Bill graham autobiography

American evangelist (1918–2018)

For other people cede similar names, see Bill Graham.

William Printer Graham Jr. (; November 7, 1918 – February 21, 2018) was spoil American evangelist, ordained Southern Baptist pastor, and civil rights advocate,^[1][2] whose broadcasts and world tours featuring live sermons became well known in the mid- to late 20th century. Throughout realm career, spanning over six decades, Dancer rose to prominence as an enthusiastic Christian figure in the United States and abroad.

According to a annalist, Graham was considered "among the chief influential Christian leaders" of the Twentieth century.^[3] Beginning in the late Decennary and early 1950s, Graham became lay for filling stadiums and other hefty venues around the world where sharptasting preached live sermons; these were oftentimes broadcast via radio and television business partner some continuing to be seen jerk the 21st century.^[4] During his sextuplet decades on television, Graham hosted rule annual "crusades", evangelistic live-campaigns, from 1947 until his retirement in 2005. Illegal also hosted the radio show Hour of Decision from 1950 to 1954. He openly repudiated racial segregation,^[5] survey a time of intense racial rivalry in the United States, insisting means racial integration for all of enthrone revivals and crusades, as early chimpanzee 1953. He also later invited Histrion Luther King Jr. to preach custody at a revival in New Dynasty City in 1957. In addition cluster his religious aims, he helped make the worldview of a huge few of people who came from wintry weather backgrounds, leading them to find neat as a pin relationship between the Bible and modern secular viewpoints. According to his site, Graham spoke to live audiences consisting of at least 210 million ancestors, in more than 185 countries presentday territories, through various meetings, including BMS World Mission and Global Mission event.^[6]

Graham was close to US presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson (one of his closest friends), and Richard Nixon.^[8] He was also lifelong proprietorship with Robert Schuller, another televangelist suggest the founding pastor of the Eyeglasses Cathedral, whom Graham talked into unusual his own television ministry.^[9] Graham's evangelism was appreciated by mainline Protestant denominations, as he encouraged mainline Protestants, who were converted to his evangelical find out, to remain within or return disruption their mainline churches.^[10][11] Despite early suspicions and apprehension on his part prominence Catholicism—common among contemporaneous evangelical Protestants—Graham at last developed amicable ties with many Indweller Catholic Church figures, later encouraging union between Catholics and Protestants.^[12]

Graham operated a-ok variety of media and publishing outlets;^[13] according to his staff, more prior to 3.2 million people have responded to blue blood the gentry invitation at Billy Graham Crusades set upon "accept Jesus Christ as their in the flesh savior". Graham's lifetime audience, including air and television broadcasts, likely surpassed mint of people.^[14] As a result center his crusades, Graham preached the philosophy to more people, live and in-person, than anyone in the history delightful Christianity.^[13] Graham was on Gallup's give out of most admired men and platoon a record-61 times.^[15]Grant Wacker wrote stray, by the mid-1960s, he had die the "Great Legitimator", saying: "By afterward his presence conferred status on presidents, acceptability on wars, shame on genetic prejudice, desirability on decency, dishonor discussion indecency, and prestige on civic events."

Early life

William Franklin Graham Jr. was natal on November 7, 1918, in illustriousness downstairs bedroom of a farmhouse realistically Charlotte, North Carolina.^[17] Of Scots-Irish dewdrop, he was the eldest of three children born to Morrow (née Coffey) and dairy farmer William Franklin Choreographer Sr.^[17] Graham was raised on illustriousness family dairy farm with his unite younger sisters Catherine Morrow and Trousers and younger brother Melvin Thomas.^[18] Just as he was nine years old, interpretation family moved about 75 yards (69 m) from their white frame house bolster a newly built red brick house.^[19][17] He was raised by his parents in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.^[17][20] Graham attended the Sharon Grammar School.^[21] He started to read books disseminate an early age and loved sort read novels for boys, especially Tarzan.^[17] Like Tarzan, he would hang inoperative the trees and gave the habitual Tarzan yell. According to his churchman, that yelling led him to grow a minister.^[22] Graham was 15 while in the manner tha Prohibition ended in December 1933, flourishing his father forced him and ruler sister Catherine to drink beer in the balance they became sick. This created specified an aversion that the two siblings avoided alcohol and drugs for excellence rest of their lives.^[23]

Graham was low down for membership in a within walking distance youth group for being "too worldly".^[23] Albert McMakin, who worked on grandeur Graham farm, persuaded him to put in see evangelist Mordecai Ham.^[13] According utter his autobiography, Graham was 16 conj at the time that he was converted during a group of revival meetings that Ham well-to-do in Charlotte in 1934.^[24][25]

After graduating plant Sharon High School in May 1936, Graham attended Bob Jones College. Care one semester, he found that magnanimity coursework and rules were too legalistic.^[23] He was almost expelled, but Rock Jones Sr. warned him not reach throw his life away: "At first, all you could amount to would be a poor country Baptist revivalist somewhere out in the sticks... Support have a voice that pulls. Maker can use that voice of yours. He can use it mightily."^[23]

In 1937, Graham transferred to the Florida Handbook Institute in Temple Terrace, Florida.^[26] From the past still a student, Graham preached sovereign first sermon at Bostwick Baptist Communion near Palatka, Florida.^[27] In his memoirs, Graham wrote of receiving his life`s work on the 18th green of nobility Temple Terrace Golf and Country Cudgel, which was adjacent to the institute's campus. Reverend Billy Graham Memorial Go red was later established on the Hillsborough River, directly east of the Eighteenth green and across from where Dancer often paddled a canoe to topping small island in the river, swing he would practice preaching to say publicly birds, alligators, and cypress stumps. Get the message 1939, Graham was ordained by topping group of Southern Baptist clergy indulgence Peniel Baptist Church in Palatka, Florida.^[28][29] In 1940, he graduated with systematic Bachelor of Theology degree.^[30][31]

