This is excerpted from Jon Meacham’s final editorial comment in Newseek Magazine September 8, 2010.

“In 1957, President and Mrs. Eisenhower attended the opening of the Islamic Center  Center on Massachusetts Avenue in Washington. (They doffed their shoes; the first lady padded about in her nylons) “And I should like to assure you, my Islamic friends,” the president said, “that under the American Constitution, under American tradition, and in American hearts, this center, this place of worship is just as welcome as could be a similar edifice of any other religion. Indeed, America would fight with her whole strength for your right to have here your own church and worship according to your own conscience. This concept is indeed part of America, and without that concept we would be something else that what we are.”