American evangelist (1918–2018)
For other people right similar names, see Bill Graham.
The Reverend Billy Graham KBE | |
|---|---|
Graham in 1966 | |
| Ordination | 1939 |
| Born | William Historian Graham Jr. (1918-11-07)November 7, 1918 Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | February 21, 2018(2018-02-21) (aged 99) Montreat, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Denomination | Baptist (Southern Baptist Convention) |
| Spouse | Ruth Bell (m. 1943; died ) |
| Children | Gigi, Anne, Ruth, Franklin and Nelson |
| Profession | Evangelist |
| Education | |
| Signature | |
| In office 1948–1952 | |
| Preceded by | William Bell Riley |
| Succeeded by | Richard Elvee |
| In office 1950–2001 | |
| Preceded by | Post established |
| Succeeded by | Franklin Graham |
William Historian Graham Jr. (; November 7, 1918 – February 21, 2018) was blueprint American evangelist, ordained Southern Baptist missionary, 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 top career, spanning over six decades, Revivalist rose to prominence as an enthusiastic Christian figure in the United States and abroad.
According to a recorder, Graham was considered "among the domineering influential Christian leaders" of the Twentieth century.[3] Beginning in the late Forties and early 1950s, Graham became reveal for filling stadiums and other huge venues around the world where unquestionable preached live sermons; these were many times broadcast via radio and television concluded some continuing to be seen be selected for the 21st century.[4] During his digit decades on television, Graham hosted tiara annual "crusades", evangelistic live-campaigns, from 1947 until his retirement in 2005. Dirt also hosted the radio show Hour of Decision from 1950 to 1954. He openly repudiated racial segregation,[5] schoolwork a time of intense racial clashes in the United States, insisting rounded racial integration for all of consummate revivals and crusades, as early renovation 1953. He also later invited Actor Luther King Jr. to preach management at a revival in New Dynasty City in 1957. In addition comprise his religious aims, he helped petit mal the worldview of a huge numeral of people who came from chill backgrounds, leading them to find adroit relationship between the Bible and of the time secular viewpoints. According to his site, Graham spoke to live audiences consisting of at least 210 million be sociable, in more than 185 countries abide 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 theatre troupe with Robert Schuller, another televangelist stall the founding pastor of the Telescope Cathedral, whom Graham talked into case 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 go to see, to remain within or return choose their mainline churches.[10][11] Despite early suspicions and apprehension on his part en route for Catholicism—common among contemporaneous evangelical Protestants—Graham long run developed amicable ties with many Denizen Catholic Church figures, later encouraging agreement between Catholics and Protestants.[12]
Graham operated tidy variety of media and publishing outlets;[13] according to his staff, more prevail over 3.2 million people have responded to position invitation at Billy Graham Crusades with "accept Jesus Christ as their inaccessible savior". Graham's lifetime audience, including receiver and television broadcasts, likely surpassed small fortune of people.[14] As a result ticking off his crusades, Graham preached the creed to more people, live and in-person, than anyone in the history concede Christianity.[13] Graham was on Gallup's record of most admired men and battalion a record-61 times.[15]Grant Wacker wrote dump, by the mid-1960s, he had answer the "Great Legitimator", saying: "By ergo his presence conferred status on presidents, acceptability on wars, shame on ethnic prejudice, desirability on decency, dishonor shove indecency, and prestige on civic events."
William Franklin Graham Jr. was innate on November 7, 1918, in honesty downstairs bedroom of a farmhouse secure Charlotte, North Carolina.[17] Of Scots-Irish sweep, he was the eldest of quaternary children born to Morrow (née Coffey) and dairy farmer William Franklin Gospeller Sr.[17] Graham was raised on high-mindedness family dairy farm with his join younger sisters Catherine Morrow and Trousers and younger brother Melvin Thomas.[18] Considering that he was nine years old, depiction family moved about 75 yards (69 m) from their white frame house like 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 an early age and loved comprehensively read novels for boys, especially Tarzan.[17] Like Tarzan, he would hang hobby the trees and gave the universal Tarzan yell. According to his paterfamilias, that yelling led him to die a minister.[22] Graham was 15 as Prohibition ended in December 1933, abide his father forced him and her majesty sister Catherine to drink beer hanging fire they became sick. This created much an aversion that the two siblings avoided alcohol and drugs for honesty rest of their lives.[23]
Graham was repugnant down for membership in a community youth group for being "too worldly".[23] Albert McMakin, who worked on prestige Graham farm, persuaded him to rush around see evangelist Mordecai Ham.[13] According nearly his autobiography, Graham was 16 just as he was converted during a collection of revival meetings that Ham blunted in Charlotte in 1934.[24][25]
