Rachel Evans
John F. Kennedy was the first Catholic president of the United States, with Joe Biden being the second. Biden is a lifelong Catholic, with Catholic social teaching cited as a major influence on his political views. Kennedy, on the other hand, had to overcome anti-Catholic sentiment during his 1960 campaign, with many Americans fearing that a Catholic president would be too beholden to the Pope. Despite this, Kennedy was able to transform the religion question from a liability into an asset, making him the first Catholic president.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First Catholic President | John F. Kennedy |
| Second Catholic President | Joe Biden |
| Year of First Catholic President Election | 1960 |
| Year of Second Catholic President Election | 2021 |
| Number of Catholic Presidents | 2 |
| Number of Catholic Presidential Nominees | 3 |
| First Catholic Nominee | Al Smith |
| Year of First Catholic Nominee | 1928 |
| Second Catholic Nominee | John Kerry |
| Third Catholic Nominee | Joe Biden |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- John F. Kennedy was the first Catholic president
- Joe Biden is the second Catholic president
- Biden is the only Catholic president since Kennedy's assassination in 1963
- Anti-Catholic sentiment in the US made Kennedy's election a challenge
- Catholics are the largest religious group in the US, but most presidents have been Christian
John F. Kennedy was the first Catholic president
Kennedy was aware that his personal religious beliefs could hinder his chances of becoming president. He saw the religion issue as the most significant obstacle on his path to the White House and was deeply frustrated by it. Kennedy's campaign strategists grappled with staunch opposition to his Catholicism. They decided to confront the issue head-on, making it clear that Kennedy would not take counsel from "foreign" institutions.
The election of a Catholic president was significant because of the historical anti-Catholic sentiment in the United States. Many Americans feared that a Catholic president would be beholden to the Pope and take orders from him. These fears were exacerbated by recent historical events, such as Mussolini's consolidation of power in Italy with the support of the Pope and the Pope's stance against birth control and condoms. There was also a historical mistrust and prejudice against Catholic immigrants from countries perceived as "poor," such as Ireland, Italy, and Latin America.
Despite the challenges, Kennedy was able to transform the "religion question" from a liability into an asset. He refuted the loyalty question by highlighting his distinguished service and his brother's death in World War II. Kennedy sought to prove that he could be a Catholic president for all Americans, and his victory paved the way for future Catholic politicians.
Catholics' Meatless Fridays: Year-Round Commitment or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Joe Biden is the second Catholic president
The election of a Catholic president was once considered unlikely in the US, with deep-rooted anti-Catholic sentiment influencing the 1928 election, where the Catholic candidate, New York Governor Al Smith, was defeated. When Kennedy ran in 1960, he faced insinuations that he held greater allegiance to the Vatican than to the US. However, he successfully navigated this challenge and became the first Catholic president.
Despite this breakthrough, Biden faced different challenges regarding his faith. While some criticised him for not being beholden enough to Catholic teachings, others questioned whether he was a "devout Catholic" based on his political positions. Biden's election demonstrates a shift in the religious landscape, with a focus on how he reconciles his faith with his policies, rather than skepticism solely due to his Catholic identity.
Historically, almost all US presidents have been Christians, with Episcopalians and Presbyterians being the largest groups, and Unitarians and Baptists the third-largest. While Biden is only the second Catholic president, Catholicism is one of the largest religious groups in the nation, with about one-in-five US adults identifying as Catholic.
Catholics and Zodiac: What's the Deal?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Biden is the only Catholic president since Kennedy's assassination in 1963
Joe Biden is the second Catholic president in US history, after John F. Kennedy. Biden is a lifelong Catholic, with his religious beliefs described as "well-known and documented". Catholic social teaching has been cited as a major influence on his political views. Before his inauguration, Biden attended Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, where Kennedy, the only other Catholic president, was mourned almost 60 years earlier.
Prior to Kennedy's election in 1960, the country had never elected a Catholic president. In fact, the last Catholic nominee, New York Governor Al Smith in 1928, was defeated in the general election, revealing deep-rooted anti-Catholic sentiment in the country. Kennedy himself faced insinuations that he held greater allegiance to the Vatican than to his own country and that he would take orders from the Pope. However, he was able to turn the religion question from a liability into an asset, making his campaign a fascinating study in political strategy.
Since Kennedy's assassination in 1963, Biden is the only Catholic president the US has had. While Biden is a devout Catholic, he has stated that he would not impose his personal beliefs on others. This stance reflects a shift in political and social attitudes since Kennedy's time, where the focus is now on what kind of Catholic a president is, rather than skepticism solely based on their religious affiliation.
