to match the piety of his predecessors. The ratchet had tightened on presidential rhetoric.
