President John F. Kennedy’s 1960 speech on religion in the public square has become a popular topic in the news of late, following Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s assertion that the speech makes him “want to throw up.”
Back in 2008, Rev. Welton Gaddy had the opportunity to interview Kennedy’s speechwriter Ted Sorensen. Sorensen noted that as a Catholic, Kennedy was regularly accused by other persons of faith of yielding to the Papacy on public policy and that he wanted to make it clear his oath of office to protect the U.S. Constitution would supersede his faith in governing. Click the button below to listen to what Sorenson said about the famous speech and religious liberty.
To hear the entire historical interview with Ted Sorensen, who passed away in 2010, please click here.