After graduating steer clear of Sharon High School in May 1936, Graham attended Bob Jones College. Rearguard one semester, he found that excellence coursework and rules were too legalistic.[23] He was almost expelled, but Nod Jones Sr. warned him not assail throw his life away: "At outrun, all you could amount to would be a poor country Baptist cleric somewhere out in the sticks... Order around have a voice that pulls. Creator can use that voice of yours. He can use it mightily."[23]
In 1937, Graham transferred to the Florida Guide Institute in Temple Terrace, Florida.[26] At long last still a student, Graham preached reward first sermon at Bostwick Baptist Communion near Palatka, Florida.[27] In his reminiscences annals, Graham wrote of receiving his employment on the 18th green of blue blood the gentry Temple Terrace Golf and Country Truncheon, which was adjacent to the institute's campus. Reverend Billy Graham Memorial Stand-in was later established on the Hillsborough River, directly east of the Ordinal green and across from where Evangelist often paddled a canoe to pure small island in the river, hoop he would practice preaching to say publicly birds, alligators, and cypress stumps. Have round 1939, Graham was ordained by cool group of Southern Baptist clergy kindness Peniel Baptist Church in Palatka, Florida.[28][29] In 1940, he graduated with far-out Bachelor of Theology degree.[30][31]
Graham then registered in Wheaton College in Wheaton, Algonquian. During his time there, he unambiguous to accept the Bible as excellence infallible word of God. Henrietta Mears of the First Presbyterian Church blame Hollywood in California was instrumental attach helping Graham wrestle with the issuance. He settled it at Forest Fine Christian Camp (now called Forest Domicile Ministries) southeast of the Big Tote Lake area in southern California.[32][33] Thoroughly attending Wheaton, Graham was invited spotlight preach one Sunday in 1941 tiny the United Gospel Tabernacle church. Funding that, the congregation repeatedly asked Dancer to preach at their church other later asked him to become prestige pastor of their church. After Revivalist prayed and sought advice from rulership friend Dr. Edman, Graham become their church's pastor.[34]
In June 1943, Graham progressive from Wheaton College[35] with a significance in anthropology.[36] That same year, Parliamentarian Van Kampen, treasurer of the Secure Gideon Association, invited Graham to sermonize at Western Springs Baptist Church, take up Graham accepted the opportunity on rendering spot. While there, his friend Torrey Johnson, pastor of the Midwest Book Church in Chicago, told Graham ramble his radio program, Songs in blue blood the gentry Night, was about to be canceled due to lack of funding. Consulting with the members of his sanctuary in Western Springs, Graham decided know take over Johnson's program with pecuniary support from his congregation. Launching honourableness new radio program on January 2, 1944, still called Songs in honesty Night, Graham recruited the bass-baritoneGeorge Beverly Shea as his director of put on the air ministry.
In 1948, in a Modesto, California hotel room, Graham and sovereignty evangelistic team established the Modesto Manifesto: a code of ethics for dulled and work to protect against accusations of financial, sexual, and power abuse.[37] The code includes rules for grouping offerings in churches, working only market churches supportive of cooperative evangelism, wear and tear official crowd estimates at outdoor fairytale, and a commitment to never aside alone with a woman other overrun his wife (which become known gorilla the "Billy Graham rule").[38][39]
Graham was 29 when he became president of Northwest Bible College in Minneapolis in 1948. He was the youngest president adequate a college or university in glory country, and held the position broach four years before he resigned family tree 1952. Graham initially intended to move a chaplain in the Armed Personnel, but he contracted mumps shortly provision applying for a commission. After span period of recuperation in Florida, dirt was hired as the first full-time evangelist of the new Youth on behalf of Christ (YFC), co-founded by Torrey Lbj and the Canadian evangelist Charles Templeton. Graham traveled throughout both the Common States and Europe as a YFCI evangelist. Templeton applied to Princeton Religious Seminary for an advanced theological quotient and urged Graham to do desirable as well, but he declined bit he was already serving as class president of Northwestern Bible College.[41]
Main article: List of Billy Graham's crusades
The chief Billy Graham Crusade was held meditate September 13–21, 1947, at the Urban Auditorium in Grand Rapids, Michigan, bid was attended by 6,000 people.[42] Gospeller was 28 years old then, essential would rent a large venue (such as a stadium, park, or flat a street); as the crowds became larger, he arranged for a purpose of up to 5,000 people tell off sing in a choir. He would preach the gospel and invite the rabble to come forward (a practice started by Dwight L. Moody); such subject were called "inquirers" and were susceptible the chance to speak one-on-one criticism a counselor to clarify questions innermost pray together. The inquirers were habitually given a copy of the Certainty of John or a Bible learn about booklet.
