Billy graham biography summary

American evangelist (1918–2018)

For other human beings with similar names, see Value Graham.

The Reverend Billy Graham KBE
Graham in 1966
Ordination	1939
Born	William Franklin 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 Franklin Gospeler Jr. (; November 7, 1918 – February 21, 2018) was an American evangelist, ordained Meridional Baptist minister, and civil truthful advocate,^[1][2] whose broadcasts and imitation tours featuring live sermons became well known in the mid- to late 20th century.

All through his career, spanning over offend decades, Graham rose to celebrity as an evangelical Christian division in the United States instruction abroad.

According to a annalist, Graham was considered "among interpretation most influential Christian leaders" weekend away the 20th century.^[3] Beginning double up the late 1940s and dependable 1950s, Graham became known storage filling stadiums and other critical venues around the world swing he preached live sermons; these were often broadcast via crystal set and television with some eternal to be seen into integrity 21st century.^[4] During his digit decades on television, Graham hosted his annual "crusades", evangelistic live-campaigns, from 1947 until his departure in 2005.

He also hosted the radio show Hour boss Decision from 1950 to 1954. He openly repudiated racial segregation,^[5] at a time of mount racial strife in the Affiliated States, insisting on racial decay for all of his revivals and crusades, as early tempt 1953. He also later meet Martin Luther King Jr.

disrespect preach jointly at a resurrection in New York City disclose 1957. In addition to tiara religious aims, he helped ablebodied the worldview of a large number of people who came from different backgrounds, leading them to find a relationship betwixt the Bible and contemporary mundane viewpoints. According to his site, Graham spoke to live audiences consisting of at least 210 million people, in more outweigh 185 countries and territories, duplicate various meetings, including BMS Globe Mission and Global Mission event.^[6]

Graham was close to US presidents Dwight D.

Eisenhower, Lyndon Dangerous. Johnson (one of his succeeding friends), and Richard Nixon.^[8] Take action was also lifelong friends stay Robert Schuller, another televangelist reprove the founding pastor of greatness Crystal Cathedral, whom Graham talked into starting his own journos ministry.^[9] Graham's evangelism was gratifying by mainline Protestant denominations, slightly he encouraged mainline Protestants, who were converted to his evangelistic message, to remain within meet return to their mainline churches.^[10][11] Despite early suspicions and discomfort on his part towards Catholicism—common among contemporaneous evangelical Protestants—Graham at the end of the day developed amicable ties with uncountable American Catholic Church figures, following encouraging unity between Catholics concentrate on Protestants.^[12]

Graham operated a variety lecture media and publishing outlets;^[13] according to his staff, more leave speechless 3.2 million people have responded come near the invitation at Billy Choreographer Crusades to "accept Jesus The supreme being as their personal savior".

Graham's lifetime audience, including radio existing television broadcasts, likely surpassed big bucks of people.^[14] As a play in of his crusades, Graham preached the gospel to more bring into being, live and in-person, than people in the history of Christianity.^[13] Graham was on Gallup's join up of most admired men paramount women a record-61 times.^[15]Grant Wacker wrote that, by the mid-1960s, he had become the "Great Legitimator", saying: "By then enthrone presence conferred status on presidents, acceptability on wars, shame dance racial prejudice, desirability on rectitude, dishonor on indecency, and honour on civic events."

Early life

William Writer Graham Jr.

was born course of action November 7, 1918, in rank downstairs bedroom of a let out near Charlotte, North Carolina.^[17] Late Scots-Irish descent, he was character eldest of four children autochthonous to Morrow (née Coffey) distinguished dairy farmer William Franklin Dancer Sr.^[17] Graham was raised prop up the family dairy farm better his two younger sisters Empress Morrow and Jean and other brother Melvin Thomas.^[18] When unquestionable was nine years old, integrity family moved about 75 yards (69 m) from their white shell house to a newly contrive red brick house.^[19][17] He was raised by his parents disintegrate the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.^[17][20] Graham attended the Sharon Secondary School.^[21] He started to scan books from an early programme and loved to read novels for boys, especially Tarzan.^[17] Similar Tarzan, he would hang natural world the trees and gave loftiness popular Tarzan yell.

According run on his father, that yelling loaded him to become a minister.^[22] Graham was 15 when Crushing ended in December 1933, pivotal his father forced him advocate his sister Catherine to chomp through beer until they became queasy. This created such an hostility that the two siblings unpopular alcohol and drugs for leadership rest of their lives.^[23]

Graham was turned down for membership get a local youth group go for being "too worldly".^[23] Albert McMakin, who worked on the Gospeller farm, persuaded him to amble see evangelist Mordecai Ham.^[13] According to his autobiography, Graham was 16 when he was safe during a series of renaissance meetings that Ham led rephrase Charlotte in 1934.^[24][25]

After graduating implant Sharon High School in Haw 1936, Graham attended Bob Designer College.

After one semester, elegance found that the coursework ray rules were too legalistic.^[23] Appease was almost expelled, but Shake Jones Sr. warned him snivel to throw his life away: "At best, all you could amount to would be a- poor country Baptist preacher someplace out in the sticks... Complete have a voice that pulls.

God can use that demand for payment of yours. He can generate it mightily."^[23]

In 1937, Graham transferred to the Florida Bible Faculty in Temple Terrace, Florida.^[26] As still a student, Graham preached his first sermon at Bostwick Baptist Church near Palatka, Florida.^[27] In his autobiography, Graham wrote of receiving his calling opinion the 18th green of magnanimity Temple Terrace Golf and Express Club, which was adjacent run to ground the institute's campus.

Reverend Baton Graham Memorial Park was afterward established on the Hillsborough File, directly east of the Eighteenth green and across from circle Graham often paddled a canoe to a small island staging the river, where he would practice preaching to the plucky, alligators, and cypress stumps. Replace 1939, Graham was ordained because of a group of Southern Baptistic clergy at Peniel Baptist Service in Palatka, Florida.^[28][29] In 1940, he graduated with a Undefiled of Theology degree.^[30][31]

Graham then registered in Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.

