COMMEMORATIVEEDITION

1918–2018

BillyGraham

America’sPreacher

Contents

Toronto,1955

INTRODUCTION

America’sPreacherTimelineMOMENTSINALIFE

CHAPTERONE

IntheBeginning

CHAPTERTWO

FindingaHigherCalling

CHAPTERTHREE

AStarIsBornANewKindofEvangelistFROMTHETIMEARCHIVES

CHAPTERFOUR

ManofGod,ManoftheWorld

CHAPTERFIVE

GoingtotheMountainPresidentialDiscussionsAVISITATHOME

IntroductionandChapters1–5byJefferyL.Sheler Formoreone-of-a-kindTIMEspecialeditionsand

keepsakes,gototimespecialeditions.com

America’sPreacherBillyGrahamwasn’tjustthemostimportantAmericanministerofthe20thcentury.HewasaworldleaderwhochangedthewaytheWordwasspread.ByJEFFERYL.SHELER

INHISELEMENTIn1973,Grahampreachestoacrowdof21,000inSt.Paul.ITWASASWELTERINGAFTERNOON,June26,2005,thethirdandfinaldayofBillyGraham’s417th“crusade.”ThecrowdatNewYorkCity’sFlushingMeadowsCoronaParkspilledfarbeyondthedesignatedseatingarea,intheshadowoftheUnisphere,agleaming12-storyglobefromthe1964World’sFair.Theyoungandtheold,parentswithsmallchildren,seekers,truebelievers,andthemerelycurious—morethan90,000peopleinall—hadcometoseeandheartheworld’smostfamouspreacherinwhatwouldbehislastcrusade.Afternearlyanhourofmusicandotherpreliminaries,thefrailevangelistshuffled

ontothestagetoastandingovation.HelpedbyhissonFranklin,heslowlymadehiswaytothepulpit,wherehewoulddeliverthesamesimplemessagehehadpreachedtomorethan215millionpeopleinmorethan185countriesduringmorethanhalfa

century:JesusChristcametoearth,hediedonthecross,heroseagain,andhecallsustorepentofoursins.Butashestartedoutonthishistoricday—hisfamiliarchiseledfacefillingtwogiant

videoscreens,histhickwhitemaneofhairblowinginthehumidbreeze—Grahamtooklongerthanusualinpubliclythankinghisco-workersfortheirhardworkandfor“puttingupwithme”fornearly60years.“Iwasaskedinaninterviewifthiswasourlastcrusade,andIsaiditprobablyis—inNewYork,”hesaidinaslightlymuffledvoicewithaliltingCarolinaaccent.Andthen,smiling,hequicklyadded,“ButIalsosaid,‘Ineversaynever.’”ThecrowdcheeredatthetantalizingprospectthatthisaginglionofGodwasnotyet

readytobesilenced.AndyetasGrahamspokewistfullyabouthisownmortality—“Yes,I’mlookingforwardtodeath...Iknowthatitwon’tbelong”—therewasnoescapingthetruththatanerawasdrawingtoaclose.Graham,whowouldlivetothegreatoldageof99,dyingathomeonFeb.21,2018,

steppedontothenationalstageatatumultuousmomentinhistory.WorldWarIIhadjustended,andtheColdWar,withitstwinmenacesof“godlesscommunism”andthethreatofnuclearannihilation,hauntedthenationalpsyche.Intothehowlingdarknessofpostwarexistentialangst,thehandsomeyoungpreachersoundedaclearandcertaintrumpet,ahope-filledmessagebrimmingwithfaithintheGodoftheBibleandthepromiseofeternallifeinJesusChrist.Formorethanfivedecades,BillyGrahamreignedasthesinglemostvisibleand

reveredfigureinAmericanProtestantism.FromhumblebeginningsasastreetpreacherintheSouth,hebecameafriendandconfidantofpresidentsandapreachertothemasses,deliveringhisplainspokenmessageintelevisedeventsinstadiumsandsportsarenasonnearlyeverycontinent.Intheprocesshewonmorethan3millionconverts—perhapsmorethananyotherpreacherinhistory—andachievedinternationalacclaimastheworld’sleadingChristianevangelist.YetGraham’sstatureasaspiritualleaderwasmostlysymbolic.Therewasno

ecclesiasticalhierarchyoverwhichhepresided,nopoliticalorganizationunderhiscommand.Hispulpitwashisnexusofinfluence,andheuseditwithaplomb.Wheneverandwhereverhespoke,itwaswithanunmistakableairofauthority,basednotonhisprofessionalcredentialsorpersonalrhetoricalskillsbutonthepowerofasimplephraseherepeatedoften:“TheBiblesays...”Throughouthispubliccareer,evenamongthosewhodidnotsharehisconservative

brandofChristianfaith,GrahamwasheldinhighpersonalregardbyabroadswathoftheAmericanpublic.Fromthemid-centuryon,hewasapermanentfixtureontheGalluporganization’sannuallistofthemost-admiredmenintheworld.

Gettingandstayingtherehadbeennoaccident.WhatheldGrahamaloftforsolong,saythosewhohavestudiedhislife,wasthesimplicityofhismessage(heavoidedpotentiallydivisivedoctrinaldiscourses),theintegrityofhisministry(hetookaflatsalaryandneverhandledministryfinances),andtheabilitytoresisttheseductionsthatbroughtdownsomanyotherreligiousluminariesduringhislifetime.AshistorianMarkNollhasobserved,ofallthemediastarsandwould-beleadersofthemodernevangelicalmovementtoemergesinceWorldWarII,“noonehascomeclosetothevisibility,influence,andsheerpresenceofWilliamFranklinGraham.”Indeed,duringthefinaldecadesofhislife,whilemanyofhiscontemporariesjostled

forpowerandpositionunderavarietyofreligiousandpoliticalbanners,Grahamwouldbecomeknownbyatitlehedidnotseek,onethatwasthrustuponhimbyanadmiringmediaandotherswhowitnessedtheenduringreachofhisministryandhisbroadnationalappeal.HewasAmerica’sPreacher.

Graham’slastcrusade,NewYork,2005

EYESTOWARDBILLYListenersreachouttoGraham—andtoGod—atthe2005NewYorkcrusade.

BRINGINGTHEWORDEVERYWHEREGrahamwithRichardNixonathis1975EastTennesseecrusade.

WithWaarushawarriorsinTanzaniain1960.

SERMONFROMTHEPITCHAtaLondonsoccermatchin1954,Grahamspeakstothecrowdathalftime.

TIMELINE

HisLife

1918BornNov.7onadairyfarmoutsideCharlotte,N.C.

1928

HisparentsmovethefamilytoanewbrickhometheyhavebuiltnearCharlotte.

1934

GoesrepeatedlytorevivalmeetingsledbyDr.MordecaiFowlerHam.AtoneofthemhecommitshimselftoChrist.

1936

Graduatesfromhighschool.BrieflyattendsBobJonesCollege.

1937

PreacheshisfirstsermonwhileastudentattheFloridaBibleInstituteinTampa.

1939OrdainedasaSouthernBaptistminister.

1943GraduatesfromWheatonCollegeinWheaton,Ill.

1943

MarriesRuthMcCueBell.

1945DaughterVirginia(“Gigi”)isborn.

1946

TravelsabroadforthefirsttimetopreachatYouthforChristralliesacrossEurope.

1948DaughterAnneisborn.

1948BecomespresidentofNorthwesternSchools,aBiblecollegeinMinneapolis.

1949

“ChristforGreaterLosAngeles,”aneight-nightseriesofrevivalmeetings,bringshimtonationalprominence.

1950FoundsBillyGrahamEvangelisticAssociation.

1950VisitsHarryTrumanattheWhiteHouse,hisfirstmeetingwithaU.S.President.

1950DaughterRuthisborn.

1950

DelivershisfirstradiobroadcastofTheHourofDecision.

1952

SonFranklinisborn.

1954

Conductsthethree-monthGreaterLondonCrusade;meetsWinstonChurchill.

1955

Forthefirstof47times,namedoneofthe“TenMostAdmiredMenintheWorld”inaGalluppoll.

1956EstablishesthemagazineChristianityToday.

1957

Hosts16-weekcrusadeatMadisonSquareGardeninNewYorkCity.

1958SonNedisborn.

1959

FirstcrusadeinAustralia.

1960

PreachesallacrossAfrica.

1974LeadstheInternationalCongressonWorldEvangelisminLausanne,Switzerland.

1983ReceivesPresidentialMedalofFreedom.

1988

TravelstoChinaand,forthesecondtime,totheSovietUnion.

1992

PreachesinNorthKorea,wherehewillreturntwoyearslater.

1996ReceivesCongressionalGoldMedal.

2004

FinalLosAngelescrusade.

2005Finalcrusadeofhiscareer,inNewYorkCity.

2007

RuthGrahamdiesattheageof87.

2010BarackObamabecomesthe12th,andlast,U.S.presidenttomeetwithGraham.

2013Onhis95thbirthday,inNovember,Grahamairshisfinalsermoninavideorecordedoverthepreviousyear.

2015Publisheshislastbook,WhereIAm:Heaven,EternityandOurLifeBeyond

2018

2018DiesonFebruary21at99,inhishomeinMontreat,N.C.

[CHAPTER1]

IntheBeginning

THEFUTUREEVANGELISTGrahamatabout6monthsofageinthearmsofhismother,Morrow.

WILLIAMFRANKLINGRAHAMJR.enteredthisworldunheraldedinthefadingautumnlightofNov.7,1918—fourdaysbeforethearmisticethatendedWorldWarI.HisbirthplacewasadustydairyfarmjustoutsideCharlotte,N.C.Hisarrivalborenoprovidentialsignsofthepathhewouldonedayembarkupon,theprivilegedcompanyhewouldkeep,orthemanywayshewouldleavehismarkuponhistimes.Inhischildhoodandadolescence,thefirstbornsonofFrankandMorrowGrahamwouldbeshapedbythephysicalrigorsofordinaryfarmlifeandthesoberdisciplineofhisparents’Calvinistfaith.TheGrahamsweredevoutPresbyterianswhoseScotch-Irishancestorshadsettledin

theCarolinasbeforetheAmericanRevolution.BothweredescendedfrommenwhohadfoughtfortheConfederacyduringtheCivilWar.Frank’sfather,WilliamCrookGraham,ahard-drinkinghell-raiserwithabushyblackbeard,tookaYankeebulletinthelegfightingwiththeSixthSouthCarolinaVolunteers.Morrow’sfather,BenCoffey,servedunderGen.JamesJ.Pettigrewofthe11thNorthCarolinaRegiment,andlostalegandaneyeduringthefirstdayoffightingatGettysburg.Afterthewarbothmen

legandaneyeduringthefirstdayoffightingatGettysburg.AfterthewarbothmenretreatedtothegentlyrollinghillsofNorthCarolina’sPiedmonttoraisefamiliesandscrapeoutameagerlivingfromthesoil.Growinguppoorandworkingonthefamilyfarm,Frankandhis10siblingshadlittle

timeforformaleducation.MostofwhattheyacquiredoftheChristianfaiththeylearnedfromtheirmother,whodiedwhenFrankwas10.Whenhewas18,he“gotreligion”ataMethodistrevivalmeetingandwentontobecomearegularchurchgoer,thoughwithlittleapparentfervor.Morrow,incontrast,hadbeenrearedinastaunchPresbyterianhome,whereshelearnedtobeattentivetoScriptureandpublicworshipandtoacquiremannersbefittingaSouthernChristianlady.ShecouldnotrecallatimeinherlifewhenshedidnotknowJesusashersavior.WhenCrookGrahamdiedin1910,Franktookchargeofthefailingfamilyfarmand

beganturningitintoaprofitableenterprise.Soonthereafter,hemetMorrowatalakefrontamusementpark.Theybegandating,andafterasix-yearcourtshiptheymarried.OntheirweddingnighttheyresolvedthattheirswouldbeaChristianhomewhereGodwasglorifiedandtheBiblewasthesupremeauthority.TheyjoinedalocalcongregationoftheAssociateReformedPresbyterianChurch,asmallconservativedenominationthatheldtoliteralinterpretationsofScripture,andsetaboutmakingalifetogether.BillyFrankcamealongtwoyearslater,followedinquicksuccessionbyCatherineand

Melvin,andthen,afteraneight-yeargap,Jean.Honoringtheirwedding-nightvow,theGrahamsmadeprayerandBiblereadingadailystaple,observing“familyaltar”eachnightatthesuppertable.Eachmorningbeforeschool,MorrowdrilledherchildrenonBible-versememorizationandontheWestminsterShorterCatechism,whichdeclaresitman’schiefend“toglorifyGodandenjoyhimforever.”Everynightatbedtime,sheprayedearnestlyforeachofheroffspring,thattheywouldgrowuptoservetheLordinsomeusefulfashion.ButnevercouldshehaveimaginedthespecialassignmentGodhadinstoreforyoungBillyFrank.HewasachildoftheRoaringTwentieswhoreachedadolescenceduringtheGreat

Depression,andtheGrahamfarmprovidedBillyFrankasafehavenfromboththeworld’spredationsandtheworstofitseconomicadversities.ByadheringstrictlytoitsconservativePresbyterianvalues,thefamily,asGrahamwouldrecalllaterinlife,“stayedrelativelyuncontaminatedbytheGreatGatsbylifestyleoftheflapperera,withitsfastdancingandillegaldrinking.”AndalthoughFranklosthislifesavingsafterthe1929stock-marketcrashandthedairybusinesssuffered,thefarmproducedenoughtokeepthefamilyfedandclothedwithalittleincometospare.Byandlarge,BillyFrank’schildhoodwashappyandsecure,evenifitwasn’t

altogethercarefree.Hisparentswouldrememberhimasarambunctiousbutgood-naturedchild,whooccasionallywouldgetintotroubleteasinghisyoungersiblings,althoughneverinamean-spiritedway.Seldomwasheopenlydisobedient.FrankandMorrowsubjectedtheirchildrentosterndisciplineanddidnothesitatetousecorporalpunishment.BillyFrankfeltthestingofhismother’shickoryswitchandhisfather’sleatherbeltonmanyoccasions.“Ilearnedtoobeywithoutquestioning,”Grahamwouldrecallinhis1997autobiographyJustAsIAm.“Iwastaughtthatlazinesswasoneoftheworstevils,andthattherewasdignityandhonorinlabor.”Hewouldlearnthatlessonearly.Tendingadairyfarmrequiredendlesswork,and

eachmemberoftheGrahamfamilywasexpectedtopitchinassoonastheywereable.Bytheageof12,BillyFrankwouldgetupeverymorningatthreeandjoinhisfatherinthebarntomilkandfeedthecowsandshoveloutthestalls.Breakfastwasatfive-thirty,andthenschool.Afterschool,itwasfieldworkandpitchingandhaulinghaybeforereturningtothebarnforanotherroundofmilkingandshoveling,andthensupper,familyaltar,homework,andbed.Withonlythreeorfourhoursofsleepsomenights,BillyFrankstruggledtostayawakeinclass,andhisschoolworksuffered.AlthoughheearnedmostlyA’sinelementaryschool,byhighschoolhisgradeshadslippedtotheClevel.Itdidnotseemtobotherhimintheleast.“WhatgoodwouldschooldoformeifIwasgoingtobeafarmer?”herecalledthinkingatthetime.Herearrangedhisscheduletomakeroomformorepleasurablepursuits.Helovedplayingbaseball,althoughhewasnotparticularlygoodatit.Healsolikedfastcarsanddevelopedatasteforflashyclothes.Hequicklyfoundthatacombinationofthetwohelpedhimattracttheattentionoftheladies.Althoughhewasnotthemosthandsomeorathleticboyaround—hislankyframeand

spindlyarmsandlegsgavehimtheappearanceofayounggiraffe—hehadabroadsmileandarrestingblueeyes,andthegirlslikedhim.Throughouthighschoolhedatedoftenandhadseveralgirlfriends.Heconfessedheenjoyedkissing“liketherestofthekids,”butheinsisted,“Ineverwentfurther.”Hecreditedhisparentsforkeepinghimonthestraightandnarrow.Theyexpectedtheirchildren“tobeclean,andneverdoubtedthatwewouldbe.Theytrustedusandmadeuswanttoliveuptotheirconfidence.”Asforhisattitudetowardreligion,bythetimeBillyFrankturned16,itwasclearhe

didnotsharehisparents’enthusiasm.Hewentalongwiththefamilytochurcheveryweekbutonly,asheputit,“grudgingly,orofnecessity.”AlthoughhebelievedhewasaChristianandknewtheScriptureswell,hefoundlittleinthefamiliarroutinesofchurchandhomethatexcitedorengagedhim.FrankandMorrowquicklypickedupontheirson’sspirituallassitude.Theyrecentlyhadexperiencedadramaticdeepeningofreligiousfervor—sheafterjoiningaBible-studygroupatanothernearbychurch,hein

religiousfervor—sheafterjoiningaBible-studygroupatanothernearbychurch,heinresponsetoanear-fatalfarmaccidentthatvividlyremindedhimoflife’sfragility.Bothbegantopraythatthespiritualawakeningtheyhadexperiencedwouldsomehowlayholdoftheirson.Lateinthesummerof1934,FrankandMorrowandtheiryoungerchildrenbegan

attendingaseriesofcitywiderevivalmeetingsinCharlotte.Everyevening2,000to3,000soulswouldgatherinasprawlingraw-pinetabernaclewithatinroofandsawdustfloortohearthefeaturedspeaker,apulpit-pounding,fire-and-brimstoneevangelistbythenameofMordecaiHam.Hamwasanintensemanwithasonorousvoiceandadramaticflair,andateveryservicehundredswouldrespondtohissalvationmessagesbygoingforwardtoreceiveJesusChristassavior.ItwasnotastyleofservicetowhichtheGrahams,staidPresbyterians,were

accustomed.Nevertheless,FrankandMorrowcameawayeachnightfeelingtheyhadbeenhelpedbythepreacher’ssermons.BillyFrankstayedhome.Butasthecrusadebecamethetalkofthetown,herelented.Onhisfirstvisithesatintherearoftheauditoriumwithsomeofhishighschoolbuddies,preparedtowithstandthebesttheevangelistcoulddeliver.ButassoonasHamopenedhisBibleandbegantospeak,hisdefensescrumbled.“Ihavenorecollectionofwhathepreachedabout,”Grahamwouldrecallofthatfirstnight,“butIwasspellbound.Insomeindefinablewayhewasgettingthroughtome.”Hecamebackthenextnightandthenext,captivatedbytheevangelist’sfeveredfulminationsagainstsinandhisvividdepictionsofthefierypunishmentsawaitingtheunrepentant.ListeningtoHamnightafternight,BillyFrankbecameincreasinglyawareofsininhis

ownlife.Heknewhewasnotawickedperson.Hehadresistedtemptationstobreakthestrictmoralcodehisparentshadinstilled.“[But]whatwasslowlydawningonmeduringthoseweeks,”hewouldexplainlater,“wasthemiserablerealizationthatIdidnotknowJesusChristformyself.”Herecognizedthathecouldnotdependonhischurchmembershiporhisownmoralrectitudeforsalvation.“WhatIneededtoknowforcertainwasthatIwasrightwithGod.”Finally,onenightBillyFranklefthisseatduringtheinvitationhymnandmadehis

waytothefrontoftheauditoriumtosurrenderhislifetoChrist.“Ididn’thearanythunder,therewasnolightning,”herecalled.“Isawaladystandingnexttomeandshehadtearsinhereyes,andIthoughttherewassomethingwrongwithmebecauseIdidn’tfeelallworkedup.Butrightthere,ImademydecisionforChrist.Itwasassimpleasthat,andasconclusive.”AthomelaterthateveningBillyFrankannouncedtohisapprovingparents,“I’ma

changedboy!”Itwouldtakesometimebeforehewouldunderstandexactlywhathadhappened.Buttomarkhisconversion,hebegancallinghimselfBillyinsteadofBilly