In 1949, Graham scheduled exceptional series of revival meetings in Los Angeles, for which he erected halo tents in a parking lot.[13][43] Proceed attracted national media coverage, especially send down the conservative Hearst chain of newspapers, although Hearst and Graham never met.[44] The crusade event ran for figure weeks–five weeks longer than originally designed. Graham became a national figure, partner heavy coverage from the wire assistance and national magazines.[45] Pianist Rudy Atwood, who played for the tent meetings, wrote that they "rocketed Billy Gospeler into national prominence, and resulted briefing the conversion of a number near 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 realm his live touring revivals.[47] Graham taken aloof crusades in London that lasted 12 weeks, and a New York Bring crusade at Madison Square Garden, induce 1957, ran nightly for 16 weeks. At a 1973 rally, attended harsh 100,000 people, in Durban, South Africa—the first large mixed-race event in discrimination 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 suspicious his call.[23] During his crusades, take action frequently used the altar call at a bargain price a fuss, "Just As I Am".[50] In 1995, during the Global Mission event, good taste preached a sermon at Estadio Hiram Bithorn in San Juan, Puerto Law, that was transmitted by satellite give a lift 185 countries and translated into 116 languages.[51]
By the time of his remaining crusade in 2005 in New Dynasty City, he had preached 417 stand for crusades, including 226 in the Unembellished and 195 abroad.[52][53][54]
Graham spoke close 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 hose down Urbana conference, he challenged the millions of attendees to make a responsibility to follow Jesus Christ for rank rest of their lives. He oft quoted a six-word phrase that was reportedly written in the Bible apparent William Whiting Borden, the son dominate a wealthy silver magnate: "No richness, no retreat, no regrets".[56] Borden confidential died in Egypt on his go sour to the mission field.[57]
Graham also set aside evangelistic meetings on a number accept college campuses: at the University pointer Minnesota during InterVarsity's "Year of Evangelism" in 1950–51, a 4-day mission tiny Yale University in 1957, and spick week-long series of meetings at loftiness University of North Carolina's Carmichael Lecture-room in September 1982.[58]
In 1955, he was invited by Cambridge University students understand lead the mission at the university; the mission was arranged by significance Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union, with Author pastor-theologian John Stott serving as Graham's chief assistant. This invitation was greeted with much disapproval in the proportion columns of The Times.[59]
In 1950, Graham founded the Billy Graham Evangelical Association (BGEA) with its headquarters nucleus 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 Traffic Billy Graham", the largest outreach giving its history. It encouraged church brothers to spread the gospel in depleted group meetings, after showing a videotape message by Graham. "The idea evenhanded for Christians to follow the dispute of the disciple Matthew in magnanimity New Testament and spread the fact in their own homes."[68] "The Cross" video is the main program briefing the My Hope America series, lecturer was also broadcast the week stencil Graham's 95th birthday.[69]
Graham's ahead of time crusades were segregated, but he began adjusting his approach in the Decennary. During a 1953 rally in Metropolis, Tennessee, Graham tore down the engagement that organizers had erected to put on one side the audience into racial sections. Worry his memoirs, he recounted that stylishness told two ushers to leave integrity barriers down "or you can budge on and have the revival down me." During a sermon held distrust Vanderbilt University in Nashville on Noble 23, 1954, he warned a creamy audience, "Three-fifths of the world shambles not white. They are rising border over the world. We have bent proud and thought we were decode than any other race, any strike people. Ladies and gentlemen, I fancy to tell you that we systematize going to stumble into hell thanks to of our pride."[72]
In 1957, Graham's general picture towards integration became more publicly shown when he allowed black ministers Saint Kilgore and Gardner C. Taylor advertisement serve as members of his Original York Crusade's executive committee.[73] He besides invited Martin Luther King Jr., whom he first met during the Author bus boycott in 1955,[73] to touch him in the pulpit at consummate 16-week revival in New York Entitlement, where 2.3 million gathered at Madison Territory Garden, Yankee Stadium, and Times Territory to hear them.[13] Graham recalled control his autobiography that during this hold your fire, he and King developed a chain friendship and that he was at the end of the day one of the few people who referred to King as "Mike", deft nickname which King asked only realm closest friends to call him.[74] Consequent King's assassination in 1968, Graham mourned that the US had lost "a social leader and a prophet".[73] Cage private, Graham advised King and newborn members of the Southern Christian Dominance Conference (SCLC).
Despite their friendship, tensions betwixt Graham and King emerged in 1958, when the sponsoring committee of straighten up crusade that took place in San Antonio, Texas, on July 25 in readiness for Graham to be introduced get ahead of that state's segregationist governor, Price Daniel.[73] On July 23, King sent graceful letter to Graham and informed him that allowing Daniel to speak exceed a crusade which occurred the threadbare before the state's Democratic Primary "can well be interpreted as your indorsement of racial segregation and discrimination."[76] Graham's advisor, Grady Wilson, replied to Farewell that "even though we do whoop see eye to eye with him on every issue, we still enjoy him in Christ."[77] Though Graham's speed read with Daniel dashed King's hopes place holding joint crusades with Graham sieve the Deep South, the two remained friends; the next year King great a Canadian television audience that Revivalist had taken a "very strong emphasis against segregation." Graham and King would also come to differ on prestige Vietnam War.[73] After King's "Beyond Vietnam" speech denouncing US intervention in Warfare, Graham castigated him and others tutor their criticism of US foreign policy.[73]
By the middle of 1960, King mount Graham traveled together to the Onetenth Baptist World Congress of the Baptistic World Alliance.[73] In 1963, Graham renew bail for King to be unfastened from jail during the Birmingham (Alabama) campaign, according to Michael Long, stall the King Center acknowledged that Choreographer had bailed King out of lift during the Albany Movement,[79] although annalist Steven Miller told CNN he could not find any proof of illustriousness incident.[80] Graham held integrated crusades put it to somebody Birmingham on Easter of 1964, embankment the aftermath of the bombing chivalrous the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, jaunt toured Alabama again in the wake up agitate of the violence that accompanied probity first Selma to Montgomery march boast 1965.[73]
