The President and other American politicians end their more important speeches with 'God bless America' Why? Is this some historic practice ? Who started it and for what occasions is it reserved?

While I am not sure who started the practice I can give you a little background on the phrase "God Bless America". Irving Berlin wrote the words and music to the song based on that phrase back in 1918. He was a Russian Jewish immigrant and it has been reported that his mother often used the phrase "God Bless America" to show her gratitude of having the US to flee to from the violence in her native Siberia.

Some say the phrase is over-used. Others wonder why God would only bless America and not other countries. But the originator of the phrase seems to be a woman grateful to have the freedom that America offered her.

I don't think there's anything official or even traditional in its use. It seems to be just one of those completely inoffensive cliches that people running for political office have found produces a generally favorable response among the voters. It's similar to "mom" and "apple pie", "Baby kissing", and wrapping onesself in the flag.

If memory serves me correctly, it was Carter that started habitually using it as a tag line. Reagan picked it up. And the rest is history.

You can imagine , from earlier posts,what prompted my enquiry If Tony Blair said "God bless Britain" we'd be sure that he had finally lost his sanity ! God and religion are unmentionable if a politician wishes to keep in favour here. We'd think it most strange if one alluded to either. We do not think ill of Her Majesty when she says "Happy Christmas and may God bless you all", or words to that effect,once a year but then she is the lay Head of the Church of England and not a politician or political head of state

True, the national anthem is 'God save the Queen' but a) that is a fine example of the British telling God what to do, so He knows his place b)was written a very long time ago c) in one verse reminds her that she only rules by sufferance and has to behave and come up to expectations or she'll be removed. (Presumably we'll tell God to kill her off if we don't get rid of her by other means)

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that is a fine example of the British telling God what to do,

The Brits are pretty adept at tuneful imperatives:

"Rule Britania, Britania rule the waves,
Britons never never never shall be slaves."

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Originally posted by juanruiz:

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that is a fine example of the British telling God what to do,

The Brits are pretty adept at tuneful imperatives:

"Rule Britania, Britania rule the waves,
Britons never never never shall be slaves."

You have to remember that this only the English telling another Englishman, God, what to do. It seems perfectly natural to them.

Seems that way. Dowland commands his tears to flow, Bennet his eyes to weep, while Purcell wants us to Hail, bright Cecelia.