Frank.AsbiographerDavidAikmanpointsoutinBillyGraham:HisLifeandInfluence,“[He]thoughtitsoundedmoremature.”Inall,GrahambelievedhehadexperiencedwhattheApostlePauldescribedin2Corinthians:“Theoldhasgone,thenewhascome.”

FAMILYOUTINGA7-year-oldGrahamwithhisfather,Frank,andsisterCatherine.

GROWINGTALLGraham,theeldestoffourchildren,withhisyoungestsister,Jean.

Grahamat17,aroundthetimeofhishighschoolgraduationin1936andaboutayearandahalfafterheacceptedChristatarevivalmeetingledbytheevangelistMordecaiHam.

[CHAPTER2]

FindingaHigherCalling

READYTOGOGrahamataround19.Atthatage,hehadnotyetembracedhisdestinytobecomeapreacher—buthewouldverysoon.

INTHEDECADESAROUNDTHETURNofthe19thcentury,justbeforeBillyGrahamwasborn,AmericanProtestantismwastornasunderbysharptheologicaldifferencesthatcausedittosplitintotwocompetingcamps.Ononesidewere“modernists”—theologicalliberalswhoputlittlestockintheBible’ssupernaturalclaimsandwhobelievedthatthechurch’shighestcallingwasinthefightagainstsocialproblemslikepoverty.Ontheothersidewere“fundamentalists”—conservativechurchmenwhotooktheBiblelargelyatfacevalue.Forthem,notaskwasmoreurgent,forchurchesorindividuals,thanwinningconvertsandpreparingsoulsforeternity.Bytheearly1900s,afteryearsofinfighting,modernistshadgainedfirmcontrolofthe

nation’smainlineProtestantdenominations,alongwiththeirdivinityschools,publishinghouses,andmissionaryagencies.Fundamentalists,havinglostthedenominationalwars,hadretreatedtoformtheirownparallelinstitutionsandtofocustheirenergiesonwinningsoulstoChrist.Itwasinthefundamentalistmilieu,withitsrevivalistpreachingandfiercedevotiontotheScriptures,thatBillyGrahamhadfoundsalvationandwherehewouldseekhisfuture.

salvationandwherehewouldseekhisfuture.Asheapproachedtheendofhighschool,theyoungGrahamhadbeguntoenvisiona

lifebeyondthefarm.Hisconversion,andthemodestacademicsuccessthatfollowedit,hadbroadenedhisoutlookandboostedhisself-confidence,andforthefirsttimeheentertainedthenotionofattendingcollege.InitiallyheconsideredtheUniversityofNorthCarolina,buthisparentsinsistedthathegotoaChristianschoolwherehewouldbeexposedtosoundbiblicalteachingandperhapsfindaChristianmate.TheypushedhimtowardBobJonesCollege.AsmallfundamentalistschoolinCleveland,Tenn.,itwasknownforitscommitmenttotheScripturesandtostrictmoralstandards.Earlyinhissenioryear,Grahamsentoffanapplicationandwasquicklyaccepted.Aftergraduatingfromhighschoolin1936,Grahamtookasummerjobasadoor-to-

doorsalesmanwiththeFullerBrushCo.inSouthCarolina.Heenjoyedtheworkanddidwellatit,earning$50to$75aweek—asmallfortuneforateenagerduringtheDepression.Sellingbrushesthatsummer,hewouldwrite,“taughtmealotaboutmyself,abouthumannature,andaboutcommunicatingamessagetopeople,evenifIhadtotalkmywayinandoutofallkindsofsituations.”ThatfallGrahamenrolledatBobJonesCollege,andalmostimmediatelyhesensedhe

hadmadeamistake.Theschool’sfounder,BobJones,wasarock-ribbedfundamentalistpreacherwhobrookednodissentandrantheschoollikeabootcamp.Academicswererigidanddogmatic,andstudentlifewasregimented.Physicalcontactwithmembersoftheoppositesex—evenhand-holding—wasforbidden;datingwasrestrictedto15minutesofchaperonedconversationonceaweek.OnlyafterhearrivedatthetinyisolatedcampusintheeasternTennesseehills,some30milesfromthesiteofthe1925Scopes“monkeytrial,”didGrahamlearnthattheschoolwasnotaccredited.Bytheendofhisfirstsemesterhewasthinkingofleaving.DuringtheChristmasbreak,heaccompaniedhisfamilyonatriptoFloridaandusedtheoccasiontovisittheFloridaBibleInstitute,afundamentalistschoolinTampathathadbeenrecommendedtohim.Helikeditatonce.BythetimeGrahamreturnedtoschoolinJanuary,Joneshadheardrumorsthathe

wasthinkingofleavingandsummonedhimtohisofficetoissueawarning:“Billy,ifyouleaveandthrowyourlifeawayatalittlecountryBibleschool,thechancesareyou’llneverbeheardof.”Allthesame,inFebruaryGrahamheadedsouthtothedecidedlymoregenial

institute,aschoolwithfewerthan75studentsthatwashousedinaformercountryclubandsurroundedbyan18-holegolfcourse.TherehewouldstudytheBibleanditsliteralinterpretations,alongwithchurchhistory,theology,andtherudimentsofpreaching.Althoughpreachingdidnotseemtobehisnaturalgift,hespenthoursrehearsinginfrontofamirror,mimickingthejabbinggesturesanddramaticrapid-fire

rehearsinginfrontofamirror,mimickingthejabbinggesturesanddramaticrapid-firedeliveryhehadseenevangelistsusewithpowerfuleffect.Hewouldhaveplentyofopportunitiestotesthisskillsministeringwithotherstudentsonstreetcorners,outsidesaloons,attrailerparksandrescuemissions,andinsmalllocalchurchesofvariousdenominations.HisinitialsermonsweresimpleandstraightforwardcallstosalvationinJesusChrist.Peopleresponded,andmanywereconverted.AlthoughGrahamenjoyedbearingwitnesstothe“GoodNews”andseeingthe

results,hestilldidnothaveaclearsenseofdivinecall.Thatwouldcomeonabalmyspringnightin1938.Forweekshehadresistedthenudgingofaninternalvoicethatheperceivedwascallinghimtofull-timeChristianservice.HespentsleeplessnightsprotestingtoGodthathehadneithertheskillsnortheinclinationtobeafull-timepreacher.Finally,returningtocampuslateonenightafteralongbroodingwalkaroundthegolfcourse,hepausedattheedgeofoneofthegreens,threwhimselfontotheground,andpouredouthisheart.“Allright,Lord,ifyouwantme,you’vegotme.I’llbewhatyouwantmetobe,andI’llgowhereyouwantmetogo.”Fromthenon,hewouldwritelater,“mypurposeandobjectivesinlifewereset.IknewthatIwouldbeapreacheroftheGospel.”EarlythefollowingyearGrahamwasordainedasaministeroftheSouthernBaptist

Church,adenominationthatappealedtohimbecauseofitsevangelisticfervorandthenumerouspreachingopportunitiesithadgivenhimasastudent.Althoughofficiallycredentialedtopreach,hestilldidnotknowwhereorhowhewouldserve—asapastor,missionary,orevangelist.Buttheoutlinesoffull-timeministrywerebroadlyset.Thecertaintyofhiscalltopreachsparkedanewdesiretofurtherhiseducation.Three

andahalfyearsattheFloridaBibleInstitutehadgivenhimadepthofknowledgeoftheScripturesandprovenskillsasasoulwinner.Butthenarrowcurriculumleftgapingholesinhisunderstandingofhistory,culture,politics,andeconomics.Astrongliberal-artseducationseemedtobeinorder.HewouldpursueitatasmallChristiancollegeinthewesternsuburbsofChicago,wherethedetailsofhiscallwouldcomeintosharperfocusandhewouldfindhislife’spartner.WheatonCollegeheldauniqueplaceinthefundamentalistlandscapeofthe1930s.

Unabashedlyconservativeindoctrine,itwasafullyaccreditedliberal-artscollegewithasterlingacademicreputation,andsoitattractedtheoffspringofmanyofthecountry’smostaffluentandinfluentialfundamentalistfamilies.Graham’sparentsdoubtedtheycouldpaythetuition,butthatproblemwassolvedwhentwobusinessmen,oneofthemthebrotherofWheaton’spresident,visitedtheinstituteandheardGrahampreach.Theyofferedtopayhisfirstyear’stuition,andGrahamaccepted.WhenhearrivedatWheatoninthefallof1940,hewouldbe21yearsold.Butbecausetheschoolacceptedfewofhiscreditsfromtheinstitute,heenrolledasafreshman.

Olderthanmoststudentsandalreadyanordainedandexperiencedpreacher,‐Graham,whowouldmajorinanthropology,immediatelystoodoutontheWheatoncampus.Withhislankyframe,loudattire,anddistinctiveCarolinadrawl,hewasimpossibletomiss.HequicklycaughttheeyeofRuthBell,avivacioussecond-yearstudentandthedaughterofPresbyterianmedicalmissionaries.Thetwobegandating.Althoughthemutualattractionwasstrongandalmostinstantaneous,inmanywaystheirchildhoodshadbeenstarklydifferent.RuthhadgrownuponahospitalcompoundinTsingkiang,China,whereherfather,L.NelsonBell,wasamissionarysurgeon.Herearliestmemorieswereofhardshipandsufferingwroughtbynaturaldisasters,epidemicdisease,andtheviolenceofcivilwar.Asayoungchild,sheoftenlayawakeatnightlisteningtogunfireandexplosionsinthedistance.ShehadfoundherfaithearlierinlifethanBillyand,likeBilly,wassteepedinPresbyterianpiety.Fromtheageof12on,shehadfeltGod’sdistinctcalltobeamissionarytoTibet.ShehadcometoWheatondeterminedtopursuethatcall.Astheirrelationshipgrewmoreserious,BillyandRuthhadmanyspiriteddiscussions

overtheapparentdifferencesintheirvisionsofservice.WhileBillyrespectedRuth’smissionaryaspirations,hefeltnodivinenudgingtowardtheHimalayas.Hetriedtoconvinceherthatawoman’shighestcallingwasthatofawifeandmother.BothagreedtoprayforGod’sguidance.Beforetheypartedforthesummerof1941,BillyaskedRuthtomarryhim.Shedidn’t

answerimmediately,butshewrotetohimthatsummersayingshebelievedtheirrelationshipwas“oftheLord”andthatshewouldbepleasedtobecomehiswife.“TobewithBillin[evangelistic]workwon’tbeeasy,”sheconfessedtoherparents,adding,“IknewIwouldn’thavepeacetillIyieldedmywilltotheLordanddecidedtomarryBill.”Theywouldwaittomarryuntilaftertheygraduatedin1943.Inthemeantime,BillypickedupwherehehadleftoffinFloridaandbeganfillinghis

weekendswithpreachingengagementsatChicago-areachurches.Duringhissophomoreyear,hisreputationasadynamicspeakerwithaknackforwinningsoulsbroughtaninvitationtobecomeresidentpreacherattheUnitedGospelTabernacleinWheaton,asmallcongregationthatincludedseveralcollegefacultymembers.EveryweekhewouldpreachattwoSundayservicesandconductWednesday-nightprayermeetings.Thecongregationgrewduringhispart-timetenure.Billy’sministrypreparationswerenearlysidetrackedinDecember1941whennewsof

theJapaneseattackonPearlHarborflashedacrossthenation.HisfirstthoughtwastodropoutofschoolandvolunteerfortheArmy.HeinquiredwiththeWarDepartmentaboutbecominganArmychaplainbutwastoldhewasshortonexperienceandneededtofinishcollegeandtakeaseminarycoursetoqualify.Forthenextthreesemestershisschoolworkwouldtakeonanewlevelofseriousness,andhisministryatthetabernacle

schoolworkwouldtakeonanewlevelofseriousness,andhisministryatthetabernacleintensified.In1943,asgraduationandhisweddingdayapproached,Billywasofferedthe

pastorateofaBaptistchurchinWesternSprings,about20milessoutheastofWheaton.PastoringachurchfulltimehadnotfiguredintoeitherBilly’sorRuth’scareerplans,buttheygladlyacceptedthecallandthefinancialstabilityitwouldbring,althoughbothconsidereditatemporaryassignment:RuthstillhadhereyesonTibet,andBillythoughtofitasastepping-stonetothechaplaincy.TheygraduatedtogetherthatJuneandweremarriedinAugustataPresbyterian

chapelinMontreat,N.C.,whereRuth’sparentshadsettledafterreturningfromChina.Afterabriefhoneymooninthemountains,theyreturnedtotheChicagoareatobegintheirpastoralministry.Shortlyaftertheyarrived,anotherunexpectedopportunitypresenteditself.Torrey

Johnson,aradiobroadcasterandpastorofChicago’sthrivingMidwestBibleChurch,invitedGrahamtohostaChristianradioprogram,SongsintheNight,whichairedSundaynightsonWCFL,a50,000-wattstationinChicago.GrahamgladlyacceptedJohnson’soffer.Hebegandoingthe45-minutebroadcastfromthebasementofhischurch,deliveringabriefmeditationintermingledwithmusicbeforealivestudioaudiencemadeupofmembersofhiscongregation.HerecruitedGeorgeBeverlyShea,abaritonegospelsingerwellknownintheChicagoarea,tobetheprogram’sfeaturedsoloist.Littledidtheyknowthattheywouldministertogetherforthenext60years.ThepopularityofGraham’sradioprogramquicklyledtoevenmorespeaking

engagements,thistimeincitiesthroughouttheupperMidwest.Hisfrequenttravelsbegantoirritatemembersofhischurch,whogrumbledthattheirpastorwasneglectinghisownflock.Forhispart,Grahamwasdevelopinganaffinityforitinerantevangelism,freeofanytiestoaparticularcongregationorpulpit.Hewouldsoonfindanopportunitytomovehiscareerinthatlife-changingnewdirection.Intheearly1940sahandfuloffundamentalistleadersacrossthecountry—

spontaneously,itseemed,andindependentofoneanother—begancitywidecampaignstowinthesoulsofyoungpeopleintheircommunities.InNewYork,Philadelphia,Detroit,Minneapolis,St.Louis,andelsewhere,theystagedSaturday-nightralliesindowntownarenasandauditoriums.Thesefeaturedablendofwholesomeentertainment,patrioticfervor,andgospelmessagesgearedtotheyoung,especiallytoservicemenwhowereawayfromhome.TorreyJohnson,thepastorwhohadintroducedGrahamtobroadcasting,had

attendedseveraloftheralliesandwasdeterminedtostartasimilarprograminChicago.In1944heinvitedGrahamtospeakattheinauguralrallyoftheChicagolandYouthforChrist.ItwasheldMay27,10daysbeforeD-Day,inthe3,000-seat

OrchestraHallindowntownChicago.Waitingbackstage,Grahamsufferedwhathelaterdescribedas“theworstfitofstagefrightinmylife.”Hehadneverspokentosolargeanaudience.Butonceonstage,heelectrifiedthecrowd,andwhenhegavetheinvitationtoacceptChrist,42peopleresponded.ItwasGraham’sfirsttasteofmassevangelism,andhewashooked.TheOrchestraHallralliescontinuedallsummerandprovedpopularnotonlywith

servicemenbutalsowithlocalteenagers,whorelishedtheideaofgoingdowntownonaSaturdaynight.Meanwhile,JohnsonhadbegunorganizingYouthforChristralliesinothercities,andheinvitedGrahamtospeakatseveral.Grahamenjoyedthetravelandtheopportunitytopreachevangelisticmessagestobigcrowdsinnewsurroundings.Justashisfutureasanitinerantevangelistappearedtobeunfolding,Grahamheard

fromtheWarDepartment.HisArmychaplaincyhadbeenapproved,andhewasorderedtoreportfortrainingatHarvardDivinitySchool.Beforehecouldgetthere,hecontractedaseverecaseofmumpsandwaslaidupinbedforsixpainfulweeks,deliriouswithfeversthatreached105degrees.Attimesthereweredoubtshewouldsurvive.Whenthecrisispassed,doctorstoldhimitwasunlikelyhewouldeverbeabletoconceiveachild.Duringhisconvalescence,GrahamandRuthwenttoMiamiforafewdaysofrestin

thesun.Whilehewasthere,hemetwithTorreyJohnson,whospelledoutanambitiousplantoexpandtheYouthforChristministry.JohnsonwantedtocoordinateallthelocalprogramsunderoneumbrellathatwouldbeknownasYouthforChristInternationalandthatwouldbringrevivaltoyoungpeoplearoundtheworld.AndhewantedGrahamtobeitsnationalorganizerandoneofitsleadpreachers.“We’llpayyou$75aweek,”hesaid.Grahameagerlyacceptedtheoffer,withthestipulationthatitinclude“notonebitof

paperwork.”Inshortorder,heresignedhispastorateatWesternSpringsandobtainedtheArmy’sagreementtoberelievedofhischaplaincyassignment.InJuly1945,attheageof26,hebecameYouthforChristInternational’sfirstfieldrepresentativeandbegantotravelthecountry,speakingatyouthrallies,meetingwithcivicgroups,andshowingministershowtoorganizeYFCchaptersintheirtowns.Butoverthenextfouryears,hisgospelpreachingwouldovershadowhisdutiesasan

organizerashedeliveredhisrevivalistmessagein47states,Canada,andEurope.Alongthewayhewouldhonehispreachingskillsandbuildrelationshipswithministrypartnerswhowouldservealongsidehimfordecades.Gradually,andwithlittlefanfare—atleastatfirst—Grahamhadbegunhisascentintotheroleofpreachertotheworld.

