One more link: Here's a history of the Pledge of Allegiance which seems to explain why Eisenhower was moved to sign into law the 1954 bill adding "under God" to the pledge: http://www.ilsr.org/columns/2002/050102.html

"...In 1953 the Knights of Columbus launched a massive letter-writing campaign to add the words "under God". Then on February 7, 1954 the Reverend George M. Docherty, pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C. delivered a sermon on the subject. With President Eisenhower sitting in the front pew the Reverend declared, 'Apart from the mention of the phrase 'the United States of America" it could be the pledge of any republic. I could hear little Muscovites repeat a similar pledge to their hammer-and-sickle flag in Moscow. Russia is also a republic that claims to have overthrown the tyranny of kingship. Russia also claims to be indivisible.' Three days later a bill was introduced in Congress to add the words 'under God'. [John W.] Baer [author of 'The Pledge of Allegiance: A Centennial History, 1892-1992'] recalls that 'Congressmen said Communists would feel very uncomfortable saying the pledge, because they were atheists'. On Flag Day, June 14th Eisenhower signed the bill into law."

So the President and Congress were quick to react to the insinuation that the US could not be distinguished from its enemies... sounds a lot like the present post-9/11 climate! No wonder the current President and Congress were so quick to react to the Federal Appeals Court ruling yesterday – they can't have people thinking there's any credence to the terrorists' claims that the US is a godless nation!!!