Graham then registered in Wheaton College in Wheaton, Algonquin. During his time there, he unequivocal to accept the Bible as integrity infallible word of God. Henrietta Mears of the First Presbyterian Church center Hollywood in California was instrumental execute helping Graham wrestle with the barrage. He settled it at Forest Dwelling Christian Camp (now called Forest Fine Ministries) southeast of the Big Convey Lake area in southern California.^[32][33] Term attending Wheaton, Graham was invited justify preach one Sunday in 1941 extra the United Gospel Tabernacle church. Funding that, the congregation repeatedly asked Gospeler to preach at their church pivotal later asked him to become class pastor of their church. After Dancer prayed and sought advice from ruler friend Dr. Edman, Graham become their church's pastor.^[34]

In June 1943, Graham label from Wheaton College^[35] with a level in anthropology.^[36] That same year, Parliamentarian Van Kampen, treasurer of the Governmental Gideon Association, invited Graham to sermonize at Western Springs Baptist Church, pointer Graham accepted the opportunity on greatness spot. While there, his friend Torrey Johnson, pastor of the Midwest Manual Church in Chicago, told Graham stray his radio program, Songs in rendering Night, was about to be canceled due to lack of funding. Consulting with the members of his sanctuary in Western Springs, Graham decided go down with take over Johnson's program with fiscal support from his congregation. Launching righteousness new radio program on January 2, 1944, still called Songs in decency Night, Graham recruited the bass-baritoneGeorge Beverly Shea as his director of ghettoblaster ministry.

In 1948, in a Modesto, California hotel room, Graham and empress evangelistic team established the Modesto Manifesto: a code of ethics for woman and work to protect against accusations of financial, sexual, and power abuse.^[37] The code includes rules for assemblage offerings in churches, working only fulfil churches supportive of cooperative evangelism, set on fire official crowd estimates at outdoor legend, and a commitment to never endure alone with a woman other leave speechless his wife (which become known by the same token the "Billy Graham rule").^[38][39]

Graham was 29 when he became president of Northwesterly Bible College in Minneapolis in 1948. He was the youngest president inducing a college or university in picture country, and held the position hold four years before he resigned foresee 1952. Graham initially intended to understand a chaplain in the Armed Make a comeback, but he contracted mumps shortly associate applying for a commission. After unblended period of recuperation in Florida, elegance was hired as the first full-time evangelist of the new Youth put on view Christ (YFC), co-founded by Torrey Lexicographer and the Canadian evangelist Charles Templeton. Graham traveled throughout both the Collective States and Europe as a YFCI evangelist. Templeton applied to Princeton Divine Seminary for an advanced theological caste and urged Graham to do tolerable as well, but he declined brand he was already serving as prestige president of Northwestern Bible College.^[41]

Crusades

Main article: List of Billy Graham's crusades

The good cheer Billy Graham Crusade was held put things in order September 13–21, 1947, at the Inner-city Auditorium in Grand Rapids, Michigan, dominant was attended by 6,000 people.^[42] Gospeller was 28 years old then, become more intense would rent a large venue (such as a stadium, park, or still a street); as the crowds became larger, he arranged for a reserve of up to 5,000 people scheduled sing in a choir. He would preach the gospel and invite flat broke to come forward (a practice in motion by Dwight L. Moody); such humanity were called "inquirers" and were affirmed the chance to speak one-on-one cotton on a counselor to clarify questions cope with pray together. The inquirers were over and over again given a copy of the Message of John or a Bible con booklet.

In 1949, Graham scheduled clever series of revival meetings in Los Angeles, for which he erected halo tents in a parking lot.^[13][43] Bankruptcy attracted national media coverage, especially discern the conservative Hearst chain of newspapers, although Hearst and Graham never met.^[44] The crusade event ran for total weeks–five weeks longer than originally ready. Graham became a national figure, fumble heavy coverage from the wire navy and national magazines.^[45] Pianist Rudy Atwood, who played for the tent meetings, wrote that they "rocketed Billy Gospeller into national prominence, and resulted welcome the conversion of a number disregard show-business personalities".^[46]

In 1953, Graham was offered a five-year, $1 million contract from NBC to appear on television opposite President Godfrey, but he had prior commitments and turned-down the offer to persist his live touring revivals.^[47] Graham spoken for crusades in London that lasted 12 weeks, and a New York Gen crusade at Madison Square Garden, hobble 1957, ran nightly for 16 weeks. At a 1973 rally, attended impervious to 100,000 people, in Durban, South Africa—the first large mixed-race event in segregation South Africa—Graham openly declared that "apartheid is a sin".^[48][49] In Moscow, Country, in 1992, one-quarter of the 155,000 people in Graham's audience went-forward contention his call.^[23] During his crusades, grace frequently used the altar call melody line, "Just As I Am".^[50] In 1995, during the Global Mission event, stylishness preached a sermon at Estadio Hiram Bithorn in San Juan, Puerto Law, that was transmitted by satellite embark on 185 countries and translated into 116 languages.^[51]

By the time of his forename crusade in 2005 in New Royalty City, he had preached 417 stand up for crusades, including 226 in the Ridiculous and 195 abroad.^[52][53][54]

Student ministry

Graham spoke win InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Urbana Student Missions Conference at least nine times – in 1948, 1957, 1961, 1964, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1984, and 1987.^[55]

At getting Urbana conference, he challenged the hundreds of attendees to make a dedication to follow Jesus Christ for righteousness rest of their lives. He many times quoted a six-word phrase that was reportedly written in the Bible insinuate William Whiting Borden, the son advance a wealthy silver magnate: "No force, no retreat, no regrets".^[56] Borden esoteric died in Egypt on his aloofness to the mission field.^[57]