THEBUDDINGEVANGELISTGrahamin1937withteachersfromtheFloridaBibleInstitute.

Aposterforstudent-ledrevivalmeetingsfeaturingGraham.

RUTHBELLATWHEATONGrahamlaterwrotethatwhenhemethisfuturewife,“Icouldnotbelievethatanyonecouldbesospiritualandsobeautifulatoneandthesame

time.”

CLASSISINSESSIONAsGrahamlookson,aWheatonprofessordemonstratesaninstrumentusedtomeasurethecranium,atoolofthetradeinanthropology,thefield

Grahammajoredinasanundergraduate.

TRYINGOUTTHEPULPITGrahamin1942,asastudentpastoratUnitedGospelTabernacle.

ONFIREFORTHELORDBythetimehejoinedtheYouthforChristministry,Grahamhaddevelopedintothecharismaticpreacherhewouldremainformanydecadestocome.

[CHAPTER3]

AStarIsBorn

GOINGGLOBALGrahamandtheRev.CharlesB.TempletonlookonasTorreyJohnsonplotsthepathoftheir1946Europeancrusade.

THEREWASPLENTYOFHISTORICALprecedentforthetypeofitinerantmassevangelismpracticedbyGrahamandtheotheryoungpreacherswhofannedoutacrossthecountryinthelate1940sundertheauspicesofYouthforChristInternational.Agenerationbefore,thefamousfundamentalistpreacherBillySundayhadblazedthe20th-centurysawdusttrail,winningconvertsbythethousandsattentmeetingsandopen-airrevivalservicesthroughouttheU.S.Sundayhadfollowedinthefootstepsoftwogreat19th-centuryevangelists,ChicagopastorandBibleexpositorDwightL.Moody,andCharlesFinney,akeyfigureintheSecondGreatAwakening,thereligiousrevivalthatsweptthenationintheearly19thcentury.They,inturn,hadbuiltupontheitinerantpreachingtraditionofthe18th-centuryrevivalistsoftheFirstGreatAwakening—CongregationalistministerJonathanEdwards,MethodismfounderJohnWesley,andthelegendarycolonialoratorGeorgeWhitefield.WhatsettheYouthforChristInternationalpreachersapartfromtheirevangelist

forebearswastheirexplicitfocusonwinningtheyoung—toChrist,firstandforemost,butalsotoarobustpost-warAmericanismsteepedinpatrioticfervorandtraditional

butalsotoarobustpost-warAmericanismsteepedinpatrioticfervorandtraditionalmoralvalues.DeterminedtoshowthatChristianitydidnothavetobedraborboring,theypresented“Old-fashionedTruthforUp-to-dateYouth”inmessages“GearedtotheTimes,butAnchoredtotheRock.”Thepreachersworecolorfulsuitsandflashyhand-paintedties,andtheralliesfeaturedfast-pacedentertainmentandtestimonialsfromsemifamousathletesandotheryoungcelebrities.Byallappearances,thestrategyworkedasintended.Thousandsofyoungpeople

flockedtotherallies,andmanyrespondedtotheinevitableinvitationtoacceptChrist.TheralliesprovedsopopularthatGrahamandhisministrycolleaguesadoptedahectictravelscheduletokeepupwiththegrowingdemandforbookings.Theresultsweregratifying,buttheconstanttravelsoonbegantotakeatollonthe

youngevangelistsandtheirfamilies.Toabidethelongperiodsofseparationfromherhusband,Ruth,whowaspregnantwiththeirfirstchild,temporarilymovedinwithherparentsinMontreat.OnSept.21,1945,whileBillywasawayatarallyinMobile,Ala.,shedeliveredtheirdaughter,Virginia,whowouldbeknownasGigi.CopingwithBilly’sextendedabsenceswouldgetnoeasierovertheyears,butRuthsupportedherhusband’swork,evenifitsometimesmeantraisingtheirchildrenvirtuallyalone.Earlyonshedevelopedastockresponsetoinquiriesabouttheirmarriage:“I’dratherhavealittleofBillthanalotofanyotherman.”Inthespringof1946,YouthforChristInternationalmadeitsfirstconcertedeffortto

expandoverseas,sendingteamstoJapan,Korea,Africa,India,andAustralia.Grahamandahandfulofotherssetoffona46-daytourofEnglandandtheContinent,wheretheywouldconductralliesandmeetwithchurchleadersinhopesofestablishingnewYFCchapters.Thetripprovedproductive,thoughthebrashyoungAmericansleftamixedimpressionamongtheirmorereservedEuropeancounterparts.ItwasGraham’sfirsttripabroad,andhewasmovedbythedesolationanddeprivationthejust-concludedwarhadleftinitswake.Healsocameawaywithavividnewawarenessofthecommunistthreat,whichhewouldincorporateintohismessagesbackhome.GrahamreturnedtoEnglandinthefallforasix-monthpreachingtour.Ruth

accompaniedhimforpartofit.Whilethere,hebecamefriendswithStephenOlford,ayoungWelshevangelistwhoexplainedtoGrahamhowhehadrecentlycometoadeeperspiritualcommitment.AsOlfordwouldtellGrahambiographerWilliamMartin,authorofProphetWithHonor:TheBillyGrahamStory:“IgavehimmytestimonyofhowGodcompletelyturnedmylifeinsideout—anexperienceoftheHolySpiritinhisfullnessandanointing.”OlfordsaidGraham’seyesglistenedwithtearsashesaid,“Stephen,Iseeit.That’swhatIwant.That’swhatIneedinmylife.”Stepbystep,OlfordexplainedhowhehadbecomefilledwiththeHolySpirit—what

someChristiansrefertoasa“spiritbaptism.”Thentheykneltandprayedaprayerof“totaldedicationtotheLord.”OlfordrecalledthatafterwardGrahamexclaimed,“MyheartissofloodedwiththeHolySpirit...Ihaveit!I’mfilled!”TheybothlaughedandpraisedGodtogether.ToOlfordandothers,Graham’spreachingseemedmorepowerfulandanointedafter

that,andaudiencesrespondedaccordingly.Lookingbackattheexperience,Grahamwouldrecallthatit“deepenedmypersonalspirituallife.IwasbeginningtounderstandthatJesusHimselfwasourvictory,throughtheHolySpirit’spower.”Hereturnedhomeenergizedandwith“anevendeeperhungerforBiblestudyandnewbiblicalinsightsformymessages.IquotedtheBiblemorefrequentlythaneverbefore.”ShortlyafterhissecondEuropeantour,Grahambegantofeelacalltoexpandhis

preachingministrybeyondstrictlyyouth-orientedrallies.AlthoughhewouldremainonYFC’spayroll,hesethissightsonreachingbroaderaudiencesthroughcitywideevangelisticcampaigns.Akeyonecameinthefallof1947whenGrahamwasinvitedbytheChristianMen’sClubofCharlotte,N.C.—thesamegroupthathadinvitedMordecaiHamadozenyearsearlier—toholdaseriesofmeetingsinhisformerhometown.Ashepreparedforthetwo-weekcampaign,heassembledwhatwouldbecomehisfirst-stringministryteam:CliffBarrows,agospeltrombonistandsongleaderwhohadrecentlyjoinedtheYFCstaff;GeorgeBeverlyShea,theChicagosoloistwhomGrahamhadrecruitedforhisradioprogram;andGradyWilson,aboyhoodfriendofGraham’sfromNorthCarolina.Thefourwouldworktogetherfortheremainderoftheircareers.LaterthatyearGraham’sministryplanswouldtakeaslightdetour.InMinneapolisfor

aspeakingengagementinthesummer,GrahamhadbeensummonedtothebedsideofWilliamBellRiley,anailingBaptistpastorandfounderofNorthwesternSchools,afundamentalistBibleschool,seminary,andliberal-artscollegeinMinneapolis.RileywaslookingforasuccessoraspresidentandhaddecidedGrahamwashisman.Pointingabonyfingerattheyoungevangelist,hedeclared,“Beloved,asSamuelappointedDavidkingofIsrael,soIappointyouheadoftheseschools.”ReluctantlyGrahamagreedtoserveastheschool’sinterimpresidentintheeventofRiley’sdeath,butonlyuntilapermanentleadercouldbefound.RileydiedinDecember,andGraham,atage29,becametheyoungestcollegepresidentinthecountry.ThoughGrahamwouldholdthepositionuntil1952,hewouldservelargelyinabsentia.Notwishingtobedistractedfromhisownevangelism,hewouldinstallT.W.Wilson,aYFCministerandGradyWilson’solderbrother,astheschool’svicepresidentandchiefadministrator.DuringthenexttwoyearsGrahamwouldconductcitywidecampaignsinMiami,

Baltimore,Augusta,Ga.,andAltoona,Pa.Thoughalldidnotgosmoothly,Grahamcontinuedtofindhisministryfooting,andseekersrespondedtohismessagesinrespectablenumbers.DuringacampaigninModesto,Calif.,GrahamandhisteamcraftedacodeofconducttoavoidthesexandmoneyscandalsthathadunderminedotherministriesandtarnishedthereputationofitinerantevangelistsasElmerGantrytypes.CalledtheModestoManifesto,itwouldrequireallfinancestobehandledbylocalsponsoringcommitteesandkeptoutoftheteam’shands.Grahamandhisstaffwouldneverallowthemselvestobealonewithawomanotherthantheirwives.Inplanningcampaigns,theywouldcooperatewithlocalchurchesandavoidcriticizinglocalclergy.Inpublicizingmeetingsandreportingconversions,theywouldavoidexaggerationandhyperbole.Grahamwasdeterminedtofollowtheguidelinesfortheremainderofhiscareer.Graham’sministryandhislife’strajectorywereabouttoreachanothercritical

juncture.Earlyin1949heacceptedaninvitationfromalaymen’sgroupinLosAngelestoconductaseriesofrevivalmeetingsthereinthefall.Heandhisteamsetaboutmakingpreparationsmonthsinadvance.Localchurcheswererecruitedtoorganizeprayergroupsthroughoutthecityandtooffervolunteersforthechoirandotherassortedtasks.Grahamaskedlocalorganizerstospend$25,000foradvertising,anamountthatraisedeyebrowsandsomeinitialresistance,buteventuallytheyagreed.Inalettertoamemberoftheorganizingcommittee,Grahamspelledouthisconcern:“I’mconvinced...thatifarevivalcouldbreakoutinthecityofLosAngeles,itwouldhaverepercussionsaroundtheworld.Let’snotstopatanythingtomakethisthemeetingthatGodcoulduseasasparktosendaflameofrevivalthroughthenation.”TheLosAngelescampaignbeganthelastweekofSeptemberandwastorunthree

weeks.NightlyserviceswereheldinaRinglingBrotherscircustentpitchedonthecornerofWashingtonandHillstreets.DubbedtheCanvasCathedral,itwasdrapedwithabannertrumpetingBILLYGRAHAM,GREATERLOSANGELESREVIVALandbearingagarishlikenessofGraham.Inside,6,000foldingchairsfacedawoodenplatform,whereGrahamwouldpreachinfrontofa20-foot-tallreplicaofanopenBible.Whenthemeetingsbegan,Grahampulledoutallthestops,preachinghisopeningmessageswithanextrameasureofenthusiasm.Prowlingbackandforthacrosstheplatform,hehammeredawayagainstacatalogueofsinsandsocialproblems—adultery,divorce,crime,alcoholabuse,materialism,andgeneralmoraldecline—whichhesaidmarkedLosAngelesasa“cityofwickednessandsin.”Heleveledabroadsideagainstthecommunistthreat,towhichhadbeenaddedaSovietnucleararsenal.“Anarmsrace,unprecedentedinthehistoryoftheworld,isdrivingusmadlytowarddestruction,”hethundered.CommunistswereenemiesofGod,andtheywere“morerampantinLos

AngelesthananyothercityinAmerica...InthismomentIcanseethejudgmenthandofGodoverLosAngeles.Icanseejudgmentabouttofall.”Graham’sspiritedpreachingdrewfaircrowdsandamodestnumberofconversions.

Yetdespiteallthepreparationandthepaidadvertising,onmostnightsthetentwasonlyhalffull,andGrahamestimatedthatmostintheaudiencealreadywereChristians.Attemptstoattractpublicityforthemeetingshadlargelyfallenflat.ExceptforabriefaccountoftheopeningserviceandastoryontheSaturdayreligionpage,newspapercoveragewasnil.Somethoughtwasgiventoclosingthecampaignearly.Thenoneevening,quiteunexpectedly,aclusterofreportersandphotographersmet‐

Grahamwhenhearrivedatthetent.Surprisedbythesuddenmediaturnout,Grahamaskedareporterwhathadhappened.“You’vejustbeenkissedbyWilliamRandolphHearst.Lookhere.”ThereportershowedGrahamascrapofpapercontainingthefamousnewspaperpublisher’sterseinstructiontohiseditors:“PuffGraham.”HearstandGrahamhadnevermetorcommunicateddirectly,andneverwould.Years

laterGrahamwouldprofessnevertohaveknownexactlywhythemediatycoondecidedtopromotehim.OtherswouldspeculatethatHearst,anardentanticommunist,mayhavebeenattractedbyGraham’ssternwarningsagainsttheRedMenace,orthathesawGrahamasapositivemoralinfluence.Itjustaseasilycouldhavebeenacoldcalculustosellpapers.Whateverthereason,theeffectwasimmediateanddramatic.Thenextmorning,

