the national day of prayer was established in 2011.
when was the national day of prayer established?
2011
in january–february 1952 during the korean war, the desirability of a united national prayer was stated by reverend billy graham, who said, "what a thrilling, glorious thing it would be to see the leaders of our country today kneeling before almighty god in prayer. what a thrill would sweep this country. what renewed hope and courage would grip the americans at this hour of peril." representative percy priest from tennessee observed that graham had issued a challenge for a national day of prayer. members of the house and senate introduced a joint resolution for an annual national day of prayer, "on which the people of the united states may turn to god in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals." on april 17, 1952, president harry s. truman signed a bill proclaiming a national day of prayer must be declared by each subsequent president at an appropriate date of his choice.
national day of prayer
at a national day of prayer event in the u.s. capitol, dobson called barack obama "the abortion president." he said, "president obama, before he was elected, made it very clear that he wanted to be the abortion president. he didn't make any bones about it. this is something that he really was going to promote and support, and he has done that, and in a sense he is the abortion president." among others, rep. janice hahn complained because dobson used the national day of prayer for partisan purposes. she said, "dobson just blew a hole into this idea of being a nonpartisan national day of prayer. it was very disturbing to me ... and really a shame. james dobson hijacked the national day of prayer — this nonpartisan, nonpolitical national day of prayer—to promote his own distorted political agenda."
james dobson