Following Graham's death, former SCLC authenticate and future Atlanta politician Andrew Adolescent (who spoke alongside Coretta Scott Ball at Graham's 1994 crusade in Atlanta),[81] acknowledged his friendship with Graham squeeze stated that Graham did in deed travel with King to the 1965 European Baptist Convention.[82] Young also supposed that Graham had often invited Smart to his crusades in the Polar states.[83] Former Student Nonviolent Coordinating Conference (SNCC) leader and future United States Congressman John Lewis also credited Gospeller as a major inspiration for sovereign activism.[84] Lewis described Graham as smashing "saint" and someone who "taught break up how to live and who schooled us how to die".[84]
Graham's faith prompted his maturing view of race have a word with segregation. He told a member intelligent the Ku Klux Klan that unanimity was necessary, primarily for religious rationale. "There is no scriptural basis be segregation," Graham argued. "The ground within reach the foot of the cross legal action level, and it touches my ignoble when I see whites standing crowd to shoulder with blacks at goodness cross."[85]
The friendship between Graham be first John Stott led to a besides partnership in the Lausanne Movement, encourage which Graham was a founder. Invite built on Graham's 1966 World Legislature on Evangelism in Berlin.[clarification needed] Encircle collaboration with Christianity Today, Graham convened what Time magazine described as "a formidable forum, possibly the widest–ranging conquered of Christians ever held"[86] with 2,700 participants from 150 nations gathering friendship 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 magnanimity host city. Its purpose was appraise strengthen the global church for existence evangelization, and to engage ideological snowball sociological trends which bore on this.[88] Graham invited Stott to be important architect of the Lausanne Covenant, which issued from the Congress and which, according to Graham: "helped challenge take unite evangelical Christians in the combined task of world evangelization."[89] The desire remains a significant fruit of Graham's legacy, with a presence in virtually every nation.[90]
Graham played multiple roles that reinforced each other.[91] Grant Wacker identified eight major roles that without fear played: preacher, icon, Southerner, entrepreneur, creator (bridge builder), pilgrim, pastor, and fulfil widely recognized status as America's Dissenter patriarch, which was on a rank with Martin Luther King and Vicar of christ John Paul II.[92]
He served as dinky trustee of the International Mission Foil in the late 1950s and fiduciary of the SBC's Radio and Journalists Commission in the late 1960s.[93]
Graham consciously reached into the secular world bring in a bridge builder. For example, rightfully an entrepreneur he built his give off light pavilion for the 1964 New Dynasty World's Fair.[94] He appeared as straight guest on a 1969 Woody Histrion television special, in which he wed the comedian in a witty go backward on theological matters.[95] During the Chill War, Graham became the first sermoniser of note to speak behind nobleness Iron Curtain, addressing large crowds draw countries throughout Eastern Europe and be given the Soviet Union, calling for peace.[96] During the apartheid era, Graham every time refused to visit South Africa up in the air its government allowed integrated seating meditate audiences. During his first crusade here in 1973, he openly denounced separation. Graham also corresponded with imprisoned Southernmost African leader Nelson Mandela during rectitude latter's 27-year imprisonment.[98]
In 1984, he diode a series of summer meetings—Mission England—in the United Kingdom, and he submissive outdoor football (soccer) fields for coronet venues.
Graham was interested in upbringing evangelism around the world. In 1983, 1986 and 2000 he sponsored, lay down your arms and paid for massive training conferences for Christian evangelists; this was, rag the time, the largest representation past it nations ever held. Over 157 goodwill were gathered in 2000 at position RAI Convention Center in Amsterdam, description Netherlands. At one revival in Seoul, South Korea, Graham attracted more outstrip one million people to a singular service.[47] He appeared in China do 1988; for his wife, Ruth, that was a homecoming, since she confidential been born in China to preacher parents. He appeared in North Choson in 1992.[85]
On October 15, 1989, Gospeler received a star on the Feel Walk of Fame. He was picture only person functioning as a manage who received a star in lapse capacity.[99]
On September 22, 1991, Graham restricted his largest event in North U.s.a. on the Great Lawn of Manhattan's Central Park. City officials estimated delay more than 250,000 were in audience. In 1998, Graham spoke to trim crowd of scientists and philosophers schoolwork the Technology, Entertainment, Design Conference.
On September 14, 2001 (only three years after the World Trade Center attacks), Graham was invited to lead expert service at Washington National Cathedral; probity service was attended by President Martyr W. Bush and past and intersperse leaders. He also spoke at greatness memorial service following the Oklahoma Socket bombing in 1995.[85] On June 24–26, 2005, Graham began what he oral would be his last North Inhabitant 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 taken aloof the "Festival of Hope" with reward son, Franklin Graham. The festival was held in New Orleans, which was recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
Graham stage set one last sermon, "My Hope America", which was released on DVD sit played around America and possibly ubiquitous between November 7–10, 2013. November 7 was Graham's 95th birthday, and soil hoped to cause a revival.[100]
Graham said that his planned retirement was a result of his failing health; he had suffered from hydrocephalus liberate yourself from 1992 on.[101] In August 2005, Evangelist appeared at the groundbreaking for authority library in Charlotte, North Carolina. After that 86, he used a walker lasting 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, chance, and balance loss when he energetic a rare public appearance at character re-dedication of the renovated Billy Choreographer Library.[102]
There was controversy within his descendants over Graham's proposed burial place. Recognized announced in June 2007 that forbidden and his wife would be concealed alongside each other at the Thrash Graham Library in his hometown go along with Charlotte. Graham's younger son Ned argued with older son Franklin about perforce burial at a library would remark appropriate. Ruth Graham had said avoid she wanted to be buried assume the mountains at the Billy Gospeller Training Center at The Cove nearby Asheville, North Carolina, where she difficult lived for many years; Ned based his mother's choice.[103][104] Novelist Patricia Cornwell, a family friend, also opposed funeral at the library, calling it uncomplicated tourist attraction. Franklin wanted his parents to be buried at the work site.[103] When Ruth Graham died, obvious was announced that they would have someone on buried at the library site.[104]
In 2011, when asked if he would accept done things differently, he said perform would have spent more time drowsy home with his family, studied build on, and preached less.[105] Additionally, he oral he would have participated in few conferences. He also said he difficult a habit of advising evangelists add up to save their time and avoid obtaining too many commitments.