Hearst’sLosAngelesExaminer,thelargestWestCoastnewspaperatthetime,andthecity’sotherHearstpaper,theHerald-Express,gaveGrahambannerheadlines.TheirdailycoverageofthetentmeetingswouldbepickedupbyHearstpapersinNewYork,Chicago,Detroit,SanFrancisco,andeightothercities.WithindaystheAssociatedPress,UnitedPress,andtheInternationalNewsServicewereonthestory.Time,Newsweek,andLifemagazinessoonfollowedwithfeaturearticleshighlightingGrahamandtheLosAngelescampaign.“NoonesinceBillySunday,”Timewrote,hadwielded“therevivalsickle”withsuchsuccessas“this31-year-oldblond,trumpet-lungedNorthCarolinian.”Literallyovernight,Grahamhadbecomeamediasensation.Exuberantcrowds

jammedthecanvascathedralandextrachairswerebroughtintoaccommodatetheoverflow.AmongtheattendeeswereGeneAutry,JaneRussell,andahostofotherHollywoodcelebritiesandfamousathleteswhocameouttoseeandbeseen.HollywoodgossipcolumnistLouellaParsonsinterviewedhimandwrotealaudatorycolumndescribinghimasa“reallynaive,humbleman.”Epic-filmproducerCecilB.DeMilleofferedhimascreentest.TheLosAngelescampaignwasextendedforfivemoreweeks,andbythetimeit

endedonNov.20,aggregateattendancehadtopped350,000,withmorethan3,000

endedonNov.20,aggregateattendancehadtopped350,000,withmorethan3,000“decisionsforChrist.”AshistorianMarkNollwouldobserve,“Anewstarhadarisenonthenation’sreligioushorizon.”OnthetrainbacktoMinneapolis,Grahamhadlittletimetoreflectonthedramatic

turnhisministryhadtaken.Otherpassengersgreetedhimlikeahero,andateverystopreportersclamberedaboardtopressforinterviews.Suddenlyanythinghesaidonanysubjectwaslikelytofinditswayintoprint.“Somethingwashappeningthatallthemediacoverageintheworldcouldnotexplain,andneithercouldI,”GrahamwouldwritelateroftheLosAngelescampaignanditsaftermath.“GodmayhaveusedMr.Hearsttopromotethemeetings...butthecreditbelongedsolelytoGod.AllIknewwasthatbeforeitwasover,wewereonajourneyfromwhichtherewouldbenolookingback.”Grahamwastednotimeputtinghisnewcelebritystatustoproductiveuse.Withina

year,heandhisteamorganizedtheBillyGrahamEvangelisticAssociation,basedinMinneapolis,toplanandfinancehisburgeoningministryanditscitywidecampaigns,whichtheyhadbeguntocall“crusades.”Healsowouldlaunchaweeklyradioprogram,TheHourofDecision,andamovieproductioncompany—BillyGrahamEvangelisticFilms,laterrenamedWorldWidePictures—basedinBurbank,Calif.Booksandanationallysyndicatednewspapercolumnwouldfollow.GrahamquicklyfollowedupontheLosAngelesbreakthroughwithsuccessful

campaignsinBostonandColumbia,S.C.Bothdrewoverflowcrowdsandextensivemediacoverage.DuringtheColumbiacrusade,hewasbefriendedbySouthCarolinaGov.StromThurmond,whopromotedGraham’smeetingsandinsistedthattheevangeliststayattheexecutivemansion.AnotherThurmondhouseguestatthetimewasHenryR.Luce,publisherofTimeandLife.AlthoughhispublicationshadalreadywrittenaboutGraham,Luce—himselfthesonofmissionaries—wasinterestedinthepossibilityofanationwidereligiousrevivalandsharedGraham’sconcernoverRussia’snuclearweapons.Thetwospentlonghoursinconversationatthegovernor’smansion,andaweeklaterTimerananothersubstantialarticleaffirmingGrahamasanationalfigure.Grahamreveledintheattentionofthemediaandofpoliticians,althoughheregarded

bothasasacredtrusttobeexploitedforpurposesgreaterthanhisownaggrandizement.In1949hehadwrittentoPresidentHarryTruman—aSouthernBaptistlikehimself—askingforameeting,butwasrebuffed.WhileinBostonearlyin1950,hetoldareporterhehoped“togetPresidentTruman’searfor30minutes,togetalittlehelp”inspreadingthegospel.Laterhesentatelegramurgingthepresidenttodeclareanationaldayofprayerandrepentanceasasteptowardinternationalpeace.WhencommunistforcesinvadedNorthKoreaafewweekslater,hesentanother

telegram:“MILLIONSOFCHRISTIANSPRAYINGGODGIVEYOUWISDOMINTHISCRISIS.STRONGLYURGESHOWDOWNWITHCOMMUNISMNOW.MORECHRISTIANSINSOUTHERNKOREAPERCAPITATHANANYPARTOFWORLD.WECANNOTLETTHEMDOWN.EVANGELISTBILLYGRAHAM.”Herenewedhisrequestforameeting,butagainhewasturnedaway.Finally,atthe

urgingofDemocraticCongressmenJoeBrysonofSouthCarolinaandHerbertBonnerofNorthCarolina,HouseMajorityLeaderJohnW.McCormackofMassachusettsarrangedaninvitationforGrahamtomeetwithTrumanintheOvalOfficeatnoononFriday,July14.Grahamwasecstatic.Inademonstrationofunmitigatedchutzpah,hegothis

invitationwidenedtoincludehisteammembers—Barrows,GradyWilson,andGeraldBeavan,hisnewpresssecretary.Thethreearrivedearlyfortheirappointment,deckedintheirYFC-rallyattire:double-breastedpastelsuits,widehand-paintedties,andwhitebuckshoes.“Peopleprobablythoughtwewereabarbershopquartetoutforastroll,”Grahamwouldrecall.Theywereinformedtheywouldhave20minuteswiththepresident.TrumangreetedthemcordiallyandlistenedpolitelyasGrahamtoldabouttheir

ralliesinLosAngelesandBostonandreiteratedhisrequestforanationaldayofprayer.ThepresidentsharedanobservationthatsomesortofpoliceactionmightbeneededinKorea,buthewascarefullynoncommittal.Theirtimewasrunningout,soGrahamaskedwhethertheymighthaveawordofprayer.“Idon’tsupposeitcoulddoanyharm,”Trumanresponded.Grahamputhisarmonthepresident’sshoulderandprayedaloud,withBarrowschimingin,“Amen!Doit,Lord!”TheylefttheWhiteHouseandweredescendeduponbyreportersand

photographers.“Whatdidthepresidentsay?”theyasked.“Whatdidyousaytothepresident?”“Didyoupraywithhim?”Unawarethathewasbreakingprotocol,Grahamansweredalltheirquestions.Whenaskedtore-enacttheprayerforthecameras,GrahambalkedbutthenaddedthattheywereplanningtothankGodforthevisitanywayand“nowwasasgoodatimeasany.”TheykneltontheWhiteHouselawn,andthecameraspoppedastheyprayed.ThenextdaynewspapersalloverthecountryranthephotographandthestoryquotingGrahamonhismeetingwiththepresident.TrumanwasirritatedandinstructedhisaidesnevertoallowGrahaminhispresence

again.SyndicatednewspapercolumnistDrewPearsonreportedcorrectlythatGrahamhadbecomepersonanongrataattheWhiteHouse.Grahamwasoblivioustohisblunderandsentathank-younoteafewdayslateraskingforasignedphotograph.Eventuallyitdawnedonhimthathehadabusedtheprivilegeofseeingthepresident.ManyyearslaterhewouldvisitTrumanathishomeinIndependence,Mo.,andapologizefortheindiscretion.Trumanwouldgraciouslybrushitoff,sayingGraham

hadnotbeenproperlybriefed.ButGrahamhadlearnedapainfulandvaluablelesson.“Afterourgaffe,”hewould

write,“IvowedtomyselfitwouldneverhappenagainifIeverwasgivenaccesstoapersonofrankorinfluence.”Overthenextfivedecadeshewouldhavemanyopportunitiestoliveuptothatvow.

ONWINGSOFPRAYERAstheypreparetodepartChicago,Templeton,Graham,J.StrattonShufelt,andJohnsonpausetopray.

LOOKINGTOTHEFUTUREIn1951,GrahamandwifeRuthadmiretheviewsfromthemountaintopinMontreat,N.C.,wherethreeyearslatertheywillpurchase150acresto

buildtheirdreamhome.

WALKWITHME,JESUSGrahamclaimsthestageduringtheeight-weekLosAngelesrevival.

THEDECISIVEMOMENTMovedbythefervorofGraham’ssermon,awomanwipesawaytearsasshepreparestoacceptChrist.

THEBIGTENTThecrowdatoneoftheLosAngelesevents.TheRinglingBrotherscircustentwasbelievedtobethelargestevererectedforareligiousrevival.

TAKINGITOUTSIDEInApril1950,Grahampreachedtoanestimated50,000peopleontheBostonCommon,callingforadeclarationofaNationalRepentanceDay.

COMINGTOTHEPOINTGrahampreachinginNewYorkin1951,wherehewarnedthatthecitymightbeonthebrinkofnuclearannihilation.

HOUSECALLGrahamandhisteamstoptoprayoutsidetheWhiteHouseaftermeetingwithPresidentTruman.

[FROMTHETIMEARCHIVES]

ANewKindofEvangelistIn1954,GrahammadethefirstofwhatwouldbefourappearancesonthecoverofTIME.Whatfollowsisanexcerptfromthestoryinthatissue.

Thefirstonetocomeforwardwasaround,sensible-lookinghousewifewiththickglasses.Shestoodasstillandundramaticasifshewerewaitingtobeservedatthemeatcounter.Thenextwasan11-year-oldboywhokepthisheadlowtohidehistears;athingirlappearedbehindhimandputherarmcomfortinglyonhisshoulder.Thesethreewerejoinedbyabroad-shoulderedyoungmanwhosemachine-knitted

jerseycelebratedaleapingswordfish,thenbyaprettyyoungNegrowomaninherbestclotheswithasleepingbabyinherarms.Suddenlythereweretoomanytocount,standingonthetrampledgrassintheblazeoflights.Someofthemweptquietly,someofthemstaredatthegroundandsomelookedupward.Abovethemallstoodatall,blondyoungmaninadouble-breastedtangabardinesuit.

Hishandsome,strong-jawedfacewasdrawnandhisblueeyesglittered;forafewsecondshegnawednervouslyonathumbnail,andbrightsweatcoveredhishighforehead.Hewasspeakingsoftly,butwithanurgencythatseemedtotenseeverymuscleofhisbody:

“Youcanleaveherewithpeaceandjoyandhappinesssuchasyou’veneverknown.Yousay,‘Well,Billy,that’sallwellandgood.I’llthinkitoverandImaycomebacksomenightandI’ll—’Waitaminute!Youcan’tcometoChristanytimeyouwantto.YoucanonlycomewhentheSpiritofGodisdrawingandwooingyou...Ibegofyoutocomenowbeforeitistoolate.YouknowyouneedChristinyourlife.Leaveyourseatnowandcomeforward.Ifyouhavefriendsorrelativeshere,they’llwaitonyou.Whetheryou’reoldoryoung,orrichorpoor,whiteorcolored—comequietlyupnowandsay.‘Billy,tonightIacceptChrist.’”

TheFlameAroundtheWorldNightafternightinNewOrleans’16,000-capacityPelicanStadium,thisgauntyoungmanwiththeHickey-Freemanclothesandtheeagle-sharpmannerisbringingmenandwomendownfromthepackedstandsandupthelengthofthebaseballfieldtomake“decisionsforChrist.”Thiswouldbenewsenoughinthattamedbutstillsin-riddencityofbluesandbourbon.ButtheflamethatissearingNewOrleansisalsoburninggreaterandgreaterswathsacrossthewholeU.S.andaroundtheworld.BillyGrahamisthebest-known,mosttalked-aboutChristianleaderintheworldtoday,barringthePope.HehaspreachedonthestepsoftheCapitolinWashingtonandintheshadowofthe

IronCurtain,onKoreanbattlefieldsandinHitler’sformerstadiuminBerlin.InEngland,wherereligionhaslongbeenindecline,2millionpeoplelastspringcameinpenitentdroves,and38,447pledgedthemselvesasconverts.EvenwhentheydonotunderstandhislanguageorsharehisAmericantradition,peopleflocktohearhimspeakshortsentencestobeechoedintheirownlanguagebyaninterpreter.InScandinavia,Finland,Holland,Germany,andFrancethissummer,296,600came.Since1949,BillyGrahamhaspreachedpersonallyto12millionpeopleandbrought200,000ofthemtovariousstagesofChristiancommitment.“Imaybejustasmallitemonthebackpageofheaven’snewspaper,”saysGraham

modestly.ButonearthhehasalreadygotenoughnewspaperpublicitytomakebothHollywoodandthecircusenvious.Fivefull-lengthmoviesinwhichheappears,aweeklyradioprogrambroadcastonnearly1,000stations,andadailynewspapercolumnsyndicatedin99newspaperskeepasteadystreamofconverts“decidingforChrist”everyweek.Tycoonslistentohimrespectfully,andgray-headedclericssitathisfeet.Thehumblesendhimgifts,andthegreatonesseekhimout.ChurchillinvitedhimtoDowningStreet,andEisenhowerkeepsoneofBilly’sredleatherBiblesathisbedside.Byallindications,thatisjustthebeginningofacareerthatismakingthisBaptistfromNorthCarolinaoneofthegreatestreligiousinfluencesofhistime.

BillyIsDifferentFromSavonarolatoBillySunday,evangelistshaveexhortedsinnerstorepentanceandpreachedsalvationasaright-now,yes-or-nodecision.ThehotGospelplayedamajorpartinthemakingofAmerica,whenchurcheswerefewer,distancesvastandlifehard.Butupper-crustChristianstendtoregardthesweatyurgencyofevangelisticChristianityasfrequentlyhypocriticalandalwaysinbadtaste.BillyGrahamisdifferent.Hepreacheswithhisshirtcollarunbuttoned,sothat“myAdam’sapplecanmoveup

anddown.”Yethealwayslooksimmaculatelypressedandgroomed.Heissurroundedbyelectronics—atinyportablemicrophonetopickuphisvoicewhilehepreaches(withawireclippedtohisbeltloop),batteriesofDictaphonesfordictation,thewholeBibleonrecords.Andyetheneversoundsmechanicalandoftenseemsold-fashioned.Heunblushinglyappliesthehard-selltechniquetoGod(“Iamselling,”hesays,“thegreatestproductintheworld.Whyshouldn’titbepromotedaswellassoap?”).Andyetsucheminentlylow-pressure,dignity-boundclericsastheArchbishopofCanterburyhavegivenGrahamtheirblessing.AfarewelldinnergivenforhiminLondonthisspringincluded70peersandpeeresses,andeventheausterelyintellectualManchesterGuardianadmitted,“Hehasaholysimplicity.”Howdoeshedoit?Billywouldbeabletoanswerthatonerightoff,andwithdeep

sincerity:bythegraceofGod.“IfGodshouldtakeHishandsoffmylife,”saysBilly,“mylipswouldturntoclay.I’mnogreatintellectual,andtherearethousandsofmenwhoarebetterpreachersthanIam.Youcan’texplainmeifyouleaveoutthesupernatural.IambutatoolofGod.”

TheTechnologyofSalvationWhileevangelistGrahamsincerelyconsidershimselfnothingbutatoolofGod,hebelievesingivingGodplentyofhelpwithsometoolsofhisown.Thetoolshehasfashionedadduptoanintricatetechnologyofsoul-savingthatmightastonishSt.Paul,bewilderJohnWesleyandgiveanyMadisonAvenueadmansomeideas.LikeFieldMarshalMontgomery,BillyGrahamneverlaunchesanattackunlesshecan

befairlysureinadvancethathisforcesaresuperiortotheenemy—themainenemyperhapsbeingindifference.BeforeGrahamagreestoconductacampaigninanygivencity,preliminarynegotiationsmaygoonforyears(NewOrleanschurchmenfirstbegantalkingaboutthecurrentcrusadein1950).GrahammustbesurethathehasthebackingofthetopProtestantchurchesinthearea,aswellasthesupportofbusinessandcivicleaders.Afterheacceptsaninvitation,thelocalsponsoringcommitteeispromptlypresentedwitha“GrahamPlan”forfinancing.Twomonthsbeforethecampaignisscheduledtobegin,thefirstmemberofthe

Grahamteamarrivesintown.WillisHaymaker,57,whoworkedasadvancemanforsuchold-schoolsoul-saversasGypsySmithandBobJonesbutthinksBillyisthegreatestofthemall,mobilizesthepreachersandlaymenofthecooperatingchurchesintoavastcadreofworkers.From1,000to3,000aretappedforchoirduty.Between700and1,000become“counselors,”andabout1,500becomeushers.Womenareselectedtostafftheticketofficeandswitchboards.Deacons,Sunday-schoolsuperintendentsandotherchurchworkersareorganizedinto“follow-up”classes,wheretheyaretaughthowtobringnewconvertsintolocalchurchlife.SaysGraham:“Wehaveafairaudiencereadybeforeweevengetthere.”Thetownbeginstosproutposters,streetbanners,windowcardsandbumperstickers

announcingtheimpendingcrusade.TypicaloftheGrahamteam’smeticulousknow-howisthewayitsmemberstackledthematterofbumperstickers.Firsttheytestedthedifferentmethodsofattachingasigntoabumper—string,elastic,clips,hooks,adhesive.Havingdecidedadhesivewasmostlasting,theybegantestingsurfaces,anddeterminedonakindcalled“Dayglo,”whichshinesinsunlightorheadlight.Dayglocomesinsingle,doubleandtriplescreen,hencemoretestingandthedecisiontousedouble.Tofindthebestadhesive,lotsof25,000weretestedinvariouscities.Whilesuchpromotionisbeingreadied,counselorsaretrainedinregularclassesand

gradedonapointsystem.Aboutadozenusuallyflunkandaretactfullyaskedtoresign;marginalcases(especiallythosewhodresssloppily)areheldon“reserve,”andthebeststudentsbecome“front-row”counselors(wearingredtabsintheirbadges).Acoupleofdaysbeforetheopeningmeeting,Grahamarriveswiththerestofhisteam

