President Barack Obama Recites the Gettysburg Address

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He didn't leave it out. Because there is no one definitive copy of the address, Obama used a copy that did not contain those words.

of course, if you want a reason just go to one of the many web forums that preach separation of church and state. That should explain it.
 

here we go...The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg address on two sides of a piece of scrap paper...illegible to most. we learned this in 6th grade in Arizona...
several versions, some by Lincoln's own hand have appeared...after the fact...when the speech became popular and people in power wanted a copy...

oh but it is not the copy Obama should have used...
 

this is the first copy, not the original on two sides of scrap paper...but..." It is named after Colonel Alexander Bliss, stepson of historian George Bancroft. Bancroft asked President Lincoln for a copy to use as a fundraiser for soldiers..."

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Abraham Lincoln
November 19, 1863
 

Nicolay Copy
Named for John G. Nicolay, President Lincoln's personal secretary, this is considered the "first draft" of the speech, begun in Washington on White house stationery. The second page is writen on different paper stock, indicating it was finished in Gettysburg before the cemetery dedication began. Lincoln gave this draft to Nicolay, who went to Gettysburg with Lincoln and witnessed the speech. The Library of Congress owns this manuscript.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that “all men are created equal.”

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle field of that war. We come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who died here, that the nation might live. This we may, in all propriety do.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not hallow, this ground – The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; while it can never forget what they did here.

It is rather for us, the living, we here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that, from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here, gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
 

Hay Copy
Believed to be the second draft of the speech, President Lincoln gave this copy to John Hay, a White House assistant. Hay accompanied Lincoln to Gettysburg and briefly referred to the speech in his diary: "the President, in a fine, free way, with more grace than is his wont, said his half dozen words of consecration." The Hay copy, which includes Lincoln's handwritten changes, also is owned by the Library of Congress.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met here on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but can never forget what they did here.

It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
 

Everett Copy
Edward Everett, the chief speaker at the Gettysburg cemetery dedication, clearly was impressed by Lincoln's remarks and wrote to him the next day saying, "I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes." In 1864 Everett asked Lincoln for a copy of the speech to benefit Union soldiers, making it the third manuscript copy. Eventually the state of Illinois acquired it, where it's preserved at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives, that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate – we can not hallow – this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here, have, thus far, so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
 

Bancroft Copy
As noted above, historian George Bancroft asked President Lincoln for a copy to use as a fundraiser for soldiers. When Lincoln sent his copy on February 29, 1864, he used both sides of the paper, rendering the manuscript useless for lithographic engraving. So Bancroft kept this copy and Lincoln had to produce an additional one (Bliss Copy). The Bancroft copy is now owned by Cornell University.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives, that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate – we can not hallow – this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Source for all versions: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, edited by Roy P. Basler and others.
 

Figures he'd use the one without God in it.
Wonder why? Yea think he has a problem with the
Almighty?

Maybe he left God out of it to keep peace
with the M.B. Just a thought.
 

The one that is signed and dated does have "under God" in it. Also, every other president that has recited the address has said, "under God". That is my understanding. Most speeches have notes and versions as do books. Whether dimwit knew which copy he was reading will never be known as he seems to not know about anything.
 

Hey now, its getting awfully informational in here! Of course, that must be offset with something...
 

packerbacker said:
The one that is signed and dated does have "under God" in it. Also, every other president that has recited the address has said, "under God". That is my understanding. Most speeches have notes and versions as do books. Whether dimwit knew which copy he was reading will never be known as he seems to not know about anything.
Click to expand...

Pack yea beat me to it.
He knew which one he was reading. He wouldn't want to tick off the M.B. now
would he?
 

The version signed by Lincoln, the Bliss version, has the term "under God" in it. The Bliss verion WAS written AFTER the original address so there is a "small" chance that maybe the speech didn't have it. Where the heck were the reporters that day? :)
Thing is, odummy likens himself to Lincoln (a racial thing I'm sure) so what are the odds of him reciting one other than the signed one. He has used the Lincoln bible during both inaugurations. You'd think he would be a Lincoln expert and know his speech by heart.
 

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njal said:
Figures he'd use the one without God in it.
Wonder why? Yea think he has a problem with the
Almighty?

Maybe he left God out of it to keep peace
with the M.B. Just a thought.
Click to expand...

Or maybe, because the video is part of a PBS special program Obama read the copy he was given. Just a thought.
 

packerbacker said:
Thing is, odummy likens himself to Lincoln (a racial thing I'm sure) so what are the odds of him reciting one other than the signed one. He has used the Lincoln bible during both inaugurations. You'd think he would be a Lincoln expert and know his speech by heart.
Click to expand...

Obama's participation was part of a special documentary program produced for PBS. Every living president participated. As did several celebs. ( including one of my favorite baseball players Shane Victorino)

The producers acknowledge that there are five copies of the address. Obama's version can be used in public schools where mention of God is a big no no!
 

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Lincoln's speech that day wasn't the keynote address. he was supposed to say a few words. And that he did. Following the 2 hour long keynote speech that day, Lincoln kept his word and limited his speech to just 2 minutes. The speech, because it was not given at a seminal event, an inauguration for example wasn't particularly noteworthy at the time it was given. For that reason no official version exists. Though several people claim their versions to be official.
 

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