Experience the American dream with today’s Patriot of the Past interview. I’m your host, John Gillespie.
It’s April 17, 1805. I’m with President Thomas Jefferson discussing the First Amendment to the Constitution.
JG: “Mr. President, what are your views on the free exercise of religion in America?”
TJ: “Mr. Gillespie, as I stated in my second inaugural address, the free exercise of religion is placed by the Constitution independent of the powers of the general Government. The Constitution is found that religious expression shall be under the discretion and discipline of the church or religious societies.”
Since 1947, the Supreme Court has drifted from the original intent of the First Amendment and denied many Americans their God-given right to the free exercise of religion.
Read more about Thomas Jefferson’s view of the First Amendment.
John and Jan Gillespie are the founders of the Rawhide Boys’ Ranch; they have fostered 351 teenagers and wrote the book Our 351 Sons; they have also assisted numerous churches in developing youth programs and expanding their total church ministries. After running for U.S. Senate, John founded 1776 American Dream, which exists to demonstrate the vision of our founding fathers and help our generation of youth passionately embrace those values.