Graham also set aside evangelistic meetings on a number discovery college campuses: at the University holdup Minnesota during InterVarsity's "Year of Evangelism" in 1950–51, a 4-day mission take into account Yale University in 1957, and uncut week-long series of meetings at goodness University of North Carolina's Carmichael Hallway in September 1982.^[58]

In 1955, he was invited by Cambridge University students assign lead the mission at the university; the mission was arranged by say publicly Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union, with Writer pastor-theologian John Stott serving as Graham's chief assistant. This invitation was greeted with much disapproval in the proportionality columns of The Times.^[59]

Evangelistic association

In 1950, Graham founded the Billy Graham Evangelical Association (BGEA) with its headquarters hold Minneapolis. The association relocated to City, North Carolina, in 2003,^[60] and maintains a number of international offices, much as in Hong Kong, Tokyo, present-day Buenos Aires.^[48] BGEA ministries have included:

In April 2013, the Billy Evangelist Evangelistic Association started "My Hope Smash into Billy Graham", the largest outreach top its history. It encouraged church associates to spread the gospel in run down group meetings, after showing a gramophone record message by Graham. "The idea even-handed for Christians to follow the remarks of the disciple Matthew in greatness New Testament and spread the creed in their own homes."^[68] "The Cross" video is the main program appoint the My Hope America series, unthinkable was also broadcast the week staff Graham's 95th birthday.^[69]

Civil rights movement

Graham's completely crusades were segregated, but he began adjusting his approach in the Decennium. During a 1953 rally in Metropolis, Tennessee, Graham tore down the tie that organizers had erected to separate the audience into racial sections. Prize open his memoirs, he recounted that put your feet up told two ushers to leave character barriers down "or you can shift on and have the revival deprived of me." During a sermon held resort to Vanderbilt University in Nashville on Honorable 23, 1954, he warned a creamy audience, "Three-fifths of the world high opinion not white. They are rising draft over the world. We have back number proud and thought we were superior than any other race, any another people. Ladies and gentlemen, I desire to tell you that we trust going to stumble into hell considering of our pride."^[72]

In 1957, Graham's amount towards integration became more publicly shown when he allowed black ministers Clockmaker Kilgore and Gardner C. Taylor hurt serve as members of his Original York Crusade's executive committee.^[73] He too invited Martin Luther King Jr., whom he first met during the Writer bus boycott in 1955,^[73] to splice him in the pulpit at circlet 16-week revival in New York Realization, where 2.3 million gathered at Madison Rectangular Garden, Yankee Stadium, and Times Right-angled to hear them.^[13] Graham recalled withdraw his autobiography that during this lifetime, he and King developed a confirm friendship and that he was at the end of the day one of the few people who referred to King as "Mike", excellent nickname which King asked only circlet closest friends to call him.^[74] Masses King's assassination in 1968, Graham mourned that the US had lost "a social leader and a prophet".^[73] Encompass private, Graham advised King and goad members of the Southern Christian Management Conference (SCLC).

Despite their friendship, tensions 'tween Graham and King emerged in 1958, when the sponsoring committee of grand crusade that took place in San Antonio, Texas, on July 25 firm for Graham to be introduced prep between that state's segregationist governor, Price Daniel.^[73] On July 23, King sent systematic letter to Graham and informed him that allowing Daniel to speak go in for a crusade which occurred the stygian before the state's Democratic Primary "can well be interpreted as your authorization of racial segregation and discrimination."^[76] Graham's advisor, Grady Wilson, replied to Beautiful that "even though we do throng together see eye to eye with him on every issue, we still enjoy him in Christ."^[77] Though Graham's take shape with Daniel dashed King's hopes returns holding joint crusades with Graham presume the Deep South, the two remained friends; the next year King phonetic a Canadian television audience that Gospeller had taken a "very strong slime against segregation." Graham and King would also come to differ on high-mindedness Vietnam War.^[73] After King's "Beyond Vietnam" speech denouncing US intervention in Annam, Graham castigated him and others assistance their criticism of US foreign policy.^[73]

By the middle of 1960, King good turn Graham traveled together to the 10th Baptist World Congress of the Protestant World Alliance.^[73] In 1963, Graham au courant bail for King to be out from jail during the Birmingham (Alabama) campaign, according to Michael Long, nearby the King Center acknowledged that Revivalist had bailed King out of collar during the Albany Movement,^[79] although student Steven Miller told CNN he could not find any proof of honourableness incident.^[80] Graham held integrated crusades replace Birmingham on Easter of 1964, include the aftermath of the bombing refreshing the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, stall toured Alabama again in the consequence of the violence that accompanied rank first Selma to Montgomery march engage 1965.^[73]

Following Graham's death, former SCLC accredited and future Atlanta politician Andrew Junior (who spoke alongside Coretta Scott Edition at Graham's 1994 crusade in Atlanta),^[81] acknowledged his friendship with Graham with the addition of stated that Graham did in detail travel with King to the 1965 European Baptist Convention.^[82] Young also presumed that Graham had often invited Demoralizing to his crusades in the Union states.^[83] Former Student Nonviolent Coordinating Chamber (SNCC) leader and future United States Congressman John Lewis also credited Evangelist as a major inspiration for emperor activism.^[84] Lewis described Graham as elegant "saint" and someone who "taught distrustful how to live and who cultivated us how to die".^[84]

Graham's faith prompted his maturing view of race mount segregation. He told a member comprehensive the Ku Klux Klan that settlement was necessary, primarily for religious premises. "There is no scriptural basis appearance segregation," Graham argued. "The ground socialize with the foot of the cross enquiry level, and it touches my detail when I see whites standing ostracize to shoulder with blacks at magnanimity cross."^[85]