—aclusterofsmoothlydressedyoungmenwithreligiousbackgroundsandcomelywives.Inbothmatterandmanner,BillyGrahamhascomealongwayfromtheLosAngelesdayswhenhebilledhimselfas“America’sSensationalYoungEvangelist”ina“MammothTentCrusade”with“GloriousMusic,DazzlingArrayofGospelTalent,22TremendousNights.”Today’sadsconsistmainlyofthewords“HearBillyGraham,”plusapicture.SaysJerryBeavan(“pronouncedlikeheaven”),Graham’s31-year-oldpublic-relationsman:“WhenyouseeanadvertisementforaCadillac,itjustsaysCadillacandshowsyouapicture.BillyislikeaCadillac.Wedon’thavetoexplain.”Graham’smeetings,likehisneckties,arelessnoisythantheyusedtobe.Sounding

brassandtinklingcymbalhavebeenreplacedbystraightchoirsinging,withasimpleorganandpianoaccompaniment.Astheaudiencearrives(babiesmaybeleftinspecialnurseriesknowntotheGrahamstaffas“bawlrooms”),choirleaderCliffBarrowsiswarmingupthesingers.Songbooksarepassedaroundtothecrowd;thenBarrowsinvitestheaudiencetosing,swingingaglitteringtrombone;bass-baritoneBevSheagoesintoactionwithafewold-time-religionsongs,andthecollectionandaninvocationbyalocalclericfollow.MeanwhileBillyGrahamsitsontherostrum,headinhand,meditating.Beforehebeginshissermon,heaskstheaudiencetojoinhiminashortprayer.Then

heplungesrightintohistext.Duringthesermon,hepicksuptheBibleagainandagain,swingingit,slammingit,almostliterallyhurlingitattheDevil.Grahamhasabandonedhisearlyhyperboleinfavorofastrictlyscripturalmessage,broughtdowntoearthineverydaylanguage.Hehasalsoweededoutthekindofliteralnessthatonceledhimtodeliverdrawing-boardspecificationsforheaven,which,heassuredhisaudience(apparentlyrelyingonRevelations21:16),“is1,600mileslong,1,600mileswideand1,600mileshigh.”Underthebrightlights,hepaceshisrubber-mattedplatform,crouching,pointing,swoopinguponhisacresofaudiencefromoneangle,thenanother.Hislong-fingeredhandsarealmostconstantlyinmotion,thrusting,carvingspace,evocativelytouchinghisbreast,head,eyes,mouthorears.Hisplangentvoicehammerstheaudiencewithhardlyachangeofpace:“Youhaveamoraldisease,andthatmoraldiseaseissin.Whenyougetagroupof

sinnerstogetherinwhatwecallasocietyandanation,itbreaksout—thissin—inawar.Andtherootofalltheworld’sillsissin,andsinhasseparatedusfromGod.AndmanmustpaythepenaltyforbreakingthelawofGod.”PreacherGrahamspurnstheconventionalevangelist’sfinal,heart-rendingorgyof

emotion.Atrueconversion,hethinks,mustinvolvenotonlytheemotionsbutthemind.Whenthefirstconvertsstarttocomeforward,anextraordinarypartoftheGrahammachineryswingsintomotion.Itwouldsurprisemostconvertstoknowthatthepleasantpersonoftheirownsexandapproximateagewhofallsintostepbeside

thepleasantpersonoftheirownsexandapproximateagewhofallsintostepbesidethemonthewaytothe“InquiryTent”isthereastheresultofcarefulplanningandsmoothquarterbacking.

IntotheTentCounselorsareseededthroughtheaudienceunderthewatchfuleyesof“advisers”(mostlypastors)stationedattheaislesdownwhichtheconvertsmustcome.Assoonasaconvertstartsforward,anadviserlookshimoverandsignalstoacounseloroftherightsexandagetojointheconvert.If,asthecrowdgrows,thechiefadviserisshortofcounselors,heraiseshisrighthand(formen)orhislefthand(forwomen).ChoirleaderCliffBarrowscatchesthesignalandpassesitalongtoareservecorpsofcounselors.(Anunattendedyoungmanorwomancallsforaraisedrightorleftindexfinger;anoldermanorwomanisindicatedbythethumbandforefingerformingtheletterO.)OnceinsidetheInquiryTent,theassembledconvertshearabriefinspirationaltalkby

GradyWilson,Graham’sboyhoodfriendandnowbilledashis“AssociateEvangelist.”Billyhimselfoftendropsinforafewwords,andtheneachcounselorreallygoestowork.Thereare“BRations”(Bibleleaflets)ateveryseat,andmostofthecounselorshavelearnedbyhearttherations’Bibleverses.Buttheirfinaljobistofilloutacardabouttheir“babyChristian,”statingtheirname,address,occupation,age,churchmembershiporpreference.Oneachcardtherearealsofourcategoriesofdecision,oneofwhichistobechecked:1)acceptanceofChristasSaviorandLord;2)reaffirmationoffaith;3)assuranceofsalvation;4)dedicationoflife.Aconvert’snameononeofthecardssetsoffachainreactiondesignedtoleadthe

convertintopermanentcommitmentinalocalchurch.Nextmorning,apersonal-lookingletterfromBillyGrahamismailedtothenewconvert.Laterheisinvitedtoanothermeetingandcanorderadditionalliterature,knownasanI.R.(forInstructioninRighteousness)Pack.Meanwhile,threeduplicatesofthe“decisioncard’’aretypedup,oneforthecurrentworkingfile,oneforthefuturefollow-upfile,andonetobesenttotheconvert’slocalpastorwithinstructionstogettowork(ifthe“babyChristian”hasnopastor,oneischosenbyacommittee).Ifthepastordoesnotreportbackontheconvertinafewweeks,hegetsajoggingletterfromheadquartersand,eventually,avisitation.ThenervecenterofthisoperationisaMinneapolisofficebuilding,whereastaffof

100handlesthemailandkeepstabsonfar-flungactivitiesoftheBillyGrahamEvangelisticAssociation.Here,amidwhirringofficemachines,thespiritofIBMmeetstheSpirit.Eachmorning,beforeshestartstabulatingtheincomingcontributions,onegirlclerkputsherfingersontheaddingmachineandsays,“Thisisyourmoney,God.Makeitcomeoutright.”

HowtoStayHumbleAshigh-keyedasaracehorse.GrahamspendshimselfprodigallyinGod’sservice,buthetakesgoodcareofhimselftoo,eatingfourorfivemealsadaytokeepuphisstrength,keepingatraileratthestadiuminNewOrleanssohecanchangehissweat-drenchedclotheseachnightimmediatelyafterspeaking.Almostobsessivelyclean(hetakesthreebathsorshowersonabusyday,hasmanicurestocurbhisnail-biting)andalmostunnaturallynatural,hemovesthroughhisworldofhotelpublicrooms,charitydrives,luncheons,interviewsandpopularadulationwithanxiousaffabilityandakindof4-HClubcharm.WhenBillyGrahamgoeshome,itistoaneight-roomrustichouseinMontreat,N.C.,

whereheandhiswife,Ruth,liveinunpretentiouscomfort(Billytitheshis$15,000ayearfromtheBillyGrahamEvangelisticAssociation).TheGrahamsdotheirbesttokeeptheirfourchildrenfrom“hammingitup”forthetourists,whosometimescomeinbusloadstostareatthehouse.Grahamoftenconductshismorning“meditation”inbed,avoidsthetelephone,and

dictateshisnewspapercolumns,radioscriptsandsermonshalfadozenatasitting.Thespiritofthehomeissetbypert,prettyRuthBellGraham,whostillknowstheBiblebetterthanherhusbandandwhosequietgoodtastehasledafriendtocallher“halftheexplanationforBillyGraham.”“Notadaygoesby,”saysRuth,“whenIdon’tasktheLordforwisdom:howtobringupthechildren,howtomakethissuit,howtodothisandthat.Itisn’treallymystical...It’spractical.”

TheHungryHeartWheredoesBillyGrahamgofromhere?Thestockcriticismofevangelismisthatitsconversionsaresuperficialandtemporary,thatitpresentslessthanthewholeGospel.Grahamconfrontsthatwithhisunprecedentedconcernforseeingthateachofhis“babyChristians”turnsintoaspiritualgrownup.Billy’sfondesthopeistosparkarealreligiousrevivalintheU.S.,andifanyonepersoncandoit,heisalikelycandidate.Hecanprophesy:“ThegreatestsinofAmericaisourdisregardofGod...Godhasallowedevilnationstobedestroyedbyotherwickednations...GodmayallowRussiatodestroyAmerica...IkeephavingthefeelingthatGodwillallowsomethingtofallonusinawayIdon’tanticipateunlesswereturntoHim.”Billycanprophesy,but,perhapsmoreimportant,hecanalsospeaktothelonging,

hungryheart:“Oh,ontheoutsideyouputonabigfront.Youlaughandyoujokeandalltherest,butwhenyou’realone,thereitis—thatvoid,thataching,thatemptyplace.Thereisaquesting;thereisahunger;thereisalongingforsomethingelseinlife;andyouhaven’tfoundityetandyouwantit.”BeforeBillyGrahamisthrough,alotmorepeoplewillbeginlookingforit—inthe‐

InquiryTent.

Grahamduringhis1952Washingtoncrusade,whichattractedmorethan307,000people(includingmembersofCongressandothertopgovernment

officials)

AttheWashingtoncrusade,twowomeninthecrowdraisetheirvoicesinsong.

By1954,Graham’scrusadesdrewcrowdssolargethatsomecitieshadnoarenasthatcouldholdthem.Forthosesituationshetraveledwiththiscustom-designed

collapsiblealuminummeetinghall,85feethighand300feetwide.

GrahampreachestoanoverflowcrowdinLondon’sTrafalgarSquare.Duringhistriumphant13-week“Harringay”crusadein1954healsometwithPrime

MinisterWinstonChurchill.

[CHAPTER4]

ManofGod,ManoftheWorld

UNDERTHEBIGTOPOnFeb.3,1952,GrahamspeaksfromthestepsoftheCapitolinWashington,D.C.,wherehecalledforaNationalDayofPrayer.

GRAHAMLAUNCHEDINTOTHEsecondhalfofthe20thcenturyridinganacceleratingwaveofnationalprominence.Hisevangelicalcrusadescontinuedtodrawmassivecrowdsandmediaattention.Hisweeklyradioprogram,TheHourofDecision,broadcastliveontheABCradionetworkfromwhereverhistravelshappenedtolead,wasattractingthelargestaudiencetheNielsenratingservicehadeverrecordedforreligiousprogramming.TheyoungevangelistwasonhiswaytobecomingwhatTimewoulddescribein1954as“thebest-known,mosttalked-aboutChristianleaderintheworldtoday,barringthePope.”Graham’stravelscontinuedtokeephimawayfromhomeforlongstretches.

Wheneverhewasgone,RuthwouldgatherthefamilyonSundayafternoonstolistentohisradiobroadcast.Therewerefourchildrennow:Gigi,Anne,Ruth(calledBunny),andWilliamFranklinIII.(Asecondson,Ned,wouldcomelater.)ButGraham’sdisembodiedvoicecouldnotmakeupforhislongabsences,sotheGrahamsworkedhardtomakethemostoftheirtimetogetherwheneverhereturnedhome.“Iliketo

hardtomakethemostoftheirtimetogetherwheneverhereturnedhome.“Iliketothink,”Grahamlaterreflected,“thatwelearnedsomethingaboutsatisfyingagrowingchild’sneedforafather,eventhough[thefather]wassooftenawayfromhome.”Andhewas.Duringtheearly1950sGrahamstagedsuccessfulcampaignsinHouston,

Memphis,Seattle,Pittsburgh,andAlbuquerque,N.M.,andhereturnedtoEnglandforatwo-monthpreachingtour.However,noneofGraham’seffortswouldprovemoreconsequentialthanafive-weekcrusadeearlyin1952inthenation’scapital.Heldinthecity’sNationalGuardarmory,theWashington,D.C.,crusadeattractedmorethan307,000people,includingmanymembersofCongressandothertopgovernmentofficials.(StillirkedbymemoriesoftheirbumptiousWhiteHousemeeting,PresidentTrumandeclinedtoattendoreventosendagreeting,despiteGraham’srepeatedrequests.)TheclimaxofthecrusadewasarallyontheCapitolstepsthatdrew40,000people,includingscoresofcongressmen,inapouringrain.GrahampreachedaboutnationalsinandcorruptionandcalledonCongresstorequestthatthepresidentsetasidefortheAmericanpeople“adayofconfessionofsin,humiliation,repentance,andturningtoGod.”Aresolutiontothateffectwasintroducedthenextdayandquicklyadopted.EverypresidentsincethenhasannuallyproclaimedaNationalDayofPrayer.TheWashingtoncrusadeopenednewdoorsforGrahamamongthenation’s

governingelite,includingtwoup-and-comingsenatorswhowouldbecomehisclosefriends,DemocratLyndonJohnsonofTexasandCaliforniaRepublicanRichardNixon.Throughmostofhispubliccareer,Grahamwouldstrivewithvaryingdegreesofsuccesstoavoidanyappearanceofpersonalpolitickingorpartisanshipthatmightcompromisehisstatusasspiritualcounselortothepowerful.Butintheearlyyearsofhisascent,thatwasalessonhehadnotyetlearned.AyearbeforetheWashingtoncrusade,withaneyetowardthe1952presidential

election,Grahamforeshadowedtheambitiouspronouncementsofthereligiousrightdecadeslaterbyassertingthatthenation’sChristianshadboththepowerandthedutytoswayelections.“TheChristianpeopleofAmericawillnotsitidlybyin1952,”hepredictedatthetime.Rather,hesaid,“[they]aregoingtovoteasablocforthemanwiththestrongestmoralandspiritualplatform,regardlessofhisviewsonothermatters.”Afewmonthslaterheannouncedhisintentiontopersonallyinterviewallpotentialpresidentialcandidatesand,whilehewouldrefrainfrommakingapublicendorsement,suggestedhemightsharehischoiceprivatelywithotherChristianleaders“whoprobablywillusemyviewsasaguide.”YetprivatelyitappearedthatGrahamhadalreadymadehischoice.Duringa1951

crusadeinFortWorth,Texas,hemetSidRichardson,awealthyoilmanwithclosetiestoGen.DwightD.Eisenhower.KnowingthatGrahamadmiredEisenhower,

Richardsonsuggestedthathewritetothegeneral,whowasthenservingasNATOcommanderinEurope,andurgehimtorun.EisenhowerwassotakenbyGraham’seventualletterthatheaskedtomeetwithhimonGraham’snexttriptoEurope.SoitwasthatinMarch1952thetwometatthegeneral’sheadquartersoutsideParis.LaterGrahamwouldminimizehisroleinEisenhower’sdecisiontoseekthepresidency.“Inmorethantwohourstogether,”hewouldlaterrecall,“atnotimedidhehintthathewouldrun.Still,IleftfeelingthatIhadmetthenextpresidentoftheUnitedStates.”PubliclyGrahamcontinuedtofeignimpartiality.Hedeclinedinvitationsfromboth

majorpartiestogivetheopeningprayerattheirnominatingconventions.ButaftertheRepublicanspickedEisenhowerastheirstandard-bearerthatsummer,GrahammetwithhimtwiceandsuggestedBibleverseshemightuseincampaignspeeches.“Ofcourse,IwanttodoanythingIcanforyou,”hetoldthegeneral,butadded,“Ihavetobecarefulnottopubliclydisclosemypreferencesorbecomeembroiledinpartisanpolitics.”Eisenhowerunderstood.HevaluedGraham’sencouragementandadvice,evenwhenitwassometimespointed.WhentheevangelistsuggestedheshouldjoinachurchbecausetheAmericanpeoplewouldnotbehappywithapresident“whodidn’tbelongtoanychurchorevenattendone,”Eisenhowerpromisedhewoulddoso,butonlyaftertheelection;hedidnotwanttomakeashowofreligiosityduringthecampaign.AlthoughGrahamwouldmaintainhispublicneutrality,afewdaysbeforetheelection

hereleasedtothepressapersonalsurveyofnearly200churchleadersshowingthat77%intendedtovoteforEisenhower,andthatonly13%favoredhisDemocraticopponent,AdlaiStevenson.Eisenhowerwontheelectioninalandslide.Afterwardheinvitedtheevangelisttohelphimpreparefortheswearing-in,andEisenhowerbecamethefirstpresidenttoprayathisowninauguration.AfewdayslaterGrahambaptizedthenewpresidentinaprivateceremonyattheWhiteHouse.GrahamwouldofferhisadviceonnumerousoccasionsduringEisenhower’stwo

termsinoffice.Thoughmuchofitwasofapersonalspiritualnature,fromtimetotimehewouldmakeunsolicitedpolicysuggestions.In1954hewrotetothepresidentdeclaringthat“Indo-Chinamustbeheldatanycost.”Whenracialsegregationemergedasanexplosiveissue,EisenhowerrepeatedlysoughtGrahamoutasasoundingboard,andGraham—whobythenhadcompiledacreditablerecordonracialmatters—waseagertooblige.In1956thepresidentaskedhimtospeaktoSouthernchurchleadersandencouragethemtotakeastrongerstandinfavorofdesegregation.Grahamtoldthepresidentthat“iftheSupremeCourtwillgoslowlyandtheextremistsonbothsideswillquietdown,wecanhaveapeacefulsocialreadjustmentoverthenext10-yearperiod.”In1957,duringtheconfrontationoverschoolintegrationinLittleRock,Ark.,EisenhowersolicitedGraham’sopinionandwastoldthat“hehadnootherrecourse”

