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Religious affiliations of presidents of the United States

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Religious affiliations of presidents of the United States

Religious affiliations can affect the electability of the presidents of the United States and shape their stances on policy matters and their visions of society and also how they want to lead it. While no president so far has ever openly identified as an atheist, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and William Howard Taft were speculated to be atheists by their opponents during political campaigns; in addition, a survey during the first presidency of Donald Trump showed that 63% of Americans did not believe he was religious, despite his professed Christian affiliation. Conspiracy theorists also falsely circulated rumors that Barack Obama was a Muslim during his 2004 Senate campaign and later time as president. Conversely, other presidents, such as Jimmy Carter, used their faith as a defining aspect of their campaigns and tenure in office. Essentially all of the presidents can be characterized as Christians, at least by upbringing, though some were unaffiliated with any specific religious body. Mainline Protestants predominate, with Episcopalians and Presbyterians being the most prevalent. John F. Kennedy and Joe Biden are so far the only Catholic presidents.

Tables

· List of presidents by religious affiliation
George Washington
George Washington
No.
1
Name
George Washington
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Anglican
Denomination
Episcopalian
Years in office
1789–1797
John Adams
John Adams
No.
2
Name
John Adams
Religion
Christian
Branch
Nontrinitarian
Further Branch
Unitarian
Denomination
1797–1801
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
No.
3
Name
Thomas Jefferson
Religion
Unknown; possibly Deist
Branch
1801–1809
James Madison
James Madison
No.
4
Name
James Madison
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Anglican
Denomination
Episcopalian
Years in office
1809–1817
James Monroe
James Monroe
No.
5
Name
James Monroe
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Anglican
Denomination
Episcopalian
Years in office
1817–1825
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
No.
6
Name
John Quincy Adams
Religion
Christian
Branch
Nontrinitarian
Further Branch
Unitarian
Denomination
Unitarian
Years in office
1825–1829
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
No.
7
Name
Andrew Jackson
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Reformed
Denomination
Presbyterian
Years in office
1829–1837
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
No.
8
Name
Martin Van Buren
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Reformed
Denomination
Dutch Reformed
Years in office
1837–1841
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
No.
9
Name
William Henry Harrison
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Anglican
Denomination
Episcopalian
Years in office
1841–1841
John Tyler
John Tyler
No.
10
Name
John Tyler
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Anglican
Denomination
Episcopalian
Years in office
1841–1845
James K. Polk
James K. Polk
No.
11
Name
James K. Polk
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Methodist
Denomination
Methodist Episcopal
Years in office
1845–1849
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
No.
12
Name
Zachary Taylor
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Anglican
Denomination
Episcopalian
Years in office
1849–1850
Millard Fillmore
Millard Fillmore
No.
13
Name
Millard Fillmore
Religion
Christian
Branch
Nontrinitarian
Further Branch
Unitarian
Denomination
Unitarian
Years in office
1850–1853
Franklin Pierce
Franklin Pierce
No.
14
Name
Franklin Pierce
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Reformed
Denomination
Congregationalist- later converted to Episcopalian
Years in office
1853–1857
James Buchanan
James Buchanan
No.
15
Name
James Buchanan
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Reformed
Denomination
Presbyterian
Years in office
1857–1861
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
No.
16
Name
Abraham Lincoln
Religion
Christian
Branch
Northern Baptist
Further Branch
1861–1865
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
No.
17
Name
Andrew Johnson
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Nondenominational
Denomination
1865–1869
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
No.
18
Name
Ulysses S. Grant
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Nondenominational
Years in office
1869–1877
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
No.
19
Name
Rutherford B. Hayes
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Nondenominational
Denomination
1877–1881
James A. Garfield
James A. Garfield
No.
20
Name
James A. Garfield
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Restoration Movement
Denomination
Disciples of Christ
Years in office
1881–1881
Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
No.
21
Name
Chester A. Arthur
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Anglican
Denomination
Episcopalian
Years in office
1881–1885
Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
No.
22/24
Name
Grover Cleveland
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Reformed
Denomination
Presbyterian
Years in office
1885–1889; 1893–1897
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
No.