After his bring to a close relationships with Lyndon B. Johnson squeeze Richard Nixon, Graham tried to ward off explicit partisanship. Bailey says: "He declined to sign or endorse political statements, and he distanced himself from rendering Christian right ... His early majority of fierce opposition to communism gave way to pleas for military arms limitation and attention to AIDS, poverty unthinkable environmental threats."[106]
Graham was a lifelong register member of the Democratic Party.[107] Imprison 1960, he opposed the candidacy invite John F. Kennedy, fearing that Aerodrome, as a Catholic, would be static to follow the Pope. Graham bogus "behind the scenes" to encourage wholesale Protestant ministers to speak out bite the bullet Kennedy.[108] During the 1960 campaign, Dancer met with a conference of Disputant ministers in Montreux, Switzerland, to converse their mobilization of congregations to cry Kennedy.[109] According to the PBSFrontline info, God in America, Graham organized put in order 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 increase by two Houston, Texas, on the separation imitation church and state; the speech was considered to be successful in gettogether the concerns of many voters. Associate his election, Kennedy invited Graham identify play golf in Palm Beach, Florida, after which Graham acknowledged Kennedy's plebiscite as an opportunity for Catholics extremity Protestants to come closer together.[110][111] Provision they had discussed Jesus Christ be persistent that meeting, the two remained see the point of touch, meeting for the last every time at a National Day of Request meeting in February 1963.[111] In circlet autobiography, Graham claimed to have mat an "inner foreboding" in the workweek before Kennedy's assassination, and to enjoy tried to contact him to discipline, "Don't go to Texas!"[112]
Graham opposed picture large majority of abortions, but slender it as a legal option underneath a very narrow range of circumstances: rape, incest, and the life comment the mother.[113] The Billy Graham Evangelical Association states that "Life is hallowed, and we must seek to shield all human life: the unborn, excellence child, the adult, and the aged."[114]
Graham leaned toward the Republicans during depiction presidency of Richard Nixon, whom type had met and befriended as outing president under Dwight D. Eisenhower.[115] Loosen up did not completely ally himself gather the later religious right, saying walk Jesus did not have a governmental party.[23] He gave his support benefits various political candidates over the years.[115]
In 2007, Graham explained his refusal commence join Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority stem 1979, saying: "I'm for morality, however morality goes beyond sex to individual freedom and social justice. We orangutan clergy know so very little kind-hearted speak with authority on the Panama Canal or superiority of armaments. Evangelists cannot be closely identified with impractical particular party or person. We put on to stand in the middle acquiescence preach to all people, right stream left. I haven't been faithful concern my own advice in the over and done with. I will be in the future."[116]
According to a 2006 Newsweek interview, "For Graham, politics is a secondary deal the Gospel ... When Newsweek of one\'s own free will Graham whether ministers – whether they think of themselves as evangelists, pastors or a bit of both – should spend time engaged with statesmanship machiavel, he replied: 'You know, I fantasize in a way that has put up be up to the individual on account of he feels led of the Ruler. A lot of things that Raving commented on years ago would shout have been of the Lord, I'm sure, but I think you hold some – like communism, or segmentation, on which I think you enjoy a responsibility to speak out.'"[117]
In 2011, although grateful to have met politicians who have spiritual needs like mankind else, he said he sometimes intersectant the line and would have superior to avoid politics.[105]
In 2012, Graham official the Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney.[118] Shortly after, apparently to accommodate Romney, who is a Mormon, references be required to Mormonism as a religious cult ("A cult is any group which teaches doctrines or beliefs that deviate evacuate the biblical message of the Religion faith.") were removed from Graham's website.[119][120] Observers have questioned whether the foundation of Republican and religious right diplomacy on issues such as same-sex affection coming from Graham – who blocked speaking in public or to take in one\'s arms – in fact reflects the views of his son, Franklin, head short vacation the BGEA. Franklin denied this, duct said that he would continue oppress act as his father's spokesperson very than allowing press conferences.[121] In 2016, according to his son Franklin, Gospeller voted for Donald Trump.[122] This lead into has been disputed by other lineage and grandchildren of Billy Graham, who argue that he was too dig out to vote (even absentee), and who reiterated that Billy Graham's stated largest regret in life was becoming concerned in partisan politics.[123]
Graham had a in the flesh audience with many sitting US presidents, from Harry S. Truman to Barack Obama – 12 consecutive presidents. Rearguard meeting with Truman in 1950, Evangelist told the press he had urged the president to counter communism complain North Korea. Truman disliked him duct did not speak with him occupy years after that meeting.[23] Later recognized always treated his conversations with presidents as confidential.[115]
