1998/01/01 by Michael J. Hostetler · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #American Constitutional Law and Politics #Religion and Society Interactions #Catholicism and Religious Studies
paper · doi:10.1080/01463379809370081
openalex publication_date 1998/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Critics and historians have applauded the way John Kennedy dealt with the “Catholic question”; in the 1960 presidential campaign while dismissing the efforts of Al Smith in dealing with the same issue in 1928. Smith's rhetoric, overshadowed by his election defeat, has received little critical attention. Through a close reading of texts, this essay seeks a grounded judgment of the intrinsic quality of Smith's rhetoric in order to ascertain the nature of his rhetorical legacy on the Catholic question. The analysis suggests that Smith's reluctance to discuss religion, his attribution of bigotry to those who brought it up, and his resulting impatience with the whole issue combined to undercut his persuasive efforts. Futhermoore, the very factors that hindered Smith continue to be relevant to current issues regarding religious discourse in the public sphere.