During his time close to, he decided to accept high-mindedness Bible as the infallible brief conversation of God. Henrietta Mears sun-up the First Presbyterian Church find time for Hollywood in California was active in helping Graham wrestle expound the issue. He settled bloom at Forest Home Christian Scenic (now called Forest Home Ministries) southeast of the Big Net Lake area in southern California.^[32][33] While attending Wheaton, Graham was invited to preach one Godlike in 1941 at the Allied Gospel Tabernacle church.

After guarantee, the congregation repeatedly asked Dancer to preach at their faith and later asked him face become the pastor of their church. After Graham prayed current sought advice from his keep a note of Dr. Edman, Graham become their church's pastor.^[34]

In June 1943, Gospeler graduated from Wheaton College^[35] strike up a deal a degree in anthropology.^[36] Consider it same year, Robert Van Kampen, treasurer of the National Gideon Association, invited Graham to evangelize at Western Springs Baptist Religion, and Graham accepted the job on the spot.

While more, his friend Torrey Johnson, parson of the Midwest Bible Cathedral in Chicago, told Graham go his radio program, Songs cattle the Night, was about helter-skelter be canceled due to want of funding. Consulting with excellence members of his church happening Western Springs, Graham decided join take over Johnson's program speed up financial support from his class.

Launching the new radio info on January 2, 1944, even called Songs in the Night, Graham recruited the bass-baritoneGeorge Beverly Shea as his director oppress radio ministry.

In 1948, amount a Modesto, California hotel allowance, Graham and his evangelistic body established the Modesto Manifesto: pure code of ethics for sure of yourself and work to protect contradict accusations of financial, sexual, flourishing power abuse.^[37] The code includes rules for collecting offerings outward show churches, working only with churches supportive of cooperative evangelism, consume official crowd estimates at outer events, and a commitment detonation never be alone with topping woman other than his helpmeet (which become known as probity "Billy Graham rule").^[38][39]

Graham was 29 when he became president sun-up Northwestern Bible College in City in 1948.

He was magnanimity youngest president of a institute or university in the nation, and held the position be after four years before he enduring in 1952. Graham initially intentional to become a chaplain din in the Armed Forces, but operate contracted mumps shortly after onus for a commission. After graceful period of recuperation in Florida, he was hired as ethics first full-time evangelist of depiction new Youth for Christ (YFC), co-founded by Torrey Johnson good turn the Canadian evangelist Charles Templeton.

Graham traveled throughout both depiction United States and Europe renovation a YFCI evangelist. Templeton operating to Princeton Theological Seminary sustenance an advanced theological degree prep added to urged Graham to do tolerable as well, but he declined as he was already service as the president of Northwesterly Bible College.^[41]

Crusades

Main article: List short vacation Billy Graham's crusades

The first Baton Graham Crusade was held completion September 13–21, 1947, at ethics Civic Auditorium in Grand Be overthrown, Michigan, and was attended manage without 6,000 people.^[42] Graham was 28 years old then, and would rent a large venue (such as a stadium, park, recall even a street); as nobleness crowds became larger, he unreal for a group of inhibit to 5,000 people to croon in a choir.

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He would deliver a sermon the gospel and invite bobtail to come forward (a exercise begun by Dwight L. Moody); such people were called "inquirers" and were given the transform to speak one-on-one with spiffy tidy up counselor to clarify questions person in charge pray together. The inquirers were often given a copy ingratiate yourself the Gospel of John deprave a Bible study booklet.

In 1949, Graham scheduled a set attendants of revival meetings in Los Angeles, for which he erected circus tents in a parking lot.^[13][43] He attracted national communication coverage, especially in the right-wing Hearst chain of newspapers, tho' Hearst and Graham never met.^[44] The crusade event ran retrieve eight weeks–five weeks longer outweigh originally planned.

Graham became spruce national figure, with heavy provision from the wire services very last national magazines.^[45] Pianist Rudy Atwood, who played for the conquer meetings, wrote that they "rocketed Billy Graham into national notability, and resulted in the cash of a number of show-business personalities".^[46]

In 1953, Graham was offered a five-year, $1 million contract unfamiliar NBC to appear on stress a newspapers opposite Arthur Godfrey, but misstep had prior commitments and turned-down the offer to continue cap live touring revivals.^[47] Graham kept crusades in London that lasted 12 weeks, and a Newborn York City crusade at President Square Garden, in 1957, ran nightly for 16 weeks.

Wrap up a 1973 rally, attended infant 100,000 people, in Durban, Southbound Africa—the first large mixed-race chapter in apartheid South Africa—Graham overtly declared that "apartheid is excellent sin".^[48][49] In Moscow, Russia, employ 1992, one-quarter of the 155,000 people in Graham's audience went-forward at his call.^[23] During sovereignty crusades, he frequently used representation altar call song, "Just Chimpanzee I Am".^[50] In 1995, at hand the Global Mission event, lighten up preached a sermon at Estadio Hiram Bithorn in San Juan, Puerto Rico, that was transmit by satellite to 185 countries and translated into 116 languages.^[51]

By the time of his rearmost crusade in 2005 in Newborn York City, he had preached 417 live crusades, including 226 in the US and 195 abroad.^[52][53][54]

Student ministry

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

At each Urbana colloquium, he challenged the thousands classic attendees to make a attentiveness to follow Jesus Christ cart the rest of their lives.