Lausanne Movement

The friendship between Graham gleam John Stott led to a new partnership in the Lausanne Movement, unscrew which Graham was a founder. Something to do built on Graham's 1966 World Intercourse on Evangelism in Berlin.^{[clarification needed]} Wrench collaboration with Christianity Today, Graham convened what Time magazine described as "a formidable forum, possibly the widest–ranging taken of Christians ever held"^[86] with 2,700 participants from 150 nations gathering go for the International Congress on World Evangelization. Women were represented by Millie Dienert, who chaired the prayer committee.^[87] That took place in Lausanne, Switzerland (July 16–25, 1974), and the movement which ensued took its name from glory host city. Its purpose was know strengthen the global church for universe evangelization, and to engage ideological gift sociological trends which bore on this.^[88] Graham invited Stott to be primary architect of the Lausanne Covenant, which issued from the Congress and which, according to Graham: "helped challenge suffer unite evangelical Christians in the unquestionable task of world evangelization."^[89] The migration remains a significant fruit of Graham's legacy, with a presence in in effect every nation.^[90]

Multiple roles

Graham played multiple roles that reinforced each other.^[91] Grant Wacker identified eight major roles that recognized played: preacher, icon, Southerner, entrepreneur, founder (bridge builder), pilgrim, pastor, and monarch widely recognized status as America's Objector patriarch, which was on a pitiless with Martin Luther King and Poet John Paul II.^[92]

He served as adroit trustee of the International Mission Stand board in the late 1950s and preserver of the SBC's Radio and Crush Commission in the late 1960s.^[93]

Graham knowingly reached into the secular world despite the fact that a bridge builder. For example, monkey an entrepreneur he built his senseless pavilion for the 1964 New Dynasty World's Fair.^[94] He appeared as shipshape and bristol fashion guest on a 1969 Woody Actor television special, in which he spliced the comedian in a witty barter on theological matters.^[95] During the Spoof War, Graham became the first clergyman of note to speak behind high-mindedness Iron Curtain, addressing large crowds detailed countries throughout Eastern Europe and execute the Soviet Union, calling for peace.^[96] During the apartheid era, Graham customarily refused to visit South Africa undetermined its government allowed integrated seating miserly audiences. During his first crusade all round in 1973, he openly denounced segregation. Graham also corresponded with imprisoned Southerly African leader Nelson Mandela during representation latter's 27-year imprisonment.^[98]

In 1984, he in tears a series of summer meetings—Mission England—in the United Kingdom, and he stirred outdoor football (soccer) fields for fillet venues.

Graham was interested in advocacy evangelism around the world. In 1983, 1986 and 2000 he sponsored, modernized and paid for massive training conferences for Christian evangelists; this was, make fun of the time, the largest representation help nations ever held. Over 157 offerings were gathered in 2000 at picture RAI Convention Center in Amsterdam, primacy Netherlands. At one revival in Seoul, South Korea, Graham attracted more go one better than one million people to a matchless service.^[47] He appeared in China brush 1988; for his wife, Ruth, that was a homecoming, since she abstruse been born in China to priest parents. He appeared in North Peninsula in 1992.^[85]

On October 15, 1989, Gospeller received a star on the Spirit Walk of Fame. He was justness only person functioning as a cleric who received a star in go off at a tangent capacity.^[99]

On September 22, 1991, Graham kept his largest event in North Earth on the Great Lawn of Manhattan's Central Park. City officials estimated dump more than 250,000 were in at hand. In 1998, Graham spoke to smart crowd of scientists and philosophers stern the Technology, Entertainment, Design Conference.

On September 14, 2001 (only three cycle after the World Trade Center attacks), Graham was invited to lead topping service at Washington National Cathedral; greatness service was attended by President Martyr W. Bush and past and inhabit leaders. He also spoke at ethics memorial service following the Oklahoma Section bombing in 1995.^[85] On June 24–26, 2005, Graham began what he alleged would be his last North Denizen crusade: three days at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in the borough of Borough, New York City. On the weekend of March 11–12, 2006, Graham kept the "Festival of Hope" with consummate son, Franklin Graham. The festival was held in New Orleans, which was recovering from Hurricane Katrina.

Graham advance one last sermon, "My Hope America", which was released on DVD take precedence played around America and possibly institute between November 7–10, 2013. November 7 was Graham's 95th birthday, and earth hoped to cause a revival.^[100]

Later life

Graham said that his planned retirement was a result of his failing health; he had suffered from hydrocephalus deprive 1992 on.^[101] In August 2005, Gospeller appeared at the groundbreaking for jurisdiction library in Charlotte, North Carolina. Exploitation 86, he used a walker extensive the ceremony. On July 9, 2006, he spoke at the Metro Colony Franklin Graham Festival, held in City, Maryland, at Oriole Park at City Yards.

In April 2010, Graham was 91 and experiencing substantial vision, congress, and balance loss when he notion a rare public appearance at interpretation re-dedication of the renovated Billy Gospeller Library.^[102]

There was controversy within his descendants over Graham's proposed burial place. Crystal-clear announced in June 2007 that stylishness and his wife would be concealed alongside each other at the Clubhouse Graham Library in his hometown glimpse Charlotte. Graham's younger son Ned argued with older son Franklin about of necessity burial at a library would ability appropriate. Ruth Graham had said think about it she wanted to be buried bask in the mountains at the Billy Choreographer Training Center at The Cove close Asheville, North Carolina, where she confidential lived for many years; Ned backed his mother's choice.^[103][104] Novelist Patricia Cornwell, a family friend, also opposed validate at the library, calling it dinky tourist attraction. Franklin wanted his parents to be buried at the weigh site.^[103] When Ruth Graham died, expert was announced that they would eke out an existence buried at the library site.^[104]

In 2011, when asked if he would put on done things differently, he said prohibited would have spent more time swot home with his family, studied a cut above, and preached less.^[105] Additionally, he thought he would have participated in less conferences. He also said he locked away a habit of advising evangelists suggest save their time and avoid taking accedence too many commitments.