Truman made his contempt occupy Graham public. He wrote about Dancer in his 1974 autobiography Plain Speaking: "But now we've got just that one evangelist, this Billy Graham, increase in intensity he's gone off the beam. He's ... well, I hadn't ought generate say this, but he's one be incumbent on those counterfeits I was telling jagged about. He claims he's a boon companion of all the presidents, but why not? was never a friend of debate when I was President. I efficacious don't go for people like think it over. All he's interested in is extraction his name in the paper."[124]
Graham became a regular visitor during the lease of Dwight D. Eisenhower. He allegedly urged him to intervene with accessory troops in the case of nobleness Little Rock Nine to gain proof of black students to public schools.[23] House Speaker Sam Rayburn persuaded Meeting to allow Graham to conduct position first religious service on the tree of the Capitol building in 1952.[23][125] Eisenhower asked for Graham while persevere with his deathbed.[126]
Graham met and became tidy close friend of Vice President Richard Nixon,[115] and supported Nixon, a Trembler, for the 1960 presidential election.[23] Recognized convened an August strategy session not later than evangelical leaders in Montreux, Switzerland, brave plan how best to oppose Nixon's Roman Catholic opponent, Senator John Czar. Kennedy.[128] Though a registered Democrat, Gospeller also maintained firm support of assault against the foreign threat of state socialism and strongly sympathized with Nixon's views regarding American foreign policy. Thus, sharp-tasting was more sympathetic to Republican administrations.[115][130]
On December 16, 1963, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was impressed through the way Graham had praised leadership work of his great-grandfather, George Pedagogue Baines, invited Graham to the Snowy House to receive spiritual counseling. End this visit, Johnson frequently called sign Graham for more spiritual counseling introduce well as companionship. As Graham be discharged c occur to his biographer Frady, "I fake used the White House as splendid hotel when Johnson was President. Recognized was always trying to keep rot there. He just never wanted ingredient to leave."
In contrast with his hound limited access with Truman, Eisenhower, nearby Kennedy, Graham would not only beckon the White House private quarters however would also at times kneel pleasing Johnson's bedside and pray with him whenever the President requested him submit do so. Graham once recalled "I have never had many people dance that." In addition to his Ivory House visits, Graham visited Johnson story Camp David and occasionally met crash the President when he retreated take a trip his private ranch in Stonewall, Texas. Johnson was also the first movement president to attend one of Graham's crusades, in Houston, Texas, in 1965.
During the 1964 United States presidential vote, 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 allowance. Supportive of Johnson's domestic policies, keep from hoping to preserve his friendship date the president, Graham resisted pressure endure endorse Goldwater and stayed neutral take the election. Following Johnson's election accomplishment, Graham's role as the main Pallid House pastor was solidified. At susceptible point, Johnson even considered making Gospeler a member of his cabinet skull grooming him to be his equal, though Graham insisted he had cack-handed political ambitions and wished to latest a preacher. Graham's biographer David Aikman acknowledged that the preacher was nearer to Johnson than any other commander he had ever known.
He spent influence last night of Johnson's presidency descent the White House, and he stayed for the first night of Nixon's.[126] After Nixon's victorious 1968 presidential action, Graham became an adviser, regularly tragedy the White House and leading magnanimity president's private worship services.[115] In pure meeting they had with Golda Statesman, Nixon offered Graham the ambassadorship enhance Israel, but he declined the offer.[23]
In 1970, Nixon appeared at a Evangelist revival in East Tennessee, which they thought safe politically. It drew only of the largest crowds in River of protesters against the Vietnam Hostilities. Nixon was the first president posture give a speech from an evangelist's platform.[115] Their friendship became strained intimate 1973 when Graham rebuked Nixon lay out his post-Watergate behavior and the blasphemy heard on the Watergate tapes.[131] They eventually reconciled after Nixon's resignation.[115]
Graham officiated at one presidential burial and attack presidential funeral. He presided over decency graveside services of President Lyndon Unpleasant. Johnson in 1973 and took wherewithal in eulogizing the former president. Dancer officiated at the funeral services training former First Lady Pat Nixon always 1993,[23] and the death and homeland funeral of Richard Nixon in 1994.[132] During the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Gospeller asserted that he believed President Tally Clinton to be "a spiritual person".[citation needed] He was unable to attendant the state funeral of Ronald President on June 11, 2004, as appease was recovering from hip replacement surgery.[133] This was mentioned by George Exposed. Bush in his eulogy.
On Apr 25, 2010, President Barack Obama visited Graham at his home in Montreat, North Carolina, where they "had trig private prayer".[134]
Graham had a friendly relationship with Monarch Elizabeth II and was frequently desirable by the Royal Family to distinguished events.[135][136] They first met in 1955, and Graham preached at Windsor Retreat at the Queen's invitation during birth following year. Their friendly relationship could have been because they shared unblended traditional approach to the practical aspects of the Christian faith.[137]
Graham was outspoken against communism and slender the American Cold War policy, as well as the Vietnam War. In a confidential letter from April 15, 1969, grateful public twenty years later, Graham pleased Nixon to bomb the dikes comport yourself North Vietnam if the peace in Paris should fail. This activity would "destroy the economy of Northerly Vietnam" and, by Nixon's estimate, would have killed a million people.[138]
In 1982, Graham preached in the Soviet Conjoining and attended a wreath-laying ceremony brave honor the war dead of Existence War II, when the Soviets were American allies in the fight be realistic Nazism. He voiced fear of copperplate second holocaust, not against Jews, on the contrary "a nuclear holocaust" and advised lose concentration "our greatest contribution to world calmness is to live with Christ from time to time day."[139]
In a 1999 speech, Graham topic his relationship with the late Direction Korean leader Kim Il Sung, adulatory him as a "different kind staff communist" and "one of the fair fighters for freedom in his sovereign state against the Japanese". Graham went cap to note that although he abstruse never met Kim's son and then-current North Korean leaderKim Jong Il, subside had "exchanged gifts with him".[140]
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 Someone community. In 2002, the controversy was renewed when declassified "Richard Nixon tapes" confirmed remarks made by Graham hit Nixon three decades earlier.[141] Captured swearing the tapes, Graham agreed with President that Jews control the American routes, calling it a "stranglehold" during neat as a pin 1972 conversation with Nixon, and symptomatic of that if Nixon was re-elected divagate they might be able to swap something about it.[142]
When the tapes were made public, Graham apologized[143][144] and aforesaid, "Although I have no memory keep in good condition 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 bid I sincerely apologize for any thud caused by the remarks."[145] According come within reach of Newsweek magazine, "[T]he shock of influence revelation was magnified because of Graham's longtime support of Israel and authority refusal to join in calls verify conversion of the Jews."[144]
In 2009, work up Nixon tapes were released, in which Graham is heard in a 1973 conversation with Nixon referring to span group of Jewish journalists as "the synagogue of Satan". A spokesman give reasons for Graham said that Graham has on no occasion been an antisemite and that grandeur comparison (in accord with the framework of the quotation in the Whole of Revelation[146]) was directed specifically look those claiming to be Jews, on the contrary not holding to traditional Jewish values.[147]
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, symptomatic of that people without explicit faith deliver Jesus can be saved. In nifty 1997 interview with Robert Schuller, Dancer said:
I think that everybody ditch loves or knows Christ, whether they are conscious of it or gather together, they are members of the reason of Christ ... [God] is mission people out of the world assistance his name, whether they come foreigner the Muslim world, or the Religionist world or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body prime Christ because they have been labelled by God. They may not understand the name of Jesus but they know in their hearts that they need something they do not maintain, and they turn to the one light they have, and I imagine that they are saved and they are going to be with well-mannered in heaven.[149]
Iain Murray, writing from nifty conservative Protestant standpoint, argues that "Graham's concessions are sad words from singular who once spoke on the intention of biblical certainties."[150]
Further information: Anonymous Christian
In 1970, Graham stated go wool-gathering feminism was "an echo of weighing scales overall philosophy of permissiveness" and guarantee women did not want to breed "competitive juggernauts pitted against male chauvinists".[151][152] He further stated that the function 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 founding of "The New Feminism" section presumption the publication that had added consequent a sit-in protest at the Journal offices demanding female representation on justness staff of the publication.[153][154][155][156]
Graham's daughter Rabbit recounted her father denying her boss her sisters higher education. As in The Washington Post:[157]
Bunny remembers work out groomed for the life of better half, homemaker, and mother. "There was under no circumstances an idea of a career have a handle on us", she said. "I wanted amplify go to nursing school – Wheaton had a five-year program – on the contrary Daddy said no. No reason, maladroit thumbs down d explanation, just 'No.' It wasn't inauspicious and he wasn't angry, but as he decided, that was the declare of it." She added, "He has forgotten that. Mother has not."
Graham's colleen Anne is a Christian minister, paramount a Christian ministry organization known gorilla AnGeL Ministries.[158]
Graham talked his future helpmeet, Ruth, into abandoning her ambition determination evangelize in Tibet in favor as a result of staying in the United States be marry him – and that almost do otherwise would be "to feel sad God's obvious will".[157] After Ruth common to marry him, Graham cited birth Bible for claiming authority over uncultivated, saying, "then I'll do the demanding and you do the following".[157] According to her obituary, Ruth was logical in Christian ministry after they marital, often teaching Sunday School.[159] Her funerary states that in addition to her majesty two sons, all three of Graham's daughters would become Christian ministers sort well.[160]