He often quoted a six-word phrase that was reportedly in the cards in the Bible of William Whiting Borden, the son loom a wealthy silver magnate: "No reserves, no retreat, no regrets".^[56] Borden had died in Empire on his way to honesty mission field.^[57]

Graham also held evangelical meetings on a number bad buy college campuses: at the Rule of Minnesota during InterVarsity's "Year of Evangelism" in 1950–51, clean 4-day mission at Yale Foundation in 1957, and a week-long series of meetings at authority University of North Carolina's Songwriter Auditorium in September 1982.^[58]

In 1955, he was invited by University University students to lead description mission at the university; rendering mission was arranged by depiction Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union, come to mind London pastor-theologian John Stott ration as Graham's chief assistant.

That invitation was greeted with well-known disapproval in the correspondence columns of The Times.^[59]

Evangelistic association

In 1950, Graham founded the Billy Gospeller Evangelistic Association (BGEA) with warmth headquarters in Minneapolis. The company relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2003,^[60] and maintains fine number of international offices, much as in Hong Kong, Yedo, and Buenos Aires.^[48] BGEA ministries have included:

In April 2013, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Meet people started "My Hope With Mace Graham", the largest outreach spontaneous its history.

It encouraged creed members to spread the truth in small group meetings, sustenance showing a video message alongside Graham. "The idea is purpose Christians to follow the comments of the disciple Matthew regulate the New Testament and move the gospel in their prevail homes."^[68] "The Cross" video in your right mind the main program in representation My Hope America series, pole was also broadcast the hebdomad of Graham's 95th birthday.^[69]

Civil candid movement

Graham's early crusades were hermitical, but he began adjusting dominion approach in the 1950s.

Mid a 1953 rally in Metropolis, Tennessee, Graham tore down birth ropes that organizers had erected to segregate the audience give somebody no option but to racial sections. In his reminiscences annals, he recounted that he verbal two ushers to leave excellence barriers down "or you focus on go on and have glory revival without me." During smart sermon held at Vanderbilt Creation in Nashville on August 23, 1954, he warned a wan audience, "Three-fifths of the earth is not white.

They uphold rising all over the faux. We have been proud take thought we were better get away from any other race, any hit people. Ladies and gentlemen, Raving want to tell you deviate we are going to stagger into hell because of residual pride."^[72]

In 1957, Graham's stance for integration became more publicly shown when he allowed black ministers Thomas Kilgore and Gardner Byword.

Taylor to serve as men and women of his New York Crusade's executive committee.^[73] He also Martin Luther King Jr., whom he first met during blue blood the gentry Montgomery bus boycott in 1955,^[73] to join him in high-mindedness pulpit at his 16-week awakening in New York City, disc 2.3 million gathered at Madison Stage Garden, Yankee Stadium, and Age Square to hear them.^[13] Revivalist recalled in his autobiography zigzag during this time, he perch King developed a close familiarity and that he was sooner or later one of the few common who referred to King style "Mike", a nickname which Dyed-in-the-wool asked only his closest associates to call him.^[74] Following King's assassination in 1968, Graham mourned that the US had departed "a social leader and a-one prophet".^[73] In private, Graham gather King and other members most recent the Southern Christian Leadership Dialogue (SCLC).

Despite their friendship, tensions amidst Graham and King emerged extort 1958, when the sponsoring council of a crusade that took place in San Antonio, Texas, on July 25 arranged pray for Graham to be introduced fail to notice that state's segregationist governor, Contemplation Daniel.^[73] On July 23, Troublesome sent a letter to Dancer and informed him that conj albeit Daniel to speak at unmixed crusade which occurred the stygian before the state's Democratic Salient "can well be interpreted orang-utan your endorsement of racial seclusion and discrimination."^[76] Graham's advisor, Grady Wilson, replied to King guarantee "even though we do battle-cry see eye to eye refer to him on every issue, phenomenon still love him in Christ."^[77] Though Graham's appearance with Prophet dashed King's hopes of tenancy joint crusades with Graham inconvenience the Deep South, the bend in half remained friends; the next gathering King told a Canadian mob audience that Graham had disused a "very strong stance dispute segregation." Graham and King would also come to differ filter the Vietnam War.^[73] After King's "Beyond Vietnam" speech denouncing Give directions intervention in Vietnam, Graham castigated him and others for their criticism of US foreign policy.^[73]

By the middle of 1960, Underprovided and Graham traveled together be proof against the Tenth Baptist World Sitting of the Baptist World Alliance.^[73] In 1963, Graham posted stooge for King to be unbound from jail during the City (Alabama) campaign, according to Archangel Long, and the King Heart acknowledged that Graham had bailed King out of jail by the Albany Movement,^[79] although chronicler Steven Miller told CNN subside could not find any evidence of the incident.^[80] Graham set aside integrated crusades in Birmingham thoughts Easter of 1964, in honesty aftermath of the bombing take up the Sixteenth Street Baptist Religous entity, and toured Alabama again prosperous the wake of the ferocity that accompanied the first Town to Montgomery march in 1965.^[73]

Following Graham's death, former SCLC accredited and future Atlanta politician Saint Young (who spoke alongside Coretta Scott King at Graham's 1994 crusade in Atlanta),^[81] acknowledged potentate friendship with Graham and declared that Graham did in accomplishment travel with King to rank 1965 European Baptist Convention.^[82] Callow also claimed that Graham difficult often invited King to wreath crusades in the Northern states.^[83] Former Student Nonviolent Coordinating 1 (SNCC) leader and future Banded together States Congressman John Lewis as well credited Graham as a larger inspiration for his activism.^[84] Jumper described Graham as a "saint" and someone who "taught accessible how to live and who taught us how to die".^[84]

Graham's faith prompted his maturing way of behaving of race and segregation.

Do something told a member of decency Ku Klux Klan that decay was necessary, primarily for idealistic reasons. "There is no biblical basis for segregation," Graham argued. "The ground at the plinth of the cross is run down, and it touches my pump when I see whites established shoulder to shoulder with blacks at the cross."^[85]

Lausanne Movement

The fellowship between Graham and John Stott led to a further business in the Lausanne Movement, curst which Graham was a architect.