Converting From Methodist to Catholic: How Long Does It Take?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Anti-Catholic sentiment in the US made Kennedy's election a challenge
John F. Kennedy was the first Catholic president of the United States, with Joe Biden being the second. Despite Catholicism being one of the largest religious groups in the nation, anti-Catholic sentiment made Kennedy's election a challenge.
Kennedy was only the second Catholic presidential candidate in US history, after Al Smith's unsuccessful run in 1928. Smith's campaign was dogged by claims that he would build a tunnel between the White House and the Vatican and would amend the Constitution to make Catholicism the nation's established religion. Smith faced widespread anti-Catholic sentiment, with one prominent Baptist minister from Oklahoma telling his parishioners, "If you vote for Al Smith, you're voting against Christ, and you'll all be damned."
By the 1960 election, anti-Catholic bias was less overt but still a significant obstacle for Kennedy. He received hundreds of letters from conflicted Democratic voters who liked his policies but said they could never vote for a Catholic. Kennedy had to address public concern that he might be overly influenced by his Catholic faith and the Pope. He gave a famous address on live TV, saying:
> Contrary to common newspaper usage, I am not the Catholic candidate for president. I am the Democratic Party's candidate for president, who happens also to be a Catholic. I do not speak for my church on public matters, and the church does not speak for me.
Kennedy decided to enter the West Virginia primary, a state in which Catholics constituted less than 4% of the electorate. He gave a speech addressing the issue, asking:
> Are we going to admit to the world that a Catholic cannot be President of the United States? Are we going to admit to the world—worse still, are we going to admit to ourselves—that one-third of the American people is forever barred from the White House?
Kennedy won the primary and went on to secure the Democratic nomination. However, anti-Catholic sentiment continued to be a factor in the general election. Vice President Richard Nixon, the Republican nominee, ran a surreptitious anti-Catholic campaign, trying to stir up Protestant fear that a Catholic president would be bad for America. In September 1960, a group of 150 Protestant ministers met in Washington and declared that Kennedy could not remain independent of Church control unless he specifically repudiated its teachings. Kennedy then accepted an invitation to address the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, giving a candid and eloquent performance that won nearly universal praise from the press. Film of his talk was used extensively by the JFK campaign, and his remarks were distributed to clergy around the nation. Kennedy's performance in Houston helped turn attention back to the issues he wanted to address, and he was able to refocus his energies on the northeastern states critical to his victory.
Kennedy won the presidency by a margin of just 118,000 votes out of 69 million. Religion was a significant factor in his loss of Ohio, Kentucky, Florida, and Tennessee and his narrow win in Texas.
Catholics' Perspective on Suicide: Understanding the Faith's Stance
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Catholics are the largest religious group in the US, but most presidents have been Christian
While Catholicism is one of the largest religious groups in the US, with about one-in-five US adults being Catholic, only two US presidents have been Catholic. Joe Biden is the current Catholic president, and John F. Kennedy was the first. Biden has been a lifelong Catholic, and his religious beliefs are well-known and documented, with Catholic social teaching cited as a major influence on his political views.
Before he was president, Eisenhower had no formal church affiliation, but he was baptised, confirmed, and became a communicant in the Presbyterian Church during his presidency. He was also responsible for adding the words "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance and for the adoption of "In God We Trust" as the US motto.
Many US presidents have been Christians, with several belonging to the Episcopalian Church, which was the American successor to the Church of England. George Washington, James Madison, and Franklin Roosevelt were all Episcopalian. Ronald Reagan and Andrew Jackson were Presbyterians, and Bill Clinton and Harry Truman were Baptists. Barack Obama was raised in a non-religious household but converted to Christianity as an adult, worshipping at a United Church of Christ congregation.
Some presidents were more private about their religious leanings, and some may have evolved in their beliefs during their lifetimes. For example, Rutherford B. Hayes moved among Protestant denominations, and Abraham Lincoln, who was raised in a religious household and often spoke about God, never joined a church.
August 3rd: Catholic Feast Day of St. Lydia
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
John F. Kennedy was the first Catholic president. Joe Biden is the second.
Yes, Kennedy was dogged by insinuations that his allegiance was to a foreign power, the Vatican, and could therefore not be trusted with the presidency.
Kennedy sought to prove he could be a Catholic president for all Americans. He confronted the religion issue head-on, making it plain that he would accept no counsel from “foreign” institutions.
Kennedy's campaign transformed the "religion question" from a liability into an asset.
Yes, John Kerry, who was the Democratic nominee in 2004.
![The Kennedys: After Camelot [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61E-2YF99jL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
