Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. v. Obama

EASTERBROOK, Chief Judge.

Since the founding of the Republic, Congress has requested Presidents to call on *805the citizens to pray. Every President except Thomas Jefferson, who deemed such proclamations inconsistent with the Constitution’s first amendment, has complied. See Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 U.S. 668, 674-78, 104 S.Ct. 1355, 79 L.Ed.2d 604 (1984). The first of these proclamations, establishing Thanksgiving Day, was issued by President Washington on October 3, 1789, shortly after Congress transmitted to the states the text of what is now the first amendment. We reproduce President…