23
Name
Benjamin Harrison
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Reformed
Denomination
Presbyterian
Years in office
1889–1893
William McKinley
William McKinley
No.
25
Name
William McKinley
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Methodist
Denomination
Methodist Episcopal
Years in office
1897–1901
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
No.
26
Name
Theodore Roosevelt
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Reformed
Denomination
Dutch Reformed
Years in office
1901–1909
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
No.
27
Name
William Howard Taft
Religion
Christian
Branch
Nontrinitarian
Further Branch
Unitarian
Denomination
Unitarian
Years in office
1909–1913
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
No.
28
Name
Woodrow Wilson
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Reformed
Denomination
Southern Presbyterian
Years in office
1913–1921
Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
No.
29
Name
Warren G. Harding
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Baptist
Denomination
Northern Baptist
Years in office
1921–1923
Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
No.
30
Name
Calvin Coolidge
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Reformed
Denomination
Congregationalist
Years in office
1923–1929
Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover
No.
31
Name
Herbert Hoover
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Quaker
Denomination
1929–1933
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
No.
32
Name
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Anglican
Denomination
Episcopalian
Years in office
1933–1945
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
No.
33
Name
Harry S. Truman
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Baptist
Denomination
1945–1953
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
No.
34
Name
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Reformed
Denomination
United Presbyterian
Years in office
1953–1961
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
No.
35
Name
John F. Kennedy
Religion
Christian
Branch
Catholic
Further Branch
Latin Church
Denomination
1961–1963
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
No.
36
Name
Lyndon B. Johnson
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Restoration Movement
Denomination
Disciples of Christ
Years in office
1963–1969
Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
No.
37
Name
Richard Nixon
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Quaker
Denomination
1969–1974
Gerald R. Ford
Gerald R. Ford
No.
38
Name
Gerald R. Ford
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Anglican
Denomination
Episcopalian
Years in office
1974–1977
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
No.
39
Name
Jimmy Carter
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Baptist
Denomination
Southern Baptist
Years in office
1977–1981
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
No.
40
Name
Ronald Reagan
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Reformed
Denomination
Presbyterian
Years in office
1981–1989
George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
No.
41
Name
George H. W. Bush
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Anglican
Denomination
Episcopalian
Years in office
1989–1993
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
No.
42
Name
Bill Clinton
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Baptist
Denomination
Southern Baptist
Years in office
1993–2001
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
No.
43
Name
George W. Bush
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Methodist
Denomination
United Methodist
Years in office
2001–2009
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
No.
44
Name
Barack Obama
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Nondenominational
Denomination
2009–2017
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
No.
45/47
Name
Donald Trump
Religion
Christian
Branch
Protestant
Further Branch
Nondenominational
Denomination
2017–2021; 2025–present
Joe Biden
Joe Biden
No.
46
Name
Joe Biden
Religion
Christian
Branch
Catholic
Further Branch
Latin Church
Denomination
2021–2025
No.
