Today in history: "In God We Trust" becomes America's official motto
The first paper money with that motto was printed in 1957
July 30, 1863: As the Civil War raged, President Abraham Lincoln issued his "eye-for-an-eye" order. It was described in the September issue of Harper's New Monthly Magazine (p.559) as follows:
Historians say Lincoln's order was intended primarily as a way to intimidate the Confederacy. It had a slight "restraining" influence on the Confederate government's voiced policy, but individual commanders and soldiers continued to murder captured black soldiers.
July 30, 1956: President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill declaring "In God We Trust" to be the nation's official motto. The first paper money with that motto was printed in 1957; some critics say it violated the separation of church and state.
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July 30, 1965: President Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare into law. In 2011, Medicare/Medicaid spending was $840 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
July 30, 1974: The House Judiciary Committee voted to impeach President Nixon for blocking the Watergate investigation. Nixon would resign ten days later.
Quote of the day
"I despise people who go to the gutter on either the right or the left and hurl rocks at those in the center." — Dwight D. Eisenhower
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