President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave proof that the United States was a religiously diverse nation when he attended the dedication of a $1.25 million Muslim mosque in Washington, D.C., on 28 June 1957. Financed by fifteen Islamic countries, the mosque was built to serve as the principal spiritual shrine to the 32,500 Muslims in the United States and-Canada.

The news media was abuzz with speculation about how the president would observe the Muslim custom, of removing shoes before entering a holy place. White House officials had prepared slippers that the president could slip over his shoes. Respectfully, Eisenhower removed his shoes and wore the slippers over his socks.

In his speech at the mosque Eisenhower forcefully defended the U.S. tradition of freedom of religion and its role in defining the character of the United States.

And I should like to assure you, my Islamic...