Name
Religion
Branch
Further Branch
Denomination
Years in office
1
George Washington
Christian
Protestant
Anglican
Episcopalian
1789–1797
2
John Adams
Christian
Nontrinitarian
Unitarian
1797–1801
3
Thomas Jefferson
Unknown; possibly Deist
1801–1809
4
James Madison
Christian
Protestant
Anglican
Episcopalian
1809–1817
5
James Monroe
Christian
Protestant
Anglican
Episcopalian
1817–1825
6
John Quincy Adams
Christian
Nontrinitarian
Unitarian
Unitarian
1825–1829
7
Andrew Jackson
Christian
Protestant
Reformed
Presbyterian
1829–1837
8
Martin Van Buren
Christian
Protestant
Reformed
Dutch Reformed
1837–1841
9
William Henry Harrison
Christian
Protestant
Anglican
Episcopalian
1841–1841
10
John Tyler
Christian
Protestant
Anglican
Episcopalian
1841–1845
11
James K. Polk
Christian
Protestant
Methodist
Methodist Episcopal
1845–1849
12
Zachary Taylor
Christian
Protestant
Anglican
Episcopalian
1849–1850
13
Millard Fillmore
Christian
Nontrinitarian
Unitarian
Unitarian
1850–1853
14
Franklin Pierce
Christian
Protestant
Reformed
Congregationalist- later converted to Episcopalian
1853–1857
15
James Buchanan
Christian
Protestant
Reformed
Presbyterian
1857–1861
16
Abraham Lincoln
Christian
Northern Baptist
1861–1865
17
Andrew Johnson
Christian
Protestant
Nondenominational
1865–1869
18
Ulysses S. Grant
Christian
Protestant
Nondenominational
1869–1877
19
Rutherford B. Hayes
Christian
Protestant
Nondenominational
1877–1881
20
James A. Garfield
Christian
Protestant
Restoration Movement
Disciples of Christ
1881–1881
21
Chester A. Arthur
Christian
Protestant
Anglican
Episcopalian
1881–1885
22/24
Grover Cleveland
Christian
Protestant
Reformed
Presbyterian
1885–1889; 1893–1897
23
Benjamin Harrison
Christian
Protestant
Reformed
Presbyterian
1889–1893
25
William McKinley
Christian
Protestant
Methodist
Methodist Episcopal
1897–1901
26
Theodore Roosevelt
Christian
Protestant
Reformed
Dutch Reformed
1901–1909
27
William Howard Taft
Christian
Nontrinitarian
Unitarian
Unitarian
1909–1913
28
Woodrow Wilson
Christian
Protestant
Reformed
Southern Presbyterian
1913–1921
29
Warren G. Harding
Christian
Protestant
Baptist
Northern Baptist
1921–1923
30
Calvin Coolidge
Christian
Protestant
Reformed
Congregationalist
1923–1929
31
Herbert Hoover
Christian
Protestant
Quaker
1929–1933
32
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Christian
Protestant
Anglican
Episcopalian
1933–1945
33
Harry S. Truman
Christian
Protestant
Baptist
1945–1953
34
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Christian
Protestant
Reformed
United Presbyterian
1953–1961
35
John F. Kennedy
Christian
Catholic
Latin Church
1961–1963
36
Lyndon B. Johnson
Christian
Protestant
Restoration Movement
Disciples of Christ
1963–1969
37
Richard Nixon
Christian
Protestant
Quaker
1969–1974
38
Gerald R. Ford
Christian
Protestant
Anglican
Episcopalian
1974–1977
39
Jimmy Carter
Christian
Protestant
Baptist
Southern Baptist
1977–1981
40
Ronald Reagan
Christian
Protestant
Reformed
Presbyterian
1981–1989
41
George H. W. Bush
Christian
Protestant
Anglican
Episcopalian
1989–1993
42
Bill Clinton
Christian
Protestant
Baptist
Southern Baptist
1993–2001
43
George W. Bush
Christian
Protestant
Methodist
United Methodist
2001–2009
44
Barack Obama
Christian
Protestant
Nondenominational
2009–2017
45/47
Donald Trump
Christian
Protestant
Nondenominational
2017–2021; 2025–present
46
Joe Biden
Christian
Catholic
Latin Church
2021–2025
· Affiliation totals
Christian
Christian
Religion
Christian
#
44
Branch
Protestant
#
37
Further branch
Calvinist
#
11
Denomination
Presbyterian
#
4
Dutch Reformed
Dutch Reformed
Religion
Dutch Reformed
#
2
Congregationalist
Congregationalist
Religion
Congregationalist
#
2
Southern Presbyterian
Southern Presbyterian
Religion
Southern Presbyterian
#
1
United Presbyterian
United Presbyterian
Religion
United Presbyterian
#
1
Presbyterian
Presbyterian
Religion
Presbyterian
#
1
Anglican
Anglican
Religion
Anglican
#
10
Branch
Episcopalian
#
10
Methodist
Methodist
Religion
Methodist
#
4
Branch
Methodist Episcopalian
#
3
United Methodist
United Methodist
Religion
United Methodist
#
1
Baptist
Baptist
Religion
Baptist
#
4
Branch
Southern Baptist
#
2
Northern Baptist
Northern Baptist
Religion
Northern Baptist