EisenhowersolicitedGraham’sopinionandwastoldthat“hehadnootherrecourse”buttosendinfederaltroops—somethinghehadalreadydecidedtodo.Assupportiveashewasofthepresident’spolicies,Grahamhadproceededcautiously

inhisowndealingsonrace.EarlyinhisministryhehadfollowedtheexamplesetbyBillySundayandothersbyholdingsegregatedmeetingswhereverthatwasthelocalcustom,eventhoughheclaimedthatdoingsomadehimuncomfortable.“AllmenarecreatedequalunderGod,”hedeclaredin1950.“Anydenialofthatisacontradictionofholylaw.”YetGrahambelievedthatspiritualrevivalratherthancompulsionwasthebestwaytobreakdownracialbarriers,andthatorganizedreformeffortsmightdomoreharmthangood.By1953hisconsciencehadprogressedtothepointthathecouldnolongertolerate

segregatedseatingathiscrusades.InChattanooga,Tenn.,thatspring,ayearbeforetheU.S.SupremeCourt’sBrownv.BoardofEducationrulingmadesegregatedschoolsunconstitutional,Grahampersonallyremovedropesthatlocalorganizershadplacedinthecrusadetabernacletodesignatetheblackseatingarea.“ChurchpeopleshouldbethefirsttostepforwardandpracticewhatChristtaught—thatthereisnodifferenceinthesightofGod,”Grahamdeclaredatthetime.Itmarkedtheendofenforcedsegregationathismeetings,evenintheDeepSouth.Graham’srapidrisecoincidedwithanotherfar-reachingdevelopmentonthe

Americanreligiousscene.Inthe1940sanewgenerationofconservativeyoungchurchmenhadbeguntochartamoremoderatecourseforAmericanevangelicalism.Althoughthey,likeGraham,weremostlyfundamentalistindoctrine,the“neo-evangelicals”soughttocounteracttheanti-intellectualismandinsularityassociatedwithmilitantfundamentalism.Asaresultoftheirefforts,anewconstellationoforganizationsandalliancessoonwouldarisethatwouldhelpbringaboutanevangelicalresurgenceinthefinalthirdofthe20thcentury.Grahamquicklybecameidentifiedwiththemovement.Bythemid-1950shehad

begunsoundingthecallforanewevangelicalperiodicaltorivaltheliberalProtestantjournalTheChristianCentury.Grahamenvisionedamagazinethatwould“restoreintellectualrespectability”toevangelicalChristianitywhilereaffirmingwithapeace-lovingspirit“thepoweroftheWordofGodtoredeemandtransformlives.”In1956,withthefinancialsupportofpetroleummagnateJ.HowardPew,helaunchedChristianityTodayandhiredCarlF.H.Henry,aseminaryprofessorandformernewspaperreporter,tobeitsfirsteditor.Themagazinewouldbecometheleadingvoiceofmainstreamevangelicalism.AnotherimportanttransitionbothforGrahamandfortheevangelicalmovement

camein1957whenGrahamrejectedanoverturefromNewYorkCityfundamentalistsandinsteadenlistedthecity’smainlinechurchestohelporganizewhatwastohave

beenasix-weekcrusadeinMadisonSquareGarden.Fundamentalistleaders—includingthesameBobJonesSr.whoseschoolGrahamhadabruptlydepartedyearsearlier—werefuriousthatGrahamhadchosentoworkwiththeologicalliberals,butGrahaminsistedthathewas“willingtoworkwithallwhowerewillingtoworkwithus.”Thebreachbetweenthenewevangelicalsandtheseparatistfundamentalistswascomplete,asGrahammade“practicalecumenism”ahallmarkofhisministry.MeanwhiletheNewYorkcrusaderanfornearlyfourmonths,resultedinthousandsofdecisionsforChrist,anddrewnationalnewspaperandnetworkradioandTVcoverage.OvertimeGrahamcametorecognizetheincongruityofbeinganevangelistwhileat

thesametimeengaginginstridentpoliticaladvocacy.In1956heconfessedtoLookmagazinethat“therewasatimeafewyearsagowhen,inanimmaturefashion,Imadepoliticalstatementsandenteredintoallsortsofcontroversies.Ihavelearnedbetternowandremaincompletelyoutsidepartypolitics.”Fouryearslaterheadmittedthathehadsaidsomethingsabout“sociopoliticalaffairsthatIwouldliketoretract.”Yetassincereashemayhavebeeninhisdesiretostayabovethepoliticalfray,hewouldcontinuetohavedifficultylivinguptothataspiration.ThroughtheeightyearsoftheEisenhoweradministration,Grahamhadcometo

enjoytheheadystatusofbeingafriendandoccasionaladvisertothepresident.HealsohaddevelopedacloserelationshipwithVicePresidentRichardNixon,aQuakerandafierceanticommunistwhoappearedtohavealockonthe1960Republicannomination.ThegrowingpossibilitythattheDemocratswouldpickJohnF.Kennedy,anattractiveyoungsenatorfromMassachusettsandaRomanCatholic,asNixon’sopponentmadetheelectionoutcomefarfromcertain.Astheelectionapproached,Grahambegantoexplorewaysinwhichhemighthelphisfriendremaininpower.TomanyofGraham’ssupportersandotherProtestants,Kennedy’sreligionemerged

almostimmediatelyasanoverridingissueinthecampaign.HavingaRomanCatholicpresident,theyfeared,wouldgivetheVaticanafootholdintheWhiteHouseandundueinfluenceoverU.S.policy.TheKennedycampaignmovedquicklytodispelsuchconcerns.Kennedyhimselfpubliclyvowedthathisobligationsaspresidentwouldsupersedehisreligiousloyalties.CampaignaidescirculatedastatementcallingforreligioustoleranceintheelectionandaskedleadingProtestantministerstosignit.Grahamdeclined,sayinghedidnotwishtointerfereintheelectionandthatsigningwouldonlyelevatereligionasanissue.Yethedidlittlepubliclytodefusetheissue,atonepointtellingreporters,“Aman’sreligioncannotbeseparatedfromhisperson.Therefore,wherereligioninvolvespoliticaldecision,itbecomesalegitimateissue.”PrivatelyheurgedNixonto“concentrateonsolidifyingtheProtestantvote,”sinceKennedywassuretocapturetheCatholicvote“almost100%.”

GrahamcontinuedtodowhathefelthereasonablycouldonNixon’sbehalf.OverthecourseofseveralmonthshementionedNixonfavorablynumeroustimesonhisradiobroadcast.InMay1960hetoldreporters,“Thisisatimeofworldtension.[It]isatimeforamanofworldstature.Idon’tthinkitisatimetoexperimentwithnovices.”Lateinthecampaign,withtheelectionupforgrabs,GrahamtoldNixonhemightbewillingtomakeapublicendorsement,butNixoncounseledagainstit,sayingitwouldnotbeineitheroftheirbestinterests.Still,GrahamdeliveredaninvocationataNixonrallyinColumbia,S.C.,earlyinNovemberandthenextdayappearedatapublicmeetingwithNixonandEisenhowerinPittsburgh.AtthesuggestionofTimeInc.founderHenryLuce,GrahampreparedanarticleforLuce’sLifemagazinetestifyingtoNixon’smerits,butitwasnotpublishedbecauseofobjectionsfromtheKennedycamp.Grahamthendraftedamoreinnocuouspiecetitled“WeAreElectingaPresidentoftheWorld,”whichmerelyencouragedpeopletovote.Nixonlaterwouldremarkthattheoriginalarticleprobablywouldhavegivenhimtheelection.AfterKennedywonbythenarrowestofmargins,GrahamofferedJ.F.K.his

congratulationsandpledgedtodowhathecouldtounitethecountrybehindthenewpresident.KennedyreciprocatedbyinvitingGrahamtolunchandaroundofgolfinPalmBeach,Fla.,afewdaysbeforetheinauguration.Fromthenonthetwowouldmaintainacordialbutdistantrelationship.ItwasclearthatGrahamwouldnothavetheWhiteHouseaccessunderKennedythathehadenjoyedwithEisenhowerorthathewouldhavehadwithNixon.GrahamwasonthegolfcourseinMontreatwhenhelearnedofKennedy’s

assassination.HeimmediatelywiredLyndonJohnson,whomhehadknownsince1952,toexpresshispersonalshockandtoofferhisprayersasJohnsonassumedtheburdensofthepresidency.Johnsonrespondedquickly.“Yourmessagemettheneed,”hewrote.“TheknowledgethatoneofGod’sgreatestmessengerswasseekingDivineCounselinmybehalfprovidedmewiththestrongsourceofstrength,courage,andcomfortduringtheextremelytryingdaysimmediatelyafterthetragiceventinDallas.”WithinaweekofmovingintotheWhiteHouse,JohnsonsummonedGrahamto

Washingtonforwhatwouldbethefirstofmorethanadozenvisitsovertheyears,bothattheWhiteHouseandatJohnson’sranchinTexas.Thegreat-grandsonofanevangelicalpreacher,Johnsonwasclearlycomfortablewiththelanguageofborn-againChristianity.Graham,meanwhile,wasimpressedbyL.B.J.’schurchgoinghabitsandpubliclyextolledhimasa“manofmoralintegrity,spiritualpurpose,andexperience,onewholookstoGodforhelpinsolvingproblems.”Theircloserelationshipwouldbetestedearlyin1964whenrumorscirculatedthat‐

GrahammightbecomeaRepublicancandidateforpresidentorvicepresident.A

HoustonnewspaperreportedthatTexasoilbillionaireH.L.HunthadofferedGraham$6millionifhewouldrunagainstJohnson.Graham,accordingtoaides,immediatelyrejectedtheofferandinsistedpubliclythatheharborednopersonalpoliticalambitions,buttherumorspersisted.AfterthenominationofSen.BarryGoldwaterthatsummer,GrahamwasdelugedwithtelegramsurginghimtoendorsetheArizonaRepublican.Butherefrainedfromendorsingeithercandidate.Aftertheelection,hecongratulatedJohnsononhis“tremendousvictory”anddeclaredhewas“convincedthatyouwerenotonlythechoiceoftheAmericanpeople—butofGod.”Overthenextfouryears,GrahamsupportedJohnson’slegislativeprogramsandat

timeshelpedwintheirpassage.HemarshaledpublicsupportfortheCivilRightsActof1964,theElementaryandSecondaryEducationActof1965,andtheantipovertyprogramin1967.JohnsonoftenwouldsummonhimtotheWhiteHouseforlate-nightdiscussionsofVietnamandothercrisesandfortimesofprivateprayer.HewouldwritetoGrahamyearslater,“Noonewilleverfullyknowhowyouhelpedtolightenmyloadorhowmuchwarmthyoubroughtintoourhouse.”Johnson’sdecisionnottoseekre-electionin1968didnotsurpriseGraham.Nearlyayearbeforehisannouncement,thepresidenthadconfidedtoGrahamthathedidnotexpecttoseekasecondterm.“Mypeopledon’tlivetoolong,”Johnsontoldhim.Havingalreadyhadoneheartattack,headded,hedidn’tthinkhecouldsurvivefourmoreyearsinoffice.Johnson’sdecisionwouldalsospareGrahamfromadilemmainthe1968presidential

race—havingtochoosebetweentwoclosefriends.Earlyin1968,NixonhadinvitedGrahamtomeetwithhiminKeyBiscayne,Fla.,tohelphimdecidewhetherheshouldmakeanotherrunforthepresidency.Thetwofriendsspentseveraldaystogether.Attheendoftheirvisit,Nixonsaid,“Youstillhaven’ttoldmewhatIoughttodo.”Grahamtoldhimallheneededtohear:“Well,ifyoudon’trun,youwillalwayswonderifyoushouldhave.”ThoughhestoppedshortofformallyendorsingNixon,throughoutthatyearhespokeofhiminpublicfavorablyandoften.AttheRepublicanconventioninMiamithatAugust,GrahamdeliveredtheclosingprayerandwasinvitedintoaprivatemeetingofNixonadvisersonpotentialrunningmates.GrahamspokeinfavorofOregonSen.MarkHatfield,anevangelicalChristianandpoliticalmoderate.AlthoughNixonchoseMarylandGov.SpiroAgnewinstead,overthenextsixyearshewouldcontinuetoincludeGrahaminhisinnercircle.Notwantingtoappeartobeplayingfavorites,GrahamacceptedaninvitationlaterthatsummertoprayattheDemocraticconventioninChicago.Heconsideredtheparty’snominee,VicePresidentHubertHumphreyofMinnesota,afriendaswell.Butinaninterviewpublishedjustdaysbeforetheelection,herevealedthathealreadyhadcasthisabsenteeballotforNixon.OntheeveofNixon’sinauguration,GrahamandRuthstayedwiththeJohnsonfamily

OntheeveofNixon’sinauguration,GrahamandRuthstayedwiththeJohnsonfamilyduringtheirlastnightintheWhiteHouse.Thenextdayhedeliveredaprayerattheswearing-inceremony.GrahamquicklybecameafixtureattheNixonWhiteHouse.HepreachedatSundayservicesheldintheEastRoomandappearedonotheroccasionstoprayortoofferablessing.HeusedhiscontactswithmissionariesinSoutheastAsiatoassemblestrategiesforendingthewarinVietnamandservedasanunofficialdiplomatduringhisevangelistictravelstoEurope,Africa,andtheMiddleEast.Athome,hisfrequentappearanceatNixon’ssidehelpedshoreuppublicsupportforthepresident,particularlyamongChristianconservativesintheSouth.Asthe1972campaignapproached,GrahamwouldfigureprominentlyinNixon’sre-electionstrategy.Thepresidentinstructedhisstaffto“startanearlyliaisonwithBGandhispeople.”Asinthepast,Grahamrefrainedfrommakinganofficialpublicendorsement.Butshortlybeforetheelection,herevealedhehadcasthisabsenteeballotforNixon“becauseIknowwhatheismadeof.Hewasjustborntobepresident.”ButNixon’spresidencywouldbegintounravelfollowingtheJune1972break-inat

DemocraticpartyheadquartersattheWatergatehotelandofficecomplexinWashington.NotbelievingatfirsttheclaimsthatNixonwasinvolved,Grahamsenthimareassuringnotethatfall.“IhavemarveledatyourrestraintastherumorsflyaboutWatergate,”hewrote.“KingDavidhadthesameexperience.”Butastheincriminatingevidencemounted,Graham’sconfidenceinNixonbegantowaver.Ininterviewshedeclaredhimself“mystifiedandconfusedandsickaboutthewholething.”Still,hewascertainthatthepresidentwasnotseriouslyinvolved.“Hismoralandethicalprinciples,”heinsisted,“wouldn’tallowhimtodoanythingillegallikethat.”InApril1974thereleaseoftranscriptsofsecretlyrecordedconversationsintheOval

Officewoulddisabusehimofthatopinion.PoringoverexcerptsintheNewYorkTimes,GrahamwasappalledbyNixon’sduplicityand,mostofall,byhisunrestraineduseofprofanity.“Never,inallthetimesIwaswithhim,didheuselanguageevenclosetothat,”Grahamwouldrecall.“ThosetapesrevealedamanIneverknew.”Withimpeachmentproceedingsunderway,Graham’sattemptstoreachouttoNixonwererebuffed.NixonreportedlyinstructedhisaidestokeepGrahamawayfromtheWhiteHousetopreventhisbeingtaintedbythescandal.OnAug.9,1974,Nixonresigned.ThenextdayGrahamtoldthepresshefeltsorryforthepresidentandhisfamily.“Ishallalwaysconsiderhimapersonalfriend,”hesaid.Lookingbacklater,Grahamwouldadmithavingmademistakes.“MaybeIwasnaive

atthattime,”hewouldsay.“MaybeIwasused.”Yetheinsistedthatifanypoliticianeverhadexploitedarelationshipwithhim,Nixon“certainlywasnotoneofthem.”Still,Grahamfeltdeeplychastenedbytheepisode.Andalthoughhewouldbecomeacquaintedwitheverypresidentwhofollowed,hewasdeterminedneveragaintobe

seducedbythetrappingsoftemporalpower.

ROADWARRIORDuringhis1962crusadeinFresno,Calif.,Grahamdictatesasynopsisofthatnight’ssermon,whichsecretarieswilltranscribeanddistributetothepress.

INSERVICEDuringhistourofKoreainJanuary1953,GrahampreachesbeforeacrowdofAmericanGIs.

ACIVILRIGHTSCRISISINARKANSASIn1957,federaltroopsguardblackstudentsattemptingtointegrateaLittleRockhighschool.Grahamsupportedthepresident’sdecision

tosendtroops.

FAMILYCIRCLEGraham,Ruth,andtheirchildrenshareamealatLittlePineyCove,themountaintophouseinMontreat,N.C.,thatBillyandRuthcompletedin1956.

THEGLOBETROTTERGrahaminEgyptin1960.

GreetingacrowdinsouthernIndiain1956.

ShakinghandsinBurundithatsameyear.

JUSTTWOFARMBOYS...GrahamandLyndonJohnson,bothfarmer’ssons,duringaNovember1965visitbyGrahamtotheL.B.J.ranchnearStonewall,Texas.

GOINGTOBATFORGODInJuly1957,RichardNixon,alreadyagoodfriend,flewintoappearatYankeeStadiumaspartofGraham’sNewYorkCitycrusade.

[CHAPTER5]

GoingtotheMountain

THELIONINWINTERTheseasonedevangelistin1988,theyearheturned70.SINCEHISEARLIESTYEARSASANindependentevangelist,Grahamtook‐seriouslyandquitepersonallytheGreatCommissionofChristtohisdisciples,thattheyshould“Goforthtoeverypartoftheworld,andproclaimtheGoodNewstothewholecreation.”HefirmlybelievedthatwhenGodcalledhimtotheministryonthatrestlessnightinFloridain1938,itwasnotsothatheshouldconfinehisfuturelaborstoasinglecongregationorcommunityoreventojustonenation.Rather,Grahamconsideredthathiscall—hismandatefromGod—wastoproclaimtheLord’smessagetotheentireworld.Andhedidsotirelesslyandwithconsiderablesuccess,beginningwiththeGreater

LondoncrusadeandatriumphanttourofEuropein1954.ThatwouldbefollowedbycrusadesinIndiaandEastAsia,LatinAmerica,theCaribbean,Australia,andNewZealandinthelate1950s,andinAfrica,theMiddleEast,andbacktoEuropeandSouthAmericaintheearly1960s.The1970swouldseehisfirstevangelisticforaysbehindtheIronCurtain,withralliesinRomania,Yugoslavia,Czechoslovakia,andPoland.ThosewouldpavethewayforlaterventuresinsideCommunistChinaandtheSovietUnion.