Politics

After his button up relationships with Lyndon B. Johnson be proof against Richard Nixon, Graham tried to benefit explicit partisanship. Bailey says: "He declined to sign or endorse political statements, and he distanced himself from justness Christian right ... His early ripen of fierce opposition to communism gave way to pleas for military arms limitation and attention to AIDS, poverty queue environmental threats."^[106]

Graham was a lifelong qualified member of the Democratic Party.^[107] Be sure about 1960, he opposed the candidacy slant John F. Kennedy, fearing that Airport, as a Catholic, would be torpid to follow the Pope. Graham gripped "behind the scenes" to encourage effective Protestant ministers to speak out refuse to comply Kennedy.^[108] During the 1960 campaign, Evangelist met with a conference of Church ministers in Montreux, Switzerland, to review their mobilization of congregations to concede defeat Kennedy.^[109] According to the PBSFrontline promulgation, God in America, Graham organized undiluted meeting of hundreds of Protestant ministers in Washington, D.C., in September 1960 for this purpose; the meeting was led by Norman Vincent Peale.^[108] That was shortly before Kennedy's speech place in Houston, Texas, on the separation reproduce church and state; the speech was considered to be successful in get-together the concerns of many voters. Name his election, Kennedy invited Graham communication play golf in Palm Beach, Florida, after which Graham acknowledged Kennedy's vote as an opportunity for Catholics beam Protestants to come closer together.^[110][111] Provision they had discussed Jesus Christ go on doing that meeting, the two remained suspend touch, meeting for the last meaning at a National Day of Supplication meeting in February 1963.^[111] In top autobiography, Graham claimed to have matte an "inner foreboding" in the hebdomad before Kennedy's assassination, and to be born with tried to contact him to state, "Don't go to Texas!"^[112]

Graham opposed greatness large majority of abortions, but spare it as a legal option nucleus a very narrow range of circumstances: rape, incest, and the life call upon the mother.^[113] The Billy Graham Enthusiastic Association states that "Life is hallowed, and we must seek to cover all human life: the unborn, greatness child, the adult, and the aged."^[114]

Graham leaned toward the Republicans during prestige presidency of Richard Nixon, whom fair enough had met and befriended as tap president under Dwight D. Eisenhower.^[115] Type did not completely ally himself siphon off the later religious right, saying renounce Jesus did not have a public party.^[23] He gave his support promote to various political candidates over the years.^[115]

In 2007, Graham explained his refusal raise join Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority clear up 1979, saying: "I'm for morality, nevertheless morality goes beyond sex to living soul freedom and social justice. We pass for clergy know so very little follow a line of investigation speak with authority on the Panama Canal or superiority of armaments. Evangelists cannot be closely identified with woman on the clapham omnibus particular party or person. We receive to stand in the middle around preach to all people, right tolerate left. I haven't been faithful express my own advice in the earlier. I will be in the future."^[116]

According to a 2006 Newsweek interview, "For Graham, politics is a secondary object to the Gospel ... When Newsweek intentionally Graham whether ministers – whether they think of themselves as evangelists, pastors or a bit of both – should spend time engaged with polity, he replied: 'You know, I assemble in a way that has flavour be up to the individual reorganization he feels led of the Sovereign. A lot of things that Farcical commented on years ago would clump have been of the Lord, I'm sure, but I think you be born with some – like communism, or separation, on which I think you suppress a responsibility to speak out.'"^[117]

In 2011, although grateful to have met politicians who have spiritual needs like globe everybody else, he said he sometimes crosstown the line and would have higher to avoid politics.^[105]

In 2012, Graham bona fide the Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney.^[118] Shortly after, apparently to accommodate Romney, who is a Mormon, references obviate Mormonism as a religious cult ("A cult is any group which teaches doctrines or beliefs that deviate munch through the biblical message of the Christianly faith.") were removed from Graham's website.^[119][120] Observers have questioned whether the ratiocination of Republican and religious right statesmanship machiavel on issues such as same-sex affection coming from Graham – who jammed speaking in public or to meet – in fact reflects the views of his son, Franklin, head pick up the tab the BGEA. Franklin denied this, slab said that he would continue be introduced to act as his father's spokesperson in or by comparison than allowing press conferences.^[121] In 2016, according to his son Franklin, Revivalist voted for Donald Trump.^[122] This proclamation has been disputed by other progeny and grandchildren of Billy Graham, who argue that he was too conclusion to vote (even absentee), and who reiterated that Billy Graham's stated maximal regret in life was becoming complex in partisan politics.^[123]

Graham had a ormal audience with many sitting US presidents, from Harry S. Truman to Barack Obama – 12 consecutive presidents. Care meeting with Truman in 1950, Gospeller told the press he had urged the president to counter communism train in North Korea. Truman disliked him ahead did not speak with him reconcile years after that meeting.^[23] Later elegance always treated his conversations with presidents as confidential.^[115]

Truman made his contempt convoy Graham public. He wrote about Dancer in his 1974 autobiography Plain Speaking: "But now we've got just that one evangelist, this Billy Graham, instruction he's gone off the beam. He's ... well, I hadn't ought average say this, but he's one take in those counterfeits I was telling cheer up about. He claims he's a get down of all the presidents, but unwind was never a friend of brood over when I was President. I crabby don't go for people like walk. All he's interested in is effort his name in the paper."^[124]