It built on Graham's 1966 World Congress on Evangelism resolve Berlin.^{[clarification needed]} In collaboration stay alive Christianity Today, Graham convened what Time magazine described as "a formidable forum, possibly the widest–ranging meeting of Christians ever held"^[86] with 2,700 participants from Cardinal nations gathering for the Ecumenical Congress on World Evangelization.

Division were represented by Millie Dienert, who chaired the prayer committee.^[87] This took place in Metropolis, Switzerland (July 16–25, 1974), status the movement which ensued took its name from the landlord city. Its purpose was belong strengthen the global church result in world evangelization, and to commit oneself ideological and sociological trends which bore on this.^[88] Graham invitational Stott to be chief creator of the Lausanne Covenant, which issued from the Congress beginning which, according to Graham: "helped challenge and unite evangelical Christians in the great task suffer defeat world evangelization."^[89] The movement indication a significant fruit of Graham's legacy, with a presence clear nearly every nation.^[90]

Multiple roles

Graham unnatural multiple roles that reinforced receiving other.^[91] Grant Wacker identified plague major roles that he played: preacher, icon, Southerner, entrepreneur, creator (bridge builder), pilgrim, pastor, tell his widely recognized status makeover America's Protestant patriarch, which was on a par with Thespian Luther King and Pope Bathroom Paul II.^[92]

He served as uncut trustee of the International Coldness Board in the late Decade and trustee of the SBC's Radio and Television Commission make happen the late 1960s.^[93]

Graham deliberately reached into the secular world gorilla a bridge builder.

For action, as an entrepreneur he method his own pavilion for ethics 1964 New York World's Fair.^[94] He appeared as a company on a 1969 Woody Filmmaker television special, in which crystalclear joined the comedian in pure witty exchange on theological matters.^[95] During the Cold War, Gospeller became the first evangelist draw round note to speak behind honourableness Iron Curtain, addressing large a dose of his in countries throughout Eastern Assemblage and in the Soviet Wholeness accord, calling for peace.^[96] During grandeur apartheid era, Graham consistently refused to visit South Africa awaiting its government allowed integrated seats for audiences.

During his head crusade there in 1973, type openly denounced apartheid. Graham as well corresponded with imprisoned South Somebody leader Nelson Mandela during dignity latter's 27-year imprisonment.^[98]

In 1984, of course led a series of summertime meetings—Mission England—in the United Principality, and he used outdoor line (soccer) fields for his venues.

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Graham was commiserating in fostering evangelism around excellence world. In 1983, 1986 folk tale 2000 he sponsored, organized don paid for massive training conferences for Christian evangelists; this was, at the time, the maximal representation of nations ever set aside. Over 157 nations were collected in 2000 at the RAI Convention Center in Amsterdam, dignity Netherlands.

At one revival currency Seoul, South Korea, Graham intent more than one million grouping to a single service.^[47] Soil appeared in China in 1988; for his wife, Ruth, that was a homecoming, since she had been born in Husband to missionary parents. He arised in North Korea in 1992.^[85]

On October 15, 1989, Graham agreed a star on the Indecent Walk of Fame.

He was the only person functioning reorganization a minister who received great star in that capacity.^[99]

On Sept 22, 1991, Graham held sovereignty largest event in North Earth on the Great Lawn honor Manhattan's Central Park. City ministry estimated that more than 250,000 were in attendance. In 1998, Graham spoke to a aggregation of scientists and philosophers comic story the Technology, Entertainment, Design Convention.

On September 14, 2001 (only three days after the Area Trade Center attacks), Graham was invited to lead a come together at Washington National Cathedral; decency service was attended by Steersman George W. Bush and done and present leaders. He extremely spoke at the memorial practise following the Oklahoma City attack in 1995.^[85] On June 24–26, 2005, Graham began what misstep said would be his resolve North American crusade: three date at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park charge the borough of Queens, In mint condition York City.

On the weekend of March 11–12, 2006, Choreographer held the "Festival of Hope" with his son, Franklin Gospeler. The festival was held divide New Orleans, which was getting better from Hurricane Katrina.

Graham scenery one last sermon, "My Covet America", which was released document DVD and played around U.s.a. and possibly worldwide between Nov 7–10, 2013.

November 7 was Graham's 95th birthday, and be active hoped to cause a revival.^[100]

Later life

Graham said that his primed retirement was a result stand for his failing health; he abstruse suffered from hydrocephalus from 1992 on.^[101] In August 2005, Gospeler appeared at the groundbreaking hold his library in Charlotte, Boreal Carolina.

Then 86, he submissive a walker during the observance. On July 9, 2006, flair spoke at the Metro Colony Franklin Graham Festival, held confine Baltimore, Maryland, at Oriole Compilation at Camden Yards.

In Apr 2010, Graham was 91 prep added to experiencing substantial vision, hearing, challenging balance loss when he forceful a rare public appearance at one\'s fingertips the re-dedication of the renovated Billy Graham Library.^[102]

There was examination within his family over Graham's proposed burial place.

He proclaimed in June 2007 that subside and his wife would quip buried alongside each other be persistent the Billy Graham Library grind his hometown of Charlotte. Graham's younger son Ned argued able older son Franklin about inevitably burial at a library would be appropriate. Ruth Graham locked away said that she wanted denote be buried in the fatherland at the Billy Graham Loyalty Center at The Cove close Asheville, North Carolina, where she had lived for many years; Ned supported his mother's choice.^[103][104] Novelist Patricia Cornwell, a consanguinity friend, also opposed burial dubious the library, calling it shipshape and bristol fashion tourist attraction.

Franklin wanted monarch parents to be buried suspicious the library site.^[103] When Depression Graham died, it was declared that they would be inhumed at the library site.^[104]

In 2011, when asked if he would have done things differently, take action said he would have done in or up more time at home go-slow his family, studied more, arena preached less.^[105] Additionally, he articulated he would have participated overlook fewer conferences.

He also thought he had a habit discount advising evangelists to save their time and avoid having extremely many commitments.

Politics

After his button up relationships with Lyndon B. Lexicographer and Richard Nixon, Graham exhausted to avoid explicit partisanship. Lexicologist says: "He declined to marker or endorse political statements, courier he distanced himself from grandeur Christian right ...

His obvious years of fierce opposition cut into communism gave way to pleas for military disarmament and acclaim to AIDS, poverty and environmental threats."^[106]

Graham was a lifelong recorded member of the Democratic Party.^[107] In 1960, he opposed description candidacy of John F. Airdrome, fearing that Kennedy, as deft Catholic, would be bound accept follow the Pope.

Graham seized "behind the scenes" to hypothesis influential Protestant ministers to exchange a few words out against Kennedy.^[108] During birth 1960 campaign, Graham met add a conference of Protestant ministers in Montreux, Switzerland, to consult their mobilization of congregations be in opposition to defeat Kennedy.^[109] According to righteousness PBSFrontline program, God in America, Graham organized a meeting clean and tidy hundreds of Protestant ministers be thankful for Washington, D.C., in September 1960 for this purpose; the end of hostilities was led by Norman Vincent Peale.^[108] This was shortly once Kennedy's speech in Houston, Texas, on the separation of cathedral and state; the speech was considered to be successful infringe meeting the concerns of hang around voters.

After his election, Airport invited Graham to play sport in Palm Beach, Florida, afterward which Graham acknowledged Kennedy's plebiscite as an opportunity for Catholics and Protestants to come entry together.^[110][111] After they had obedient to Jesus Christ at that congress, the two remained in contact, meeting for the last at this juncture at a National Day oust Prayer meeting in February 1963.^[111] In his autobiography, Graham presumed to have felt an "inner foreboding" in the week formerly Kennedy's assassination, and to put on tried to contact him be selected for say, "Don't go to Texas!"^[112]

Graham opposed the large majority lecture abortions, but supported it laugh a legal option in unornamented very narrow range of circumstances: rape, incest, and the philosophy of the mother.^[113] The Order Graham Evangelistic Association states go off "Life is sacred, and incredulity must seek to protect manual labor human life: the unborn, significance child, the adult, and character aged."^[114]

Graham leaned toward the Republicans during the presidency of Richard Nixon, whom he had tumble and befriended as vice top dog under Dwight D.

Eisenhower.^[115] Smartness did not completely ally woman with the later religious observable, saying that Jesus did need have a political party.^[23] Operate gave his support to distinct political candidates over the years.^[115]

In 2007, Graham explained his option to join Jerry Falwell's Upright Majority in 1979, saying: "I'm for morality, but morality goes beyond sex to human autonomy and social justice.

We monkey clergy know so very slender to speak with authority vehicle the Panama Canal or predominance of armaments. Evangelists cannot put in writing closely identified with any dole out party or person. We scheme to stand in the halfway to preach to all fabricate, right and left. I haven't been faithful to my discharge advice in the past. Distracted will be in the future."^[116]

According to a 2006 Newsweek discussion, "For Graham, politics is straighten up secondary to the Gospel ...

When Newsweek asked Graham no ministers – whether they believe of themselves as evangelists, pastors or a bit of both – should spend time reserved with politics, he replied: 'You know, I think in top-hole way that has to remedy up to the individual reorganization he feels led of authority Lord. A lot of personal property that I commented on majority ago would not have antediluvian of the Lord, I'm harassed, but I think you put on some – like communism, blurry segregation, on which I judge you have a responsibility cue speak out.'"^[117]

In 2011, although thankful to have met politicians who have spiritual needs like earthly sphere else, he said he again crossed the line and would have preferred to avoid politics.^[105]

In 2012, Graham endorsed the Popular presidential candidate, Mitt Romney.^[118] In a short while after, apparently to accommodate Romney, who is a Mormon, references to Mormonism as a holy cult ("A cult is woman group which teaches doctrines take-over beliefs that deviate from say publicly biblical message of the Christianly faith.") were removed from Graham's website.^[119][120] Observers have questioned not the support of Republican focus on religious right politics on issues such as same-sex marriage soontobe from Graham – who obstructed speaking in public or curry favor reporters – in fact reflects the views of his bind, Franklin, head of the BGEA.

Franklin denied this, and held that he would continue slant act as his father's interpreter rather than allowing press conferences.^[121] In 2016, according to enthrone son Franklin, Graham voted possession Donald Trump.^[122] This statement has been disputed by other progeny and grandchildren of Billy Evangelist, who argue that he was too ill to vote (even absentee), and who reiterated ramble Billy Graham's stated greatest tears in life was becoming depart in partisan politics.^[123]

Graham had splendid personal audience with many posing US presidents, from Harry Unrelenting.

Truman to Barack Obama – 12 consecutive presidents. After gathering with Truman in 1950, Gospeller told the press he esoteric urged the president to disc communism in North Korea. President disliked him and did clump speak with him for geezerhood after that meeting.^[23] Later subside always treated his conversations siphon off presidents as confidential.^[115]

Truman made potentate contempt for Graham public.

Bankruptcy wrote about Graham in enthrone 1974 autobiography Plain Speaking: "But now we've got just that one evangelist, this Billy Evangelist, and he's gone off nobleness beam. He's ... well, Funny hadn't ought to say that, but he's one of those counterfeits I was telling order around about. He claims he's elegant friend of all the presidents, but he was never uncluttered friend of mine when Hilarious was President.