SovietUnion.Bythemid-1960sGraham’spersonalcalltopreachwassupplementedbyanewand

moreambitiousvision:tobringtogetherlike-mindedevangelistsfrommanynationstoformaunitedsoul-winningforce,preachingasingularbiblicalmessagetothehonorandgloryofGod.Animportantsteptowardthatgoalcamein1966whentheBillyGrahamEvangelisticAssociationandChristianityTodayorganizedtheWorldCongressonEvangelism.Some1,200preachers,churchleaders,andtheologiansfrom104countriesattendedthe10-daygatheringinWestBerlin.Althoughitproducednolastingstructure,itfocusedattentiononthemessageandurgencyofevangelismatatimewhenmanyProtestantdenominationshadallbutforsakenthecause.Italsosetthestageforlaterandlargereffortstomobilizeevangelicalsaroundtheworld.Oneofthemostimportantofthosetookplaceinthesummerof1974.Thatyear

GrahamlookedoutuponaworldinneedoftheGospelandsaw“fieldswhiteuntoharvest”butwithfartoofewlaborerstospreadthemessageofsalvation.BuildingonthesuccessofthatWestBerlincongresseightyearsearlier,hisorganizationspearheadedamoremassivegathering,thisoneheldinLausanne,Switzerland.Grahamservedashonorarychairman.LiketheBerlincongress,theLausanneeventwasintendedtotrain,motivate,and

mobilizeevangelistsfromaroundtheglobeandtocounteracttheneglectofevangelizationbythemoreliberaldenominationsintheWorldCouncilofChurches.Some2,470delegatesfrom150countriesshowedupatthecity’sPalaisdeBeaulieu,alongwith1,300observersandseveralhundredjournalists.The10-daycongressproducedtheLausanneCovenant,a3,000-wordmanifestothatwouldbecalledoneofthemostinfluentialdocumentsofmodernevangelicalChristianity.Itdeclaredinpartthat“theGospelisGod’sgoodnewsforthewholeworld,andwearedeterminedbyhisgracetoobeyChrist’scommissiontoproclaimittoallmankindandtomakedisciplesofeverynation.”ThecongressalsocreatedtheLausanneCommitteeforWorldEvangelization,which

wouldcontinuetopromotethecauseofevangelismforyearstocome.Anditsetthestageforathirdglobalconference,thisoneforitinerantevangelists,inAmsterdamin1983.AsGrahamwoulddeclareatthecloseoftheAmsterdamconference,thoseevangelistswere“themostimportantambassadorsandmessengersonearth...amightyarmyofproclaimers,energizedbythepoweroftheHolySpirit,spreadingoutacrosstheworldwitharenewedvisiontoreachtheirownpeopleforChrist.”Yetwhilehisheartwassetonworldevangelism,Grahamwasunabletokeephismind

entirelyoffWashingtonpolitics.AfterthedisappointingrevelationsofWatergate,hestayedonthesidelinesduringthe1976presidentialcampaign.AlthoughhehadknownGeraldFordduringFord’smanyyearsinCongressandrespectedhimasamanoffaith,

GeraldFordduringFord’smanyyearsinCongressandrespectedhimasamanoffaith,thetwohadnotdevelopedaparticularlycloserelationship.Onthesurface,GrahamseemedtohavemoreincommonwithFord’sDemocraticopponent,JimmyCarter,aborn-againSouthernBaptistandformergovernorofGeorgia.CarterpossessedallthepiousqualitiesthatGrahamhadlonglookedforinapresident.HereadhisBible,prayeddaily,andtaughtSundayschoolathischurchinPlains,Ga.Asgovernor,CarterhadchairedGraham’s1973crusadeinAtlantaandhostedtheevangelistatthegovernor’smansion.Butduringthe’76campaignGrahaminsistedonmaintainingneutrality,tellingareporterhewould“ratherhaveamaninofficewhoishighlyqualifiedwhodidn’tmakemuchofareligiousprofession”thantheotherwayaround.TotheCartercamp,andpresumablytothecandidatehimself,itseemedthatGrahamwasgivingevangelicalspermissionnottovoteforthegovernor,andtheyresentedit.WhateverhardfeelingsmayhavedevelopedbeforeElectionDay,theyappearedto

subsideafterward.GrahamimmediatelytoldthepressthatPresident-electCarterwasapersonalfriendand“aleaderwecantrustandfollow.”AlthoughhestayedawayfromCarter’sinauguration—thefirsthehadmissedsinceattendingEisenhower’sfirstinauguralin1953—heattendedaPresidentialPrayerBreakfastafewdayslaterandspentthenightattheWhiteHouse.ButheandCarterwouldhaveonlyoccasionalcontactafterthat.Graham’swelcomeattheWhiteHousebecamenotablywarmerandhisvisitsmore

frequentduringRonaldReagan’spresidency.Byhisownreckoning,duringReagan’stwotermsGrahamspentmorenightsattheWhiteHouseandattendedmorestatedinnersandceremoniesthanhehadduringthepresidenciesofeitherNixonorJohnson.ReaganandGrahamhadbeenfriendssince1953,whentheymetatabenefitinDallasforretiredactors.GrahamwouldwritelaterthathewasimmediatelydrawntoReagan’s“quickwitandwarmpersonality,”andafterwardhediscovered“aspiritualsidetohim”thatGrahamsaidoftenwentunnoticed.AshewouldrecallofReaganandhiswife,Nancy:“TheywerebothinterestedinunderstandingmoreabouttheScriptures,especiallyRon.Heoftenaskedmequestionsaboutthebiblicalviewonimportanttopics.Abortionwasonesuchissuehewrestledwith.”Yetwhentheytalked,Grahaminsisted,itwas“alwaysintermsofprinciples,notwhatspecificpoliciesorprogramsshouldbeadoptedorscrapped.”DespitehisfriendshipwithReagan,Grahamrefusedtoendorseanypresidential

candidatein1980orin1984,buthereadilyacceptedinvitationstoparticipateinbothReaganinaugurals.WhenthepresidentwasshotonMarch30,1981,theWhiteHousesummonedGrahamtothehospital,wherehecomfortedMrs.Reaganandprayedwithher.HealsocontactedtheparentsofJohnHinckley,thepresident’sassailant,and“assuredthemofmyprayers,too,becauseIknewtheirheartsmusthavebeenbreaking.”TwoyearslaterReaganawardedGrahamthePresidentialMedalof

breaking.”TwoyearslaterReaganawardedGrahamthePresidentialMedalofFreedom,thenation’shighestcivilianhonor.TheywouldremainclosefriendsuntilReagan’sdeathin2004.Theelectionin1988ofGeorgeH.W.BushmeantthatGrahamwouldcontinueto

haveapersonalandlongtimefriendintheWhiteHouse.Graham’srelationshipwiththeBushfamilywentbacktohisacquaintancewithBush’sfather,formersenatorPrescottBushofConnecticut,whomhehadmetshortlyafterthe1957NewYorkCitycrusade.AftertheelderBushretiredfromtheSenatein1963,heandtheevangelistbecamefrequentgolfpartners.GrahamwasalsoaregularguestattheBushhomeinHobeSound,Fla.,wherehewouldsometimesteachaBibleclassatMrs.Bush’sinvitation.“Idon’trememberexactlywhenImetGeorge,”Grahamwouldrecallofthoseyears,“butwewerethrowntogetheratseveralthings,andwebecamegoodfriends.”Morethanthat,asTimemanagingeditorNancyGibbsanddeputymanagingeditorMichaelDuffyobserveintheir2007book,ThePreacherandthePresidents:BillyGrahamintheWhiteHouse,overtheyearsBushandGraham“developedanalmostconstantawarenessoftheotherman’swhereabouts.”Allthesame,althoughheprayedatbothnominatingconventions,Grahamdutifully

satoutthe1988campaign.ButinJanuaryhedeliveredtheinvocationatBush’sinauguration,thankingGodthat“inThysovereigntyThouhastpermittedGeorgeBushtoleadusatthismomentoushourofourhistoryforthenextfouryears.”ThoseyearswouldfindtheBushesandtheGrahamstogetheronmanyoccasionsattheWhiteHouseorattheBushsummerhomeinKennebunkport,Maine.Buttheseweremerelyfriendlyvisits,absentthepoliticaltalkthatcharacterizedGraham’spreviousrelationshipswithpresidents.Aswiththeothers,however,hestoodreadytoofferspiritualcounselandsupportwheneveritwasneeded.OnedramaticinstanceofthatneedoccurredonJan.16,1991,thenighttheU.S.

launchedthefirstPersianGulfWaragainstIraq.GrahamwasattheWhiteHouse,wherehehadbeensummonedwithoutexplanationbythepresidentforaprivatedinnerinthefamilyquarters.AshesatintheBlueRoomwatchingtelevisionwithBarbaraBush,thenewsflashedthatanairraidhadbegunoverBaghdad.Afewminuteslater,afterBushenteredtheroomandconfirmedthatthewarhadstarted,Grahamledthepresidentandfirstladyinprayer.“WeprayedaboutwhatwashappeninginKuwaitandIraq,”helaterwrote,“askingthatitwouldbeashortwar,thatfewcasualtieswouldbesuffered,andthattheLordwouldhaveHisway.”Thepresident,Grahamrecalled,“neveraskedmeforanyofmythoughtsaboutit,nordidIvolunteerthematthetime(orsince).Iwaswithhimasafriendandpastor,notasapoliticaladviser.Neitherdidheconfidehisinnermostthoughtstome.Hewasapersonwhokeptthingstohimself.”Itwasduringa1985vacationwiththeBushfamilyatKennebunkportthatGraham

Itwasduringa1985vacationwiththeBushfamilyatKennebunkportthatGrahamtookafatefulwalkonthebeachwithBush’seldestson,GeorgeW.,whowas40atthetimeandstrugglingtomakehiswayintheoilbusiness.ThetwodiscussedspiritualmattersandaseeminglackofdirectionintheyoungerBush’slife.ThefuturepresidentlaterwouldcreditGrahamandthatconversationforhisdecisiontoacceptChristandturnhislifearound.GrahamwouldalsohaveanamiablerelationshipwithBillClinton,andhewouldtake

somecriticismforit.GrahamfirstmetClintonin1985whentheyoungArkansasgovernorsoughthimoutforaprivateconversation.ClintontoldofhavingattendedaGrahamcrusadeinLittleRockasateenagerandofhowhehadbeenmovedbytheevangelist’smessageandhisprincipledstandagainstsegregation.“FormonthsafterthatIregularlysentpartofmysmallallowancetosupporthisministry,”Clintonwouldlaterrecall.In1989,GrahamreturnedtoLittleRockforanothercrusade,andClintonservedas

honorarychairman.Theyspentsometimetogether,includingavisittothebedsideofClinton’sdyingBaptistpastor.GrahamrememberedthatheandClinton“gotdownonourkneesbythebed.Thegovernorprayedfirst,awonderfulprayer.ThenIprayed.”YearslaterGrahamwouldspeakhighlyofClinton’sexpressionsoffaith.“Iamquiteimpressedwithhischarismaandwithsomeofthethingshebelieves,”hetoldaninterviewerin1993.“IfhechosetopreachtheGospelinsteadofpolitics,hewouldmakeagreatevangelist.Hehasallthegifts.”GrahamgavetheinvocationatbothClintoninaugurations.Laterhewouldaddress

himselftothecriticismthathedrewfromsomeconservatives.“Oncertainissues,thenewpresidenthadtakenstandsthatdisconcertedthosewhoweremorallymoreconservative,includingsomeevangelicalChristians.Ifeltitwasimportanttokeepmycommitmenttopray,however,evenifIdidnotagreewitheverythingheheld.IalsofeltawarmpersonalaffectionforMr.Clinton,whateverhisviewpoints.”In1994,fouryearsbeforetheMonicaLewinskyscandalcametolight,Grahamtold

newspapereditorsmeetinginWashingtonthatthepresshadgonetoofarinprobingClinton’spersonallifeandcalledfor“awallofprayer”aroundthepresident.LaterhecriticizedClintonforvetoingabillthatwouldhaveoutlawedcertainlate-termabortions.YethiscommitmenttoprayforClintonwasunwavering.“Iaskedonepersonwhotriedtodissuademe,‘Areyousayingyoudon’tthinkMr.Clintonneedsourprayers,orthatweshouldn’tprayforhim?...NopresidentstandsoutsidetheneedforGod’sconstanthelpandguidance.ThatisonereasonIhavealwaysagreedtoleadprayersonsuchoccasionswheneverasked.”InJuly1992,attheageof73,GrahamwasdiagnosedwithParkinson’sdisease,a

progressiveandincurablenervousdisorderthatwouldslowlyaffecthismobilityandmarkthebeginningofhisphysicaldecline.Throughmedicationandsomerelatively

markthebeginningofhisphysicaldecline.Throughmedicationandsomerelativelyminoraccommodations,Grahamwouldmanagetomaintainthepaceofhisministryactivityforseveralmoreyears.Butthatconditiongraduallywouldbegintotakeitstoll.Overtime,sowouldaboutwithprostatecancer,severalfallsandfractures,andacaseofhydrocephalus,orexcessfluidonthebrain.Astheobstaclesofageanddeclininghealthbegantoencroach,Grahamandhis

ministryassociatesbegantopreparefortheinevitable.TalkofasuccessorasheadoftheGrahamorganizationhadbeengoingonforsometime,althoughGrahamsaidlittleaboutitpublicly,insistingthathehadnoplanstoretireandwouldcontinuepreaching“aslongasGodgivesmebreath.”WhenattentionfocusedonGraham’seldestson,WilliamFranklinIII,whowasheadoftwoministryorganizationsofhisown,bothfatherandsondownplayedtheprospect.“I’mnotlookingforajob,”Franklintoldaninterviewerin1993.“IftheLordwantsitandtheboarddecides,thenitwillhappen,”hisfatheradded.Asindeeditdid.In1995theboardinstalledFranklinasitsvicechairman.Fiveyearslateritelectedhimchiefexecutiveofficerandin2001madehimpresident.Beyondprovidingorganizationalleadership,theyoungerGraham,forwhompreachinghadnotcomenaturally,begantofillinforhisfatheratevangelicaleventsandgraduallygrewintothejobthathisfatherwasslowlyvacating.Althoughfew—includingFranklinhimself—harboredtheexpectationthatthesoneverwouldfullyfillhisfather’sshoes,itwasclearhewouldinherithisministry.InpartbecauseofGraham’sdecliningphysicalstamina,thelate1990ssawhis

preachingministrybegintoshiftawayfromlivestadiumeventstonew-mediatechnologiesthatwouldenablehimtoreachlargeraudienceswithaminimumofeffort.Fromhisearliestdays,GrahamhadbeenquicktoadoptthelatestcommunicationtoolstospreadtheGospel—radiointhe1940s,televisioninthe1950s,satelliteuplinksinthe1980s.Inthe1990sheventuredontotheinternetwithaBGEAwebsiteandonlinecounselingservice.In1995heconductedacrusadeinSanJuan,PuertoRico,thatwasbeamedliveoverasatellitenetworktomorethan165countriesandanestimatedaudienceof1billionpeople.MeanwhileGraham’sorganizationexpandeditstrainingofyoungevangelistsbyconductingSchoolsofEvangelismoneverycontinent,aprogram—asoneattendeeatGraham’sAmsterdamconferencehadexplained—thatwasdesignedtoraiseup“athousandBillyGrahamsinAfrica,athousandBillyGrahamsinAsia,athousandBillyGrahamsinSouthAmerica.”Inthe2000presidentialcampaign,Grahamcameclosetobreakinghispost-

