In a May 14, 1908 speech at the Waldorf, Twain commented that in 1863, "some genius suggested that ['in God we trust'] be put upon the gold and silver coins which circulated among the rich. They didn't put it on the nickels and coppers because they didn't think the poor folks had any trust in God....Now, that motto on the coin is an overstatement. Those Congressmen had no right to commit the whole country to a theological doctrine...." Perhaps it is best that the current Congress not read that speech, or, for that matter, Twain's many comments about Congress and its members.

Don Bliss


Ambassador Donald T. Bliss (Retired)
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
1625 Eye Street NW
Washington D.C. 20006-4001
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-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Davis
Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2012 5:41 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: In God We Trust

As I recall, when placing "In God we trust" on money was proposed during
his lifetime, Mark Twain said words to the effect that doing so would be
appropriate because it is the God we trust.

On Sat, Nov 17, 2012 at 4:54 PM, Rod Rawlings <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> I must ask what I think is a reasonable question:
>
> If Mark Twain is known to have wrestled with the concept of God his
> entire adult life, questioned and doubted God, why are four respected
> Twain-promoting institutions today quietly going along with and even
> promoting a Mark Twain commemorative coin imprinted with the words "In
> God We Trust"?
>
> Unfortunately, unavoidably, my best answer must seem cynical:
>
> About $1 million each.
> --
>
> Rod Rawlings
> 941-713-4446 Direct
> MarkTwainPerforms.com
>



-- 
John H. Davis, Ph.D.
Professor of English
Department of Language and Literature
Chowan University
Murfreesboro, North Carolina 27855