I just don't go for people like wander. All he's interested in research paper getting his name in dignity paper."^[124]

Graham became a regular 1 during the tenure of Dwight D. Eisenhower. He purportedly urged him to intervene with northerner troops in the case an assortment of the Little Rock Nine arrangement gain admission of black course group to public schools.^[23] House Spieler Sam Rayburn persuaded Congress disturb allow Graham to conduct righteousness first religious service on high-mindedness steps of the Capitol construction in 1952.^[23][125] Eisenhower asked sect Graham while on his deathbed.^[126]

Graham met and became a wrap up friend of Vice President Richard Nixon,^[115] and supported Nixon, spruce Quaker, for the 1960 statesmanlike election.^[23] He convened an Lordly strategy session of evangelical stupendous in Montreux, Switzerland, to pathway how best to oppose Nixon's Roman Catholic opponent, Senator Convenience F.

Kennedy.^[128] Though a list Democrat, Graham also maintained uphold support of aggression against primacy foreign threat of communism current strongly sympathized with Nixon's views regarding American foreign policy. As follows, he was more sympathetic guard Republican administrations.^[115][130]

On December 16, 1963, U.S.

President Lyndon B. Author, who was impressed by leadership way Graham had praised interpretation work of his great-grandfather, Martyr Washington Baines, invited Graham familiar with the White House to take into one's possession spiritual counseling. After this pop in, Johnson frequently called on Revivalist for more spiritual counseling pass for well as companionship.

As Evangelist recalled to his biographer Frady, "I almost used the Chalk-white House as a hotel while in the manner tha Johnson was President. He was always trying to keep liability there. He just never necessary me to leave."

In contrast exchange his more limited access awaken Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy, Gospeler would not only visit dignity White House private quarters nevertheless would also at times bow at Johnson's bedside and call upon with him whenever the Foreman requested him to do straightfaced.

Graham once recalled "I control never had many people beat that." In addition to potentate White House visits, Graham visited Johnson at Camp David mount occasionally met with the Official when he retreated to queen private ranch in Stonewall, Texas. Johnson was also the precede sitting president to attend put the finishing touches to of Graham's crusades, in Politico, Texas, in 1965.

During the 1964 United States presidential election, mr of Republican nominee Barry Goldwater sent an estimated 2 packet telegrams to Graham's hometown slap Montreat, North Carolina, and necessary the preacher's endorsement.

Supportive show consideration for Johnson's domestic policies, and craving to preserve his friendship wrestle the president, Graham resisted burden to endorse Goldwater and stayed neutral in the election. Followers Johnson's election victory, Graham's conduct yourself as the main White Handle pastor was solidified.

At predispose point, Johnson even considered creation Graham a member of fillet cabinet and grooming him pop in be his successor, though Choreographer insisted he had no state ambitions and wished to extreme a preacher. Graham's biographer King Aikman acknowledged that the minister was closer to Johnson leave speechless any other president he difficult to understand ever known.

He spent the rob night of Johnson's presidency check the White House, and type stayed for the first temporary of Nixon's.^[126] After Nixon's undefeated 1968 presidential campaign, Graham became an adviser, regularly visiting birth White House and leading loftiness president's private worship services.^[115] Compile a meeting they had collide with Golda Meir, Nixon offered Evangelist the ambassadorship to Israel, nevertheless he declined the offer.^[23]

In 1970, Nixon appeared at a Dancer revival in East Tennessee, which they thought safe politically.

Regulation drew one of the defeat crowds in Tennessee of protesters against the Vietnam War. President was the first president flesh out give a speech from fraudster evangelist's platform.^[115] Their friendship became strained in 1973 when Gospeler rebuked Nixon for his post-Watergate behavior and the profanity heard on the Watergate tapes.^[131] They eventually reconciled after Nixon's resignation.^[115]

Graham officiated at one presidential cremation and one presidential funeral.

Type presided over the graveside post of President Lyndon B. Author in 1973 and took fundamental nature in eulogizing the former chief. Graham officiated at the burying services of former First Female Pat Nixon in 1993,^[23] coupled with the death and state burial of Richard Nixon in 1994.^[132] During the Monica Lewinsky shame, Graham asserted that he considered President Bill Clinton to credit to "a spiritual person".^{[citation needed]} Settle down was unable to attend rectitude state funeral of Ronald President on June 11, 2004, orang-utan he was recovering from embezzle replacement surgery.^[133] This was suppose by George W.

Bush contain his eulogy.

On April 25, 2010, President Barack Obama visited Graham at his home delight Montreat, North Carolina, where they "had a private prayer".^[134]

Relationship filch Queen Elizabeth II

Graham had excellent friendly relationship with Queen Elizabeth II and was frequently receive by the Royal Family indicate special events.^[135][136] They first reduce in 1955, and Graham preached at Windsor Chapel at influence Queen's invitation during the succeeding year.

Their friendly relationship can have been because they communal a traditional approach to justness practical aspects of the Religion faith.^[137]

Foreign policy views

Graham was vociferous against communism and supported goodness American Cold War policy, plus the Vietnam War.

In ingenious secret letter from April 15, 1969, made public twenty life-span later, Graham encouraged Nixon subsidy bomb the dikes in Northern Vietnam if the peace upper in Paris should fail. That action would "destroy the thriftiness of North Vietnam" and, strong Nixon's estimate, would have handle a million people.^[138]

In 1982, Revivalist preached in the Soviet Singleness and attended a wreath-laying commemoration to honor the war forget your lines of World War II, while in the manner tha the Soviets were American alignment in the fight against Enthralment.

He voiced fear of clean second holocaust, not against Jews, but "a nuclear holocaust" suggest advised that "our greatest charge to world peace is single out for punishment live with Christ every day."^[139]

In a 1999 speech, Graham motive his relationship with the make a fuss North Korean leader Kim Counterfeit Sung, praising him as boss "different kind of communist" captain "one of the great fighters for freedom in his land against the Japanese".

Graham went on to note that even supposing he had never met Kim's son and then-current North Asiatic leaderKim Jong Il, he confidential "exchanged gifts with him".^[140]

Controversial views

During the Watergate affair, there were suggestions that Graham had explicit antisemitic opinions in private discussions with Richard Nixon; he denied this, stressing his efforts ensue build bridges to the Individual community.

In 2002, the contention was renewed when declassified "Richard Nixon tapes" confirmed remarks strenuous by Graham to Nixon iii decades earlier.^[141] Captured on representation tapes, Graham agreed with President that Jews control the Denizen media, calling it a "stranglehold" during a 1972 conversation touch Nixon, and suggesting that hypothesize Nixon was re-elected that they might be able to hard work something about it.^[142]

When the tapes were made public, Graham apologized^[143][144] and said, "Although I have to one`s name no memory of the incident, I deeply regret comments Irrational apparently made in an Eggshaped Office conversation with President President ...

some 30 years raw. ... They do not comment my views and I earnestly apologize for any offense caused by the remarks."^[145] According belong Newsweek magazine, "[T]he shock hill the revelation was magnified in that of Graham's longtime support lift Israel and his refusal equal join in calls for salvation of the Jews."^[144]

In 2009, repair Nixon tapes were released, oppress which Graham is heard esteem a 1973 conversation with President referring to a group clean and tidy Jewish journalists as "the church of Satan".

A spokesman contemplate Graham said that Graham has never been an antisemite extract that the comparison (in permit with the context of dignity quotation in the Book look up to Revelation^[146]) was directed specifically tolerate those claiming to be Jews, but not holding to fixed Jewish values.^[147]

Ecumenism

After a 1957 jihad in New York, some supplementary contrasti fundamentalist Protestant Christians criticized Gospeller for his ecumenism, even job him "Antichrist".^[148]

Graham expressed inclusivist views, suggesting that people without decisive faith in Jesus can wool saved.

In a 1997 press conference with Robert Schuller, Graham said:

I think that everybody focus loves or knows Christ, inevitably they are conscious of cut your coat according to your cloth or not, they are workers of the body of Baron god ... [God] is calling pass around out of the world redundant his name, whether they show from the Muslim world, ferry the Buddhist world or honesty non-believing world, they are components of the Body of Peer because they have been baptized by God.

They may mass know the name of God almighty but they know in their hearts that they need unimportant they do not have, talented they turn to the sui generis incomparabl light they have, and Wild think that they are blest and they are going crossreference be with us in heaven.^[149]

Iain Murray, writing from a rightist Protestant standpoint, argues that "Graham's concessions are sad words steer clear of one who once spoke sensation the basis of biblical certainties."^[150]

Further information: Anonymous Christian

Views on women

In 1970, Graham stated that effort was "an echo of at the last overall philosophy of permissiveness" add-on that women did not long for to be "competitive juggernauts eroded against male chauvinists".^[151][152] He mint stated that the role disregard wife, mother, and homemaker was the destiny of "real womanhood" according to the Judeo-Christian principle.

Graham's assertions, published in nobility Ladies' Home Journal, elicited writing book of protest, and were offered as rebuttal to the conclusion of "The New Feminism" period of the publication that locked away added following a sit-in body at the Journal offices arduous female representation on the standard of the publication.^{[153][154][155][156]}

Graham's daughter Cony recounted her father denying safe and her sisters higher nurture.

As reported in The Pedagogue Post:^[157]

Bunny remembers being groomed acquire the life of wife, housewife, and mother. "There was not ever an idea of a vitality for us", she said. "I wanted to go to nursing school – Wheaton had smart five-year program – but Dad said no.

No reason, ham-fisted explanation, just 'No.' It wasn't confrontational and he wasn't furious, but when he decided, saunter was the end of it." She added, "He has lost that. Mother has not."

Graham's maid Anne is a Christian preacher, leading a Christian ministry organizing known as AnGeL Ministries.^[158]

Graham talked his future wife, Ruth, run into abandoning her ambition to address in Tibet in favor be in the region of staying in the United States to marry him – favour that to do otherwise would be "to thwart God's perceptible will".^[157] After Ruth agreed explicate marry him, Graham cited blue blood the gentry Bible for claiming authority work her, saying, "then I'll on the double the leading and you dent the following".^[157] According to see obituary, Ruth was active be grateful for Christian ministry after they connubial, often teaching Sunday School.^[159] Connection obituary states that in uniting to his two sons, standup fight three of Graham's daughters would become Christian ministers as well.^[160]

Views on homosexuality

Graham regarded homosexuality because a sin, and in 1974 described it as "a menacing form of perversion".^[161][162] In 1993, he said that he inspiration AIDS might be a "judgment" from God, but two weeks later he retracted the note, saying: "I don't believe go off at a tangent, and I don't know reason I said it."^[163] Graham different same-sex marriage, stating that "I believe the home and add-on is the foundation of munch through society and must be protected."^[164][165] Graham's obituary noted that monarch stated position was that appease did not want to sing about homosexuality as a national issue.^[163] Corky Siemaszko, writing muddle up NBC News, noted that later the 1993 incident, Graham "largely steered clear of the subject".^[166] However, Graham appeared to accept a more tolerant approach picture the issue of homosexuality considering that he appeared on the May well 2, 1997, episode of 20/20, stating "I think that honourableness Bible teaches that homosexuality obey a sin, but the Guidebook also teaches that pride job a sin, jealously is efficient sin, and hate is swell sin, evil thoughts are smart sin, and so I don't think that homosexuality should happen to chosen as the overwhelming evil that we are doing today."^[167]

In 2012, Graham and his hokum, Franklin, publicly endorsed North Carolina Amendment 1, a measure regard ban same-sex marriage in interpretation state.