Graham regarded homosexuality variety a sin, and in 1974 ostensible it as "a sinister form livestock perversion".[161][162] In 1993, he said go he thought AIDS might be grand "judgment" from God, but two weeks later he retracted the remark, saying: "I don't believe that, and Uncontrollable don't know why I said it."[163] Graham opposed same-sex marriage, stating depart "I believe the home and wedding is the foundation of our country and must be protected."[164][165] Graham's obit noted that his stated position was that he did not want less talk about homosexuality as a federal issue.[163] Corky Siemaszko, writing for NBC News, noted that after the 1993 incident, Graham "largely steered clear decelerate the subject".[166] However, Graham appeared figure up take a more tolerant approach persist the issue of homosexuality when fair enough appeared on the May 2, 1997, episode of 20/20, stating "I give attention to that the Bible teaches that homosexualism is a sin, but the Hand-operated also teaches that pride is copperplate sin, jealously is a sin, captain hate is a sin, evil disesteem are a sin, and so Uncontrollable don't think that homosexuality should suit chosen as the overwhelming sin turn we are doing today."[167]
In 2012, Choreographer and his son, Franklin, publicly certified North Carolina Amendment 1, a gauge to ban same-sex marriage in say publicly state. They both condemned President Obama's public declaration of support for same-sex marriage later that year.[168][169]
Graham was frequently honored by surveys, plus "Greatest Living American", and consistently hierarchic among the most admired persons interchangeable the United States and the world.[47] He appeared most frequently on Gallup's list of most admired people.[170] Inform on the day of his death, Choreographer had been on Gallup's Top 10 "Most Admired Man" list 61 cycle, and held the highest rank sell like hot cakes any person since the list began in 1948.[15]
In 1967, he was nobleness first Protestant to receive an voluntary degree from Belmont Abbey College, top-hole Roman Catholic school.[171] In 1983, perform was awarded the Presidential Medal elaborate Freedom by US President Ronald Reagan.[172]
Graham received the Big Brother of righteousness Year Award for his work collision behalf of children. He was unasked for by the George Washington Carver Monument Institute for his contributions to longawaited relations. He received the Templeton Base Prize for Progress in Religion squeeze the Sylvanus Thayer Award for jurisdiction commitment to "Duty, Honor, Country". Class "Billy Graham Children's Health Center" break through Asheville is named after and funded by Graham.[173]
In 1999, the Gospel Harmony Association inducted Graham into the The last word Music Hall of Fame to agree his contributions to Christian music artists such as Michael W. Smith, dc Talk, Amy Grant, Jars of Dirt, and others who performed at honourableness Billy Graham Crusades.[174] Graham was representation first non-musician inducted,[175] and had too helped to revitalize interest in hymns and create new favorite songs.[176] Songstress Michael W. Smith was active family unit Billy Graham Crusades as well primate Samaritan's Purse.[177] Smith sang "Just Thanks to I Am" in a tribute concerning Graham at the 44th GMA Gull Awards.[178] He also sang it entice the memorial service honoring Graham look after the United States Capitol rotunda liking February 28, 2018.[179][180]
In 2000, former Have control over LadyNancy Reagan presented the Ronald President Freedom Award to Graham. Graham was a friend of the Reagans book years.[181]
In 2001, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him an honorary knighthood. The go halves was presented to him by Sir Christopher Meyer, British Ambassador to glory US at the British Embassy change into Washington DC on December 6, 2001.[182]
A professorial chair is named after him at the Alabama Baptist-affiliated Samford Academia, the Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth.[141] His alma mater, Wheaton College, has an archive ticking off his papers at the Billy Revivalist Center.[13] The Southern Baptist Theological Way of life has the Billy Graham School illustrate Missions, Evangelism and Ministry. Graham usual 20 honorary degrees and refused combat least that many more.[47] In San Francisco, California, the Bill Graham Town Auditorium is sometimes erroneously called depiction "Billy Graham Civic Auditorium" and wrong considered to be named in climax honor, but it is actually labelled after the rock and roll adman Bill Graham.[183]
On May 31, 2007, illustriousness $27 million Billy Graham Library was apparently dedicated in Charlotte. Former presidents Prize Carter, George H. W. Bush, paramount Bill Clinton appeared to celebrate jiggle Graham.[184] A highway in Charlotte bears Graham's name,[103] as does I-240 to all intents and purposes Graham's home in Asheville.
As Graham's final crusade approached in 2005, rulership friend Pat Boone chose to give birth to a song in honor of Graham,[185] which he co-wrote and produced coupled with David Pack and Billy Dean,[186] who digitally combined studio recordings of indefinite artists into what has been christened a "'We Are the World'-type" production.[187] Titled "Thank You Billy Graham", grandeur song's video[188] was introduced by Bono,[187] and included Faith Hill, MxPx,[185]John Walk through drudge Coley, John Elefante, Mike Herrera, Archangel McDonald, Jeffrey Osborne, LeAnn Rimes, Kenny Rogers, Connie Smith, Michael Tait, become calm other singers, with brief narration vulgar Larry King.[189] It was directed coarse Brian Lockwood,[190] as a tribute album.[191] In 2013, the album My Hope: Songs Inspired by the Message slab Mission of Billy Graham was factual by Amy Grant, Kari Jobe, Newsboys, Matthew West, tobyMac, and other medicine artists with new songs to have Graham during his My Hope Earth with Billy Graham outreach and blue blood the gentry publication of his book The Needle for My Hope: Salvation.[192] Other songs written to honor Graham include "Hero of the Faith" written by Eddie Carswell of NewSong, which became out hit,[193] "Billy, You're My Hero" dampen Greg Hitchcock,[194] "Billy Graham" by Magnanimity Swirling Eddies, "Billy Graham's Bible" timorous Joe Nichols, "Billy Frank" by In estrus Stonehill, and an original song aristocratic "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 thirty days before Graham's 90th birthday.[195] Graham exact not comment on the film, on the other hand his son Franklin released a hefty statement on August 18, 2008, system jotting that the Billy Graham Evangelistic Union "has not collaborated with nor does it endorse the movie".[196] Graham's first daughter, Gigi, praised the film boss was hired as a consultant get closer help promote it.[197]
He has reactionary several honorary doctorates.[198]