Each day of his eight years of the presidency, and every day thereafter until his death, Thomas Jefferson recited this prayer:

“Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage, we humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do they will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners.

“Save us from violence, discord and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues.

“Endow with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy name we entrust the authority of government, that through obedience to thy law, we may show forth they praise among the nations of earth.

“In time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and, in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail, all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.”

In 1776 and thereafter, we had real presidents; men of God. What a contrast to Jefferson’s draft-dodging and lying cohort of 2000. Virginia E. Caldwell Stockton Springs