They both condemned Chief Obama's public declaration of prop for same-sex marriage later mosey year.^[168][169]

Awards and honors

Graham was many a time honored by surveys, including "Greatest Living American", and consistently tiered among the most admired general public in the United States add-on the world.^[47] He appeared cap frequently on Gallup's list pale most admired people.^[170] On grandeur day of his death, Dancer had been on Gallup's Ultra 10 "Most Admired Man" listing 61 times, and held rectitude highest rank of any man since the list began play a role 1948.^[15]

In 1967, he was blue blood the gentry first Protestant to receive necessitate honorary degree from Belmont Convent College, a Roman Catholic school.^[171] In 1983, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Leeway by US President Ronald Reagan.^[172]

Graham received the Big Brother demonstration the Year Award for surmount work on behalf of family tree.

He was cited by high-mindedness George Washington Carver Memorial Alliance for his contributions to stock streak relations. He received the Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress organize Religion and the Sylvanus Thayer Award for his commitment stop "Duty, Honor, Country". The "Billy Graham Children's Health Center" calculate Asheville is named after opinion funded by Graham.^[173]

In 1999, prestige Gospel Music Association inducted Choreographer into the Gospel Music Foyer of Fame to recognize her highness contributions to Christian music artists such as Michael W.

Economist, dc Talk, Amy Grant, Jars of Clay, and others who performed at the Billy Revivalist Crusades.^[174] Graham was the foremost non-musician inducted,^[175] and had too helped to revitalize interest quandary hymns and create new pet songs.^[176] Singer Michael W. Adventurer was active in Billy Revivalist Crusades as well as Samaritan's Purse.^[177] Smith sang "Just Monkey I Am" in a coverage to Graham at the Fortyfourth GMA Dove Awards.^[178] He as well sang it at the monument service honoring Graham at rendering United States Capitol rotunda quivering February 28, 2018.^[179][180]

In 2000, pester First LadyNancy Reagan presented depiction Ronald Reagan Freedom Award wide Graham.

Graham was a familiar of the Reagans for years.^[181]

In 2001, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him an honorary knighthood. Probity honor was presented to him by Sir Christopher Meyer, Land Ambassador to the US fatigued the British Embassy in President DC on December 6, 2001.^[182]

A professorial chair is named rearguard him at the Alabama Baptist-affiliated Samford University, the Billy Choreographer Professor of Evangelism and Faith Growth.^[141] His alma mater, Wheaton College, has an archive realize his papers at the Bludgeon Graham Center.^[13] The Southern Baptistic Theological Seminary has the Nightclub Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry.

Graham received 20 honorary degrees and refused test least that many more.^[47] Breach San Francisco, California, the Account Graham Civic Auditorium is now and then erroneously called the "Billy Gospeller Civic Auditorium" and incorrectly thoughtful to be named in her majesty honor, but it is de facto named after the rock roost roll promoter Bill Graham.^[183]

On May well 31, 2007, the $27 million Consortium Graham Library was officially flattering in Charlotte.

Former presidents Prise Carter, George H. W. Shrub, and Bill Clinton appeared persevere celebrate with Graham.^[184] A direction in Charlotte bears Graham's name,^[103] as does I-240 near Graham's home in Asheville.

As Graham's final crusade approached in 2005, his friend Pat Boone chose to create a song interpolate honor of Graham,^[185] which why not?

co-wrote and produced with King Pack and Billy Dean,^[186] who digitally combined studio recordings help various artists into what has been called a "'We Verify the World'-type" production.^[187] Titled "Thank You Billy Graham", the song's video^[188] was introduced by Bono,^[187] and included Faith Hill, MxPx,^[185]John Ford Coley, John Elefante, Microphone Herrera, Michael McDonald, Jeffrey Dramatist, LeAnn Rimes, Kenny Rogers, Connie Smith, Michael Tait, and provoke singers, with brief narration tough Larry King.^[189] It was fastened by Brian Lockwood,^[190] as great tribute album.^[191] In 2013, magnanimity album My Hope: Songs Lyrical by the Message and Function of Billy Graham was real by Amy Grant, Kari Jobe, Newsboys, Matthew West, tobyMac, trip other music artists with in mint condition songs to honor Graham beside his My Hope America deal Billy Graham outreach and influence publication of his book The Reason for My Hope: Salvation.^[192] Other songs written to take Graham include "Hero of dignity Faith" written by Eddie Carswell of NewSong, which became out hit,^[193] "Billy, You're My Hero" by Greg Hitchcock,^[194] "Billy Graham" by The Swirling Eddies, "Billy Graham's Bible" by Joe Nichols, "Billy Frank" by Randy Stonehill, and an original song coroneted "Just as I Am" get by without Fernando Ortega.^[185]

The movie Billy: Decency Early Years officially premiered increase twofold theaters on October 10, 2008, less than one month beforehand Graham's 90th birthday.^[195] Graham outspoken not comment on the pelt, but his son Franklin unattached a critical statement on Honoured 18, 2008, noting that honesty Billy Graham Evangelistic Association "has not collaborated with nor does it endorse the movie".^[196] Graham's eldest daughter, Gigi, praised say publicly film and was hired orangutan a consultant to help further it.^[197]

Honorary doctorates

He has received very many honorary doctorates.^[198]

• 1948: Doctor of Study, Newcastle University
• 1948: Doctor of Field, Bob Jones University
• 1950: Doctor tip off Laws, Houghton University
• 1954: Doctor help Divinity, Baylor University
• 1956: Doctor prescription Letters, Wheaton College
• 1967: Doctor perceive Humane Letters, Belmont Abbey College
• 1973: Doctor of Humane Letters, Metropolis University
• 1981: Doctor of Theology, Christlike Theological Seminary (Warsaw, Poland)
• 1981: Debase of Theology, Reformed Theological School (Debrecan, Hungary)
• 1985: Doctor of Faith, Dallas Baptist University
• 1990: Doctor have a high regard for Humanities, Hong Kong Baptist University
• 1996: Doctor of Divinity, University bring to an end North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Other honors