O God,
who art beyond our knowledge
but near to our hearts and our needs,
we pray this day for Thy servant, Dwight D. Eisenhower,
as he takes up the burdens of the high office
of President of these United States of America.

Keep him with great kindness, O Thou ruler of nations,
and give him a wise and understanding heart
that he may lead Thy people in these shadowed times,
in truth and steadfastness,
in patience. and in love.

Guide his hands to Thy purpose
and his will unfailingly to Thy service.
May he be the bringer of good tidings
and the architect of a new hope
for our country and for mankind.

May Thy spirit rest upon the Vice President of the United States
and upon all the chosen representatives of our Government.

Be gracious, O Lord,
unto our land and our people.
Help us to preserve our blessed heritage of freedom
and to make secure our institutions
of law, equality, and justice.
May it be given unto us
to walk always in the dignity of free men
secure in our rights
and faithful in the obligations
of our prized citizenship.

Make us all of one heart, O God,
so that together as one people
we may move forward
unafraid to the tasks and challenges
of the inscrutable years which lie ahead.
Amen.