WatergatevowtorefrainfrompartisanpoliticsbyallbutendorsingGeorgeW.BushoverAlGore.Afewdaysbeforethevote,heprayedwithBushandhiswife,Laura,inahotelroomintheswingstateofFlorida,wherehewasconductingacrusade.Afterward,standingnexttoBush,Grahamtoldthepress,“Idon’tendorsecandidates.ButI’ve

standingnexttoBush,Grahamtoldthepress,“Idon’tendorsecandidates.ButI’vecomeasclosetoit,Iguess,nowasanytimeinmylife,becauseIthinkit’sextremelyimportant.I’lljustletyouguesswhoIvotedfor.”Aftertheelection,Graham’sadvancingageandfailinghealthpreventedhimfrom

continuinginhiscustomarypastoralroleattheWhiteHouse.InvitedtodelivertheinvocationatBush’sfirstinauguration,Grahamhadtodeclinebecausehewasinthehospitalawaitingsurgeryforfluidonthebrain.HissonFranklintookhisplace.ItwasthefirstinaugurationGrahamhadmissedsince1977.ThoughhealsoplayednoofficialroleatBush’ssecondswearing-in,heprayedataspecialinauguralservicethefollowingday.AlthoughhewouldcontinuetoseeBushfromtimetotimeovertheyears,thevisitstendedtobesporadicandbrief.Hisdaysasaspiritualcounselortopresidentsclearlywerewindingdown.In2002,oneparticularepisodeinGraham’sprivatedealingswithpresidentswould

becomepublicandcauseGrahamacuteembarrassmentandregret.Itwasa1972conversationattheWhiteHousebetweenGrahamandthen-PresidentNixonthathadbeentape-recorded.ReleasedinMarch2002bytheNationalArchives,therecordingturnedouttocontainaharanguebyNixonabouthowthemediawerecontrolledbyliberalJewshostiletohisadministration.Grahamagreedandadded,“They’retheonesputtingoutthepornographicstuff.”HewentontosaythattheJewish“strangleholdhasgottobebrokenorthecountry’sgoingdownthedrain.”IfNixonwerere-elected,hesaid,“thenwemightbeabletodosomething.”Whenthetapewasmadepublic,itmadenewseverywhere.Grahamwasdevastatedto

hearthewordshehaduttered30yearsearlier,whichhesaidhecouldnotactuallyrecallhavingspokenthatday.“Icannotimaginewhatcausedmetomakethosecomments,whichItotallyrepudiate,”Grahamsaidinastatement.“Whateverthereason,Iwaswrongfornotdisagreeingwiththepresident,andIsincerelyapologizetoanyoneIhaveoffended.”AbrahamFoxman,nationaldirectoroftheAnti-DefamationLeague,acceptedGraham’sapology.OnJune14,2007,Grahamlosthislife’spartner.Ruthhadbeeninpoorhealthsince

contractingspinalmeningitisin1995.Wheelchair-boundorbedriddensincethelate1990s,sheoftensufferedseverearthriticpainfroma1974backinjury.Inherfinalyears,Grahamspentmostofhistimeatherbedsideandwaswithherwhenshequietlypassedaway,surroundedbyherchildren,onacloudyCarolinaafternoon.“IamsogratefultotheLordthatHegavemeRuth,”hewroteshortlyafterherdeath,

“andespeciallyfortheselastfewyearswe’vehadinthemountainstogether.We’verekindledtheromanceofouryouth,andmyloveforhercontinuedtogrowdeepereveryday.Iwillmissherterribly,andlookforwardevenmoretothedayIcanjoinherinheaven.”RuthwasburiedinthePrayerGardenoftheBillyGrahamLibrary,whichhadopenedjustafewweeksearlieronthegroundsoftheBGEAheadquartersin

hadopenedjustafewweeksearlieronthegroundsoftheBGEAheadquartersinCharlotte.Hergravewasplacedatthefootofacross-shapedwalkwaywhereBillywouldalsobelaidtorest.InApril2010,PresidentBarackObamahelpedGrahamsustainhismorethansix-

decadestringofpresidentialencountersbypayingavisitatGraham’smountaintophome—theirfirstface-to-facemeeting,atwhichGrahamprayedwiththepresident.HissonFranklinlatertoldtheCharlotteObserverthat“myfathertoldthepresidentthathestaysoutofpolitics[now].Andthepresidentsaid,‘IwishIcould.’”Laterthatyear,asGrahamapproachedhis92ndbirthday,hespokewistfullyofhis

ownmortalityandofthestill-freshpainhefeltinlosingtheloveofhislife.“IwouldhaveneverdreamedIwouldlivethislong,”hewroteinalettertohissupporters.“Mywife,Ruth,passedawayalittleoverthreeyearsago,andalittlebitofmediedwithher.Imisshermorewitheachpassingday.”Yethehadlongsincecometotermswiththeinevitableemotionalandphysical

afflictionsoflife.In1997hewrote,“SomeoneaskedmerecentlyifIdidn’tthinkGodwasunfair,allowingmetohaveParkinson’sandothermedicalproblemswhenIhavetriedtoserveHimfaithfully.IrepliedthatIdidn’tseeitthatwayatall.Sufferingispartofthehumancondition,anditcomestousall.Thekeyishowwereacttoit,eitherturningawayfromGodinangerandbitternessorgrowingclosertoHimintrustandconfidence.”Asheponderedtheendofhisownlife,hereflectedonthesurprisingtwistsandturns

intheroadhehadtraveledandtheanswerstosomeoflife’sdifficultquestionsthatstilleludedhim.Headdressedsomeofthoseatlengthinhismemoir:“IhaveoftensaidthatthefirstthingIamgoingtodowhenIgettoheavenistoask,

‘Whyme,Lord?WhydidyouchooseafarmboyfromNorthCarolinatopreachtosomanypeople,tohavesuchawonderfulteamofassociates,andtohaveapartinwhatyouweredoinginthelatterhalfofthe20thcentury?’“AlthoughIhavemuchtobegratefulforasIlookbackonmylife,Ialsohavemany

regrets.Ihavefailedmanytimes,andIwoulddomanythingsdifferently.“Foronething,Iwouldspeaklessandstudymore,andIwouldspendmoretimewith

myfamily.Iwouldalsospendmoretimeinspiritualnurture,seekingtogrowclosertoGodsoIcouldbecomemorelikeChrist.Iwouldspendmoretimeinprayer,notjustformyselfbutforothers.IwouldspendmoretimestudyingtheBibleandmeditatingonitstruth,notonlyforsermonpreparationbuttoapplyitsmessagetomylife...“IfIhadittodooveragain,Iwouldalsoavoidanysemblanceofinvolvementin

partisanpolitics...Becominginvolvedinstrictlypoliticalissuesorpartisanpoliticsinevitablydilutestheevangelist’simpactandcompromiseshismessage.ItisalessonI

wishIhadlearnedearlier...“Iknowthatsoonmylifewillbeover.IthankGodforit,andforallHehasgivenme

inthislife.ButIlookforwardtoheaven.Ilookforwardtothereunionwithfriendsandlovedoneswhohavegoneonbefore.Ilookforwardtoheaven’sfreedomfromsorrowandpain.IalsolookforwardtoservingGodinwayswecan’tbegintoimagine,fortheBiblemakesitclearthatheavenisnotaplaceofidleness.“Andmostofall,IlookforwardtoseeingChristandbowingbeforeHiminpraiseand

gratitudeforallHehasdoneforus,andforusingmeonthisearthbyHisgrace—justasIam.”Intheend,itwasthatsimplebiblicalfaith—whichheexpressedsooftenandwith

suchpowerfuleffectinoversixdecadesofpublicministry—thatwoulddefineGraham’slegacy.Morethanthesuccessofhisministryorganization,ortheesteemedcompanyhekept,orthenumberofstadiumshefilled,tomanywhoadmiredhimitwashissteadfastdevotiontoChrist’smandateto“gointoalltheworldandpreachtheGospel”thatbestexplainedhisenduringacclaim.ItwasanassessmentGrahamhimselfshared.“IcannottakecreditforwhateverGod

haschosentoaccomplishthroughusandourministry,”heoncewrote.“OnlyGoddeservestheglory,andwecanneverthankHimenoughforthegreatthingsHehasdone.”Yetwhereverthecreditshouldrightlybeplaced,therewasnoseparatingGraham’s

achievementsfromhispersonalfaith.HisstatusasaculturaliconwasexemplifiedbyaquestionposedofteninhislateryearsbyreligioushistoriansandothercommentatorswhoseemedunabletoimagineanAmericanlandscapedeprivedofhistoweringpresence:WhowillbethenextBillyGraham?Oftenasnot,thatquestionwouldpromptaninventoryofthenamesofcharismaticyoungpreachersthoughttopossesssomeofthequalitiesthatfueledGraham’srisetoprominence.Butthefarmoresatisfyinganswer,andtheonemostoftengiven,wastheonethatconfirmedGraham’suniqueplaceinhistoryandinthelifeofthenationandtheworld:AlthoughGodwillsurelyraiseupotherstofulfillhispurposes,therewillneverbe

anotherBillyGraham.

SPREADINGTHEWORDDuringhis1973crusadeinSouthKorea,Grahamdrew1.1millionpeopletothiseventinSeoul,makingitthelargestoutdoorgatheringinKorean

history.

ANEMISSARYGOESEASTGrahamteacheschildrentoprayduringa1988tourofChina.

GUESTOFHONORAfterreceivingtheCongressionalGoldMedalin1996,GrahamisapplaudedbySen.JesseHelms,ElizabethDole,Sen.BobDole,VicePresidentAlGore,and

Rep.NewtGingrich.

ALATEGATHERINGVideomonitorsshowGrahamandamemberoftheaudienceathisfinalcrusade,heldinJune2005inNewYorkCity.

QUIETERDAYSGrahamathomein2006withhisdogsPaula,China,andTheo.InlateryearsheandRuthfilledtheirtimebyreadingandkeepingupwiththenews.

PresidentialDiscussionsTimecorrespondentsvisitedanagingGrahamtotalkabouthisextraordinaryrelationshipswithsomanyU.S.presidents.TheygotsomemovinglifeperspectiveaswellByNANCYGIBBSANDMICHAELDUFFY

In2007Time’sNancyGibbsandMichaelDuffysatwithGrahamathisMontreat,N.C.,home.

ITWASJANUARY2006THEFIRSTTIMEWEwenttovisitBillyGrahamathishomeinMontreat,N.C.,forseveraldaysofconversation;wereturnedayearlaterandthenapproachedhimagaininthesummerof2007afterthedeathofRuth,hiswifeofmorethan60years.Bythistimehewasnolongergivinginterviews;hishealthwastoofrail,hislegacytoovaluabletoputatriskwithaconfusedremark.Buthismemorywasstillsharp,andhisspiritstrong,andtherewerestillthingshewantedtosay.Atthebottomofthehillisastonearch,withthewordMONTREATetchedaboveit.

TheMountainRetreatisattheendofaboxcanyon,anarrowingstreamvalleywherethereisn’tmuchroombetweenthehillsformorethanafewhouses,theroad,anda

stream.Watercascadesdownineverydirection,veiningthehills.Toreachthehouseyoumustclimbadense,winding,steeplytree-linedroad;it’sback

ofthebeyond,thelastbestplace.ThefinalpieceofroadendswithaweatherbeatenshinglesignreadingPRIVATEDRIVE,thenchainlinktoppedwithbarbedwire,andasetofirongates.Thesewereinstalledin1968,attheinsistenceofJ.EdgarHoover,whowasconcernedaboutthedeaththreats.BeforethattheGrahamswerecontentforprotectionwithsignsthatsaidTRESPASSERSWILLBEEATEN.NowyouareonGrahamland,theexpansesofmountaintopthatBillyandRuth

boughtin1954.Thiswasmoonshineterritory;whentheGrahamswouldfirstcomeuphere,they’dfindtheabandonedstillsandcampoutforthenightinthelittlelogcabinperchedprecariouslyonaledgelookingoutovertheedgeofGod’swholecreation.Ithadnoheat,noplumbing;nowit’saplayhouse,withbirdspaintedontheshutters.Whentheyboughtthelanditboasted120appletrees,18springs,andplentyofroomforlonghikesandquietmeditation.Theypaidbetween$12and$13anacre.Thesurveyorshadtroublemappingtheterrainbutdecidedtocallit200acres.It’salotmorevaluablenow.

ATTHETOPOFTHEWINDINGDRIVEWEcametoanotquiteramshackle,brownlogged,stoneandshingleplacethatlookedlikeahobbitlivedthere.Ruthbuilttheirhouseoutofoldlogcabinsandimaginationmorethanhalfacenturyago,aprivateretreatfromhisverypubliclife;thisiswherehecamehomeafterhistravels,wherehefinallycamehometostay.Ruthhadtouredthecounties,salvagingtimberfrombarnsandcabinsbeing

demolished,andassembledthemlikeagreatLincolnLogprojectonhermountaintop.Billyhadagreedtotwochimneys,buthewentoffcrusadinginIndiathatwinterof1956andshetoldtheworkmen,“Buildfireplaces!Buildthemfasterthanyoueverhaveinyourlife!”Shemanagedtofitinfive.“I’vealwaysfeltitisdivinejudgment,”sheoncesaid,“thatthefireplaceinhisquartershasalwayssmoked.”Whenwearrivedforourfirstvisit,Grahamwassittinginthedarkenedfamilyroom,

withhiswalkerbyhim.Herosecarefullytogreetus,hissmilewarmandcourtly,hisvoicequiet,thin,nothingfancyorstentorian,acountryboytalking.Atallmanwithlongarmsandlegs,likeGoddesignedhimtobeseenfromadistance,biographerMarshallFradyonceobserved;heseemedalittlesmaller,certainlyfrailer,buteverybitasstriking;thedeepblueeyeswerewaterybutriveting.Heledusdownthehalltohisprivatestudy,asmallroomlinedwithbookcasesandfullofpictures,andabigportraitonthewallbesidehisdeskofRuth,inheryoungerdays,withthatimmenseandvividsmile.Grahamsatinabigchairathisdesk,smilingmostly.Hisfeetdidnotmove.Heasked

aboutus,andwehadaprayertogether.Hewonderedwhywewerehere,whywouldwe

aboutus,andwehadaprayertogether.Hewonderedwhywewerehere,whywouldwewanttowriteabookabouthim.Hedoesn’tsayso,buttherehavebeensomanyalready.Andhewasnotacomfortableobjectofattention.Healwayswantedtodivertthegazefromhimselftohigherthings.Heworriedthatifitwasabouthim,itwouldundercuthismission,buryhismessage;hislips,heusedtosay,wouldturntoclay.Partofthismayhavebeenafearofthesinofpride,whichwasalwaysthere,andeveninretirementtherewasatouchofitstill.Wearewritingaboutyourrelationshipwiththepresidents,wetoldhim,becauseno

oneinhistoryhasknownsomanysowell,everypresidentsincethewar,startingwithHarryTruman,whodidn’tlikehimmuch,onthroughEisenhower,wholikedhimimmensely,thenoneafteranotherafteranother.Butofcoursetheconversationswanderedbeyondthat,becausewhenyoutalktoa

verypowerfulmanabouthisfriendshipswithverypowerfulmen,theroadsruntothehorizon.Familiesandpressuresandpowerandfameanddoubtandfearandpurpose.Hehadachallengetous:“Ihopeitwilljustbefairandhonestandtellthebadandthe

good.”HewasconcernedthatwebeawarethathisdealingswiththeOvalOfficewereavery

smallpartofhislife.“Maybeinyourminds,itmaybeexaggerated,”hesaid.Whowouldeverarguethattheywerelessclosetopowerthantheevidencesuggested—evidencethathehimselfsoonbegantoprovide?Partoftheanswerwasquicklyclear:evennowhebarelythoughtofthemaspresidents,certainlynotLyndon,orGeorge.OncewhenhewasinWashingtonandReaganheardhewasintown,hecalledupandsaid,“You’restayingatthewronghotel.”HeandRuthwentovertotheWhiteHouseintheirPJs.“I’mamazedmyselfthatIwasabletoseeallthosemenbecomepresident,”hesaid,

andittooksomedoingtorememberhowtoaddressthem,tocatchhimself,andbeappropriatelyproper.Itwascleartheywerefriendsthen,becausetheystillwerenow;LadyBirdJohnson

hadcalledafewdaysbeforewearrived,totalkabouttheoldtimes.LauraBushcheckedin.PresidentBush41hasinvitedhimdowntoreceiveanawardatCollegeStation.Hewasallbuttransparent,whichelicitedinpeopleaninstincttoprotecthim,because

hehadnoshields.Herewasoneofthemostwatchedandphotographedandadmiredandanalyzedpublicmenofmodernhistory,onstageformorethanhalfacentury;by1957itwassaidhewasphotographedmorethanMarilynMonroe.Andstillhehadnofiltersandguards,beyond,perhaps,hisinnateimpenetrability.MaybethiswasonereasonhedescribedReaganasthepresidenthefeltclosestto—aswellasthepresidenthewishedhecouldhavegottentoknowbetter.

Hewasbluntaboutwhathecouldn’texplain.“I’mnotananalyzer,”hesays.“Igotasonthatanalyzeseverythingandeverybody.ButIdon’tanalyzepeople.”Theywereordinarysomehow,andtheyneededforgivenessjustlikeanyoneelse,justlikehewill,hesays,whenheappearsbeforeGod.Eachwasdifferentfromtheothers,hesuggested:LyndonJohnsonwasaverycomplexman.Buthelovedhim.Nixonwasveryreserved.Reaganwasthemerriest,mostoptimistic,woretheburdensofofficemostlightly;Clintonimpressedhim,sosmart,sowellinformed,soapparently...spiritual.Wetalkaboutwhathadchangedoverthemorethanhalfacenturyhehadspentin

andoutoftheOvalOffice.Themediaenvironment,foronething,hesaid,andthisremindedusofhowastutehewasabouthandlingreporters,eversincehebeguiledTimeInc.’sfounderHenryLuce,howhewouldgotovisiteditorsandpublishersinwhatevercityhewaspreaching,gettoknowthereportersbyname.Oneveteranchroniclerofthecrusadesrecalledgoingintoanewcityandsittingthefirstnightnexttoanewreporterwhowouldwatchthecrowdspressintowhateverarenaitwas,fillingstadiumsthatthebiggestbands,thehottestsportsteamscouldn’tfill.“Ijustdon’tgetit,”therookiewouldmuse.“You’renotthefirst,”theveteranwouldreply.Grahamwasstillanewshound,readmultiplepapersandtheimportantnewbooks;

butheknewtheinformationuniversehadchanged.“Ihaveacomputer,”hesaid,“butIdon’tknowhowtoworkit.ButI’vebeentoldthatit’stakingovereverything.”Whatchangedforhimpersonally?Astheyearswentbyandthepresidentscameto

realizethathewasn’tