Preaching on politics is as American as apple pie. The Father of the American Revolution, Samuel Adams, used to call the New England clergy his "black regiment" because he could count on them to proclaim the message of liberty and independence from the pulpits across the land. Early American clergymen commonly preached "electric sermons" near election day to remind their parishioners of their civic responsibilities and to present a Biblical view of political affairs. The French observer, Alexis de Tocqueville, wrote that while religion in America takes no direct part in government, it "must be regarded as the first of their political institutions."