#
1
No specific denomination
No specific denomination
Religion
No specific denomination
#
1
Restorationist
Restorationist
Religion
Restorationist
#
2
Branch
Disciples of Christ
#
2
Quaker
Quaker
Religion
Quaker
#
2
Nondenominational
Nondenominational
Religion
Nondenominational
#
4
Nontrinitarian
Nontrinitarian
Religion
Nontrinitarian
#
4
Branch
Unitarian
#
4
Further branch
No specific denomination
#
2
Unitarian
Unitarian
Religion
Unitarian
#
2
Catholic
Catholic
Religion
Catholic
#
2
Branch
Latin Church
#
2
None Specified
None Specified
Religion
None Specified
#
1
None specified
None specified
Religion
None specified
#
1
Total individuals
Total individuals
Religion
Total individuals
#
45
Religion
#
Branch
#
Further branch
#
Denomination
#
Christian
44
Protestant
37
Calvinist
11
Presbyterian
4
Dutch Reformed
2
Congregationalist
2
Southern Presbyterian
1
United Presbyterian
1
Presbyterian
1
Anglican
10
Episcopalian
10
Methodist
4
Methodist Episcopalian
3
United Methodist
1
Baptist
4
Southern Baptist
2
Northern Baptist
1
No specific denomination
1
Restorationist
2
Disciples of Christ
2
Quaker
2
Nondenominational
4
Nontrinitarian
4
Unitarian
4
No specific denomination
2
Unitarian
2
Catholic
2
Latin Church
2
None Specified
1
None specified
1
Total individuals
45

References

  1. Grover Cleveland (who was both the 22nd and 24th president) and Donald Trump (who was both the 45th and 47th president)
  2. WHHA
    https://web.archive.org/web/20201005154700/https://www.whitehousehistory.org/st-johns-church
  3. The Religious Life of Thomas Jefferson
    https://books.google.com/books?id=BMzIavSRNdEC&q=%22thomas+jefferson%22+infidel&pg=PA83
  4. Ostling, Richard N.
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070403073905/http://www3.sympatico.ca/n.rieck/docs/lincoln9911.html
  5. "Abraham Lincoln's Humanistic Religious Beliefs"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070125080745/http://www.humanismbyjoe.com/Lincoln%27s_religion.htm
  6. New York Times
    https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1908/06/17/104733263.pdf
  7. Pew Research Center
    https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/03/25/most-americans-dont-see-trump-as-religious/
  8. The Living Room Candidate
    http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1980/bible
  9. Pew Research Center
    https://www.pewresearch.org/?post_type=rls
  10. Colonial Williamsburg website has four articles on religion in colonial Virginia
    http://www.history.org/Almanack/life/religion/religionhdr.cfm
  11. James K. Polk: A Biographical Companion
    https://books.google.com/books?id=C8ufqRJuwy8C&q=deathbed%20conversion%20james%20k%20polk&pg=PA183
  12. Library of Congress
    https://www.loc.gov/collections/james-buchanan-and-harriet-lane-johnston-papers/articles-and-essays/timeline/
  13. "Religious Affiliation of U . Presidents"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070509172459/http://www.adherents.com/adh_presidents.html
  14. In 1962, the American Unitarian Association merged with the Universalist Church of America to form the Unitarian Univers
  15. Letter from Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Waterhouse (June 22, 1822) in the National Archives
    https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-18-02-0437
  16. Weekly Standard: Bigoted Against Brigham's Faith?
    https://www.npr.org/2011/11/04/142014074/weekly-standard-no-bigotry-for-brigham-followers
  17. Bassuk, Daniel. (1987). "Abraham Lincoln and the Quakers". Pendle Hill Quaker Center for Study and Contemplation.
  18. "A Guide to Historical Holdings in the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library: Eisenhower and Religion"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080216064507/http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/research/GUIDES/Eisenhower_and_religion.pdf
  19. Worship the Only True God, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 2002, p. 159.
  20. NPR
    https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/06/12/413654984/americas-religious-nones-are-growing-quickly-should-republicans-worry
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