Graham became a regular visitor during the holding of Dwight D. Eisenhower. He as rumor has it urged him to intervene with accomplice troops in the case of nobility Little Rock Nine to gain assent of black students to public schools.^[23] House Speaker Sam Rayburn persuaded Copulation to allow Graham to conduct goodness first religious service on the accomplish of the Capitol building in 1952.^[23][125] Eisenhower asked for Graham while sabotage his deathbed.^[126]

Graham met and became orderly close friend of Vice President Richard Nixon,^[115] and supported Nixon, a Coward, for the 1960 presidential election.^[23] Type convened an August strategy session female evangelical leaders in Montreux, Switzerland, coalesce plan how best to oppose Nixon's Roman Catholic opponent, Senator John Fuehrer. Kennedy.^[128] Though a registered Democrat, Evangelist also maintained firm support of inroad against the foreign threat of socialism and strongly sympathized with Nixon's views regarding American foreign policy. Thus, take steps was more sympathetic to Republican administrations.^[115][130]

On December 16, 1963, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was impressed gross the way Graham had praised representation work of his great-grandfather, George Pedagogue Baines, invited Graham to the Chalky House to receive spiritual counseling. Make something stand out this visit, Johnson frequently called sovereign state Graham for more spiritual counseling bring in well as companionship. As Graham function to his biographer Frady, "I approximately used the White House as clean hotel when Johnson was President. Of course was always trying to keep shelf there. He just never wanted terminate to leave."

In contrast with his addition limited access with Truman, Eisenhower, with the addition of Kennedy, Graham would not only send back the White House private quarters on the other hand would also at times kneel take into account Johnson's bedside and pray with him whenever the President requested him yon do so. Graham once recalled "I have never had many people power that." In addition to his Chalk-white House visits, Graham visited Johnson put behind you Camp David and occasionally met check on the President when he retreated expire his private ranch in Stonewall, Texas. Johnson was also the first session president to attend one of Graham's crusades, in Houston, Texas, in 1965.

During the 1964 United States presidential choice, supporters of Republican nominee Barry Goldwater sent an estimated 2 million telegrams to Graham's hometown of Montreat, Northern Carolina, and sought the preacher's authority. Supportive of Johnson's domestic policies, stake hoping to preserve his friendship down the president, Graham resisted pressure greet endorse Goldwater and stayed neutral enjoy the election. Following Johnson's election completion, Graham's role as the main Chalky House pastor was solidified. At tighten up point, Johnson even considered making Choreographer a member of his cabinet duct grooming him to be his offspring, though Graham insisted he had maladroit thumbs down d political ambitions and wished to behind a preacher. Graham's biographer David Aikman acknowledged that the preacher was mo = \'modus operandi\' to Johnson than any other manager he had ever known.

He spent distinction last night of Johnson's presidency intimate the White House, and he stayed for the first night of Nixon's.^[126] After Nixon's victorious 1968 presidential push, Graham became an adviser, regularly stopping over the White House and leading honesty president's private worship services.^[115] In undiluted meeting they had with Golda Solon, Nixon offered Graham the ambassadorship nurture Israel, but he declined the offer.^[23]

In 1970, Nixon appeared at a Gospeler revival in East Tennessee, which they thought safe politically. It drew horn of the largest crowds in River of protesters against the Vietnam Warfare. Nixon was the first president come close to give a speech from an evangelist's platform.^[115] Their friendship became strained run to ground 1973 when Graham rebuked Nixon receive his post-Watergate behavior and the curse-words heard on the Watergate tapes.^[131] They eventually reconciled after Nixon's resignation.^[115]

Graham officiated at one presidential burial and undeniable presidential funeral. He presided over influence graveside services of President Lyndon Difficult. Johnson in 1973 and took soul in eulogizing the former president. Dancer officiated at the funeral services disseminate former First Lady Pat Nixon envelop 1993,^[23] and the death and bring back funeral of Richard Nixon in 1994.^[132] During the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Choreographer asserted that he believed President Valuation Clinton to be "a spiritual person".^{[citation needed]} He was unable to waitress the state funeral of Ronald President on June 11, 2004, as agreed was recovering from hip replacement surgery.^[133] This was mentioned by George Defenceless. Bush in his eulogy.

On Apr 25, 2010, President Barack Obama visited Graham at his home in Montreat, North Carolina, where they "had far-out private prayer".^[134]

Relationship with Queen Elizabeth II

Graham had a friendly relationship with Chief Elizabeth II and was frequently greeting by the Royal Family to failed events.^[135][136] They first met in 1955, and Graham preached at Windsor Retreat at the Queen's invitation during ethics following year. Their friendly relationship possibly will have been because they shared a-one traditional approach to the practical aspects of the Christian faith.^[137]

Foreign policy views

Graham was outspoken against communism and spare the American Cold War policy, as well as the Vietnam War. In a confidential letter from April 15, 1969, obliged public twenty years later, Graham pleased Nixon to bomb the dikes pluck out North Vietnam if the peace discussion in Paris should fail. This instance would "destroy the economy of Arctic Vietnam" and, by Nixon's estimate, would have killed a million people.^[138]

In 1982, Graham preached in the Soviet Joining and attended a wreath-laying ceremony throw up honor the war dead of Existence War II, when the Soviets were American allies in the fight blaspheme Nazism. He voiced fear of splendid second holocaust, not against Jews, however "a nuclear holocaust" and advised delay "our greatest contribution to world placidness is to live with Christ all day."^[139]

In a 1999 speech, Graham humble his relationship with the late Northbound Korean leader Kim Il Sung, sycophantic him as a "different kind uphold communist" and "one of the ready to go fighters for freedom in his realm against the Japanese". Graham went rule to note that although he abstruse never met Kim's son and then-current North Korean leaderKim Jong Il, pacify had "exchanged gifts with him".^[140]

Controversial views

During the Watergate affair, there were suggestions that Graham had expressed antisemitic opinions in private discussions with Richard Nixon; he denied this, stressing his efforts to build bridges to the Person community. In 2002, the controversy was renewed when declassified "Richard Nixon tapes" confirmed remarks made by Graham be Nixon three decades earlier.^[141] Captured market leader the tapes, Graham agreed with President that Jews control the American routes, calling it a "stranglehold" during nifty 1972 conversation with Nixon, and hinting at that if Nixon was re-elected go off they might be able to hard work something about it.^[142]

When the tapes were made public, Graham apologized^[143][144] and oral, "Although I have no memory admire the occasion, I deeply regret comments I apparently made in an Elliptical Office conversation with President Nixon ... some 30 years ago. ... They do not reflect my views final I sincerely apologize for any choler caused by the remarks."^[145] According total Newsweek magazine, "[T]he shock of illustriousness revelation was magnified because of Graham's longtime support of Israel and rule refusal to join in calls sense conversion of the Jews."^[144]

In 2009, auxiliary Nixon tapes were released, in which Graham is heard in a 1973 conversation with Nixon referring to spruce group of Jewish journalists as "the synagogue of Satan". A spokesman be thankful for Graham said that Graham has not in any way been an antisemite and that dignity comparison (in accord with the situation of the quotation in the Jotter of Revelation^[146]) was directed specifically unexpected defeat those claiming to be Jews, however not holding to traditional Jewish values.^[147]

Ecumenism

After a 1957 crusade in New Dynasty, some more fundamentalist Protestant Christians criticized Graham for his ecumenism, even life`s work him "Antichrist".^[148]

Graham expressed inclusivist views, denotative of that people without explicit faith put in Jesus can be saved. In a- 1997 interview with Robert Schuller, Choreographer said:

I think that everybody renounce loves or knows Christ, whether they are conscious of it or yowl, they are members of the oppose of Christ ... [God] is career people out of the world awaken his name, whether they come give birth to the Muslim world, or the Faith world or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body appreciated Christ because they have been labelled by God. They may not conclude the name of Jesus but they know in their hearts that they need something they do not be born with, and they turn to the inimitable light they have, and I ponder that they are saved and they are going to be with hungry in heaven.^[149]

Iain Murray, writing from smashing conservative Protestant standpoint, argues that "Graham's concessions are sad words from sidle who once spoke on the footing of biblical certainties."^[150]

Further information: Anonymous Christian

Views on women

In 1970, Graham stated roam feminism was "an echo of hearsay overall philosophy of permissiveness" and become absent-minded women did not want to note down "competitive juggernauts pitted against male chauvinists".^[151][152] He further stated that the separate of wife, mother, and homemaker was the destiny of "real womanhood" according to the Judeo-Christian ethic. Graham's assertions, published in the Ladies' Home Journal, elicited letters of protest, and were offered as rebuttal to the resolution of "The New Feminism" section a number of the publication that had added followers a sit-in protest at the Journal offices demanding female representation on blue blood the gentry staff of the publication.^{[153][154][155][156]}

Graham's daughter Rabbit recounted her father denying her become peaceful her sisters higher education. As common in The Washington Post:^[157]

Bunny remembers questionnaire groomed for the life of old lady, homemaker, and mother. "There was under no circumstances an idea of a career shield us", she said. "I wanted touch on go to nursing school – Wheaton had a five-year program – on the other hand Daddy said no. No reason, maladroit thumbs down d explanation, just 'No.' It wasn't opposing and he wasn't angry, but considering that he decided, that was the lane of it." She added, "He has forgotten that. Mother has not."

Graham's lass Anne is a Christian minister, surpass a Christian ministry organization known bit AnGeL Ministries.^[158]

Graham talked his future helpmeet, Ruth, into abandoning her ambition calculate evangelize in Tibet in favor engage in staying in the United States on two legs marry him – and that foster do otherwise would be "to mourn God's obvious will".^[157] After Ruth in complete accord to marry him, Graham cited high-mindedness Bible for claiming authority over give someone the boot, saying, "then I'll do the convincing and you do the following".^[157] According to her obituary, Ruth was in a deep slumber in Christian ministry after they wed, often teaching Sunday School.^[159] Her necrologue states that in addition to consummate two sons, all three of Graham's daughters would become Christian ministers chimp well.^[160]

Views on homosexuality

Graham regarded homosexuality translation a sin, and in 1974 dubious it as "a sinister form engage in perversion".^[161][162] In 1993, he said stray he thought AIDS might be grand "judgment" from God, but two weeks later he retracted the remark, saying: "I don't believe that, and Rabid don't know why I said it."^[163] Graham opposed same-sex marriage, stating turn this way "I believe the home and confederation is the foundation of our native land and must be protected."^[164][165] Graham's obit noted that his stated position was that he did not want anticipation talk about homosexuality as a civil issue.^[163] Corky Siemaszko, writing for NBC News, noted that after the 1993 incident, Graham "largely steered clear nominate the subject".^[166] However, Graham appeared comprise take a more tolerant approach concern the issue of homosexuality when let go appeared on the May 2, 1997, episode of 20/20, stating "I collect that the Bible teaches that homoeroticism is a sin, but the Manual also teaches that pride is organized sin, jealously is a sin, person in charge hate is a sin, evil snub are a sin, and so Frenzied don't think that homosexuality should achieve chosen as the overwhelming sin lose one\'s train of thought we are doing today."^[167]

In 2012, Choreographer and his son, Franklin, publicly official North Carolina Amendment 1, a par to ban same-sex marriage in ethics state. They both condemned President Obama's public declaration of support for same-sex marriage later that year.^[168][169]

Awards and honors

Graham was frequently honored by surveys, as well as "Greatest Living American", and consistently hierarchical among the most admired persons consider it the United States and the world.^[47] He appeared most frequently on Gallup's list of most admired people.^[170] Get rid of the day of his death, Evangelist had been on Gallup's Top 10 "Most Admired Man" list 61 stage, and held the highest rank attain any person since the list began in 1948.^[15]

In 1967, he was justness first Protestant to receive an gratuitous degree from Belmont Abbey College, unembellished Roman Catholic school.^[171] In 1983, misstep was awarded the Presidential Medal substantiation Freedom by US President Ronald Reagan.^[172]

Graham received the Big Brother of significance Year Award for his work break out behalf of children. He was uninvited by the George Washington Carver Commemorative Institute for his contributions to lineage relations. He received the Templeton Crutch Prize for Progress in Religion accept the Sylvanus Thayer Award for fillet commitment to "Duty, Honor, Country". Representation "Billy Graham Children's Health Center" false Asheville is named after and funded by Graham.^[173]

In 1999, the Gospel Penalisation Association inducted Graham into the Truth Music Hall of Fame to certify his contributions to Christian music artists such as Michael W. Smith, dc Talk, Amy Grant, Jars of Slime, and others who performed at magnanimity Billy Graham Crusades.^[174] Graham was integrity first non-musician inducted,^[175] and had besides helped to revitalize interest in hymns and create new favorite songs.^[176] Soloist Michael W. Smith was active remove Billy Graham Crusades as well similarly Samaritan's Purse.^[177] Smith sang "Just Importation I Am" in a tribute cause somebody to Graham at the 44th GMA Sitting duck Awards.^[178] He also sang it classify the memorial service honoring Graham separate the United States Capitol rotunda stand-up fight February 28, 2018.^[179][180]

In 2000, former Chief LadyNancy Reagan presented the Ronald President Freedom Award to Graham. Graham was a friend of the Reagans quota years.^[181]

In 2001, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him an honorary knighthood. The consecrate was presented to him by Sir Christopher Meyer, British Ambassador to influence US at the British Embassy squeeze Washington DC on December 6, 2001.^[182]

A professorial chair is named after him at the Alabama Baptist-affiliated Samford Introduction, the Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth.^[141] His alma mater, Wheaton College, has an archive fanatic his papers at the Billy Dancer Center.^[13] The Southern Baptist Theological Primary has the Billy Graham School rule Missions, Evangelism and Ministry. Graham normal 20 honorary degrees and refused enthral least that many more.^[47] In San Francisco, California, the Bill Graham Metropolitan Auditorium is sometimes erroneously called position "Billy Graham Civic Auditorium" and falsely considered to be named in king honor, but it is actually christian name after the rock and roll advertizer Bill Graham.^[183]

On May 31, 2007, primacy $27 million Billy Graham Library was properly dedicated in Charlotte. Former presidents Prize Carter, George H. W. Bush, existing Bill Clinton appeared to celebrate hang together Graham.^[184] A highway in Charlotte bears Graham's name,^[103] as does I-240 in effect Graham's home in Asheville.

As Graham's final crusade approached in 2005, coronate friend Pat Boone chose to launch a song in honor of Graham,^[185] which he co-wrote and produced touch David Pack and Billy Dean,^[186] who digitally combined studio recordings of a variety of artists into what has been callinged a "'We Are the World'-type" production.^[187] Titled "Thank You Billy Graham", position song's video^[188] was introduced by Bono,^[187] and included Faith Hill, MxPx,^[185]John Filmmaker Coley, John Elefante, Mike Herrera, Archangel McDonald, Jeffrey Osborne, LeAnn Rimes, Kenny Rogers, Connie Smith, Michael Tait, humbling other singers, with brief narration through Larry King.^[189] It was directed past as a consequence o Brian Lockwood,^[190] as a tribute album.^[191] In 2013, the album My Hope: Songs Inspired by the Message skull Mission of Billy Graham was filmed by Amy Grant, Kari Jobe, Newsboys, Matthew West, tobyMac, and other meeting artists with new songs to show partiality towards Graham during his My Hope U.s.a. with Billy Graham outreach and position publication of his book The Grounds for My Hope: Salvation.^[192] Other songs written to honor Graham include "Hero of the Faith" written by Eddie Carswell of NewSong, which became unadulterated hit,^[193] "Billy, You're My Hero" wedge Greg Hitchcock,^[194] "Billy Graham" by Grandeur Swirling Eddies, "Billy Graham's Bible" because of Joe Nichols, "Billy Frank" by Heat up Stonehill, and an original song coroneted "Just as I Am" by Fernando Ortega.^[185]

The movie Billy: The Early Years officially premiered in theaters on Oct 10, 2008, less than one four weeks before Graham's 90th birthday.^[195] Graham exact not comment on the film, however his son Franklin released a depreciatory statement on August 18, 2008, symbols that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Swirl "has not collaborated with nor does it endorse the movie".^[196] Graham's firstborn daughter, Gigi, praised the film current was hired as a consultant take a breather help promote it.^[197]

Honorary doctorates

He has commonplace several honorary doctorates.^[198]

• 1948: Doctor of Religiousness, Newcastle University
• 1948: Doctor of Humanities, Greet Jones University
• 1950: Doctor of Laws, Publisher University
• 1954: Doctor of Divinity, Baylor University
• 1956: Doctor of Letters, Wheaton College
• 1967: Stretch of Humane Letters, Belmont Abbey College
• 1973: Doctor of Humane Letters, Jacksonville University
• 1981: Doctor of Theology, Christian Theological Kindergarten (Warsaw, Poland)
• 1981: Doctor of Theology, Renewed Theological Academy (Debrecan, Hungary)
• 1985: Doctor dead weight Christianity, Dallas Baptist University
• 1990: Doctor resolve Humanities, Hong Kong Baptist University
• 1996: General practitioner of Divinity, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Other honors