Bill Federer

William J. “Bill” Federer, born on October 1, 1957, in St. Louis, Missouri, is an American historian, best-selling author, and nationally known speaker who has dedicated his life to researching, documenting, and communicating the religious and moral foundations of the American Republic. The fifth of eleven children, Federer grew up in south St. Louis in a large, close-knit family that instilled in him the values of faith, hard work, and love of country. He attended Saint Louis University, graduating in 1980 with a degree in Accounting and Business Administration. While his formal education was in the world of commerce, his true calling lay in the study of American history and the intersection of faith and public life.

Federer’s most influential work is America’s God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations, a comprehensive reference volume that has sold over half a million copies. The book is a meticulously researched compilation of quotations from America’s founders, presidents, Supreme Court justices, military leaders, and other prominent figures, documenting the role that faith and religious conviction played in shaping the nation’s institutions, laws, and culture. The encyclopedia has become an indispensable resource for pastors, teachers, students, and citizens who seek to understand the spiritual heritage that undergirds American self-governance. It stands as a powerful rebuttal to the notion that the founders intended a strictly secular public square, offering instead a rich tapestry of evidence that religious faith was central to the American experiment from its earliest days.

Beyond his encyclopedic reference work, Federer has authored more than twenty additional books that explore the relationship between faith, freedom, and American history. Among his most notable works are George Washington Carver: His Life and Faith in His Own Words, The Ten Commandments and Their Influence on American Law, Three Secular Reasons Why America Should Be Under God, What Every American Needs to Know About the Quran: A History of Islam and the United States, and Who Is the King in America? Each of these volumes reflects Federer’s conviction that the American system of ordered liberty is rooted in a moral and spiritual framework, and that understanding this framework is essential to preserving the freedoms that Americans enjoy.

Federer’s reach extends well beyond the printed page. He hosts the daily program Faith in History on the TCT Television Network and produces The American Minute, a widely syndicated daily radio feature and email newsletter that summarizes what happened on a given day in American and world history, drawing connections between past events and the enduring principles of liberty, faith, and self-governance. The American Minute reaches millions of listeners and readers and has become one of the most popular daily history programs in the country. Federer is also a frequent guest on national radio and television programs, where his encyclopedic knowledge of American history and his engaging speaking style make him a sought-after commentator on issues of faith, freedom, and the cultural foundations of the American Republic.

Federer’s commitment to the principles he studies has also led him into the arena of public service. In the year 2000, he ran for the United States Congress in Missouri’s Third Congressional District, challenging the powerful Democratic Minority Leader Dick Gephardt. The race became one of the most expensive and closely watched Congressional campaigns in the nation that year, with Gephardt spending approximately six million dollars to Federer’s three million, which was raised from some thirty-five thousand individual contributors across the country. While Federer did not win the seat, the campaign was widely credited with preventing Gephardt from devoting his considerable political resources to helping other Democratic candidates, thereby contributing to the Republican Party’s retention of its majority in the House of Representatives. The campaign demonstrated Federer’s willingness to put his convictions into action and his ability to inspire broad grassroots support.

As the president of Amerisearch, Inc., a publishing company dedicated to researching America’s heritage, Federer has built an organization that serves as a clearinghouse for historical information about the role of faith in American public life. Through Amerisearch, he has produced videos, curricula, and other educational materials that are used in churches, schools, and civic organizations throughout the country. His work has been praised by historians, educators, and public figures for its thoroughness, accessibility, and unwavering commitment to accuracy.

Federer’s philosophy is grounded in the conviction that liberty and virtue are inseparable, and that the American system of self-governance depends upon a citizenry that is informed about its own history and committed to the moral principles that make freedom possible. He frequently quotes the founders themselves to make this case, drawing on figures such as George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin to demonstrate that the architects of the American Republic understood that democratic government requires a virtuous and morally serious people. In an age when many Americans feel disconnected from their nation’s history and uncertain about the foundations of their freedoms, Federer’s work serves as a vital bridge between past and present, reminding citizens that the blessings of liberty they enjoy were purchased at great cost and must be actively preserved by each generation.

Federer has also been a thoughtful analyst of the relationship between religious liberty and political freedom across world civilizations. His comparative studies of systems of governance throughout history have led him to argue that the unique combination of Judeo-Christian moral principles and Enlightenment political philosophy that shaped the American founding produced the freest and most prosperous society in human history. He warns that ignorance of this heritage, particularly among the younger generation, poses a grave threat to the continuation of American self-governance. Through his tireless writing, speaking, and broadcasting, Bill Federer has established himself as one of the most important popular historians working to ensure that the American story, in all its richness and moral complexity, continues to be told faithfully and completely to a nation that needs it now more than ever. His decades of tireless research, prolific writing, and passionate speaking have inspired countless Americans to rediscover the spiritual and philosophical foundations of their Republic, and his work will continue to serve as an indispensable resource for generations of citizens seeking to understand the principles that have made America, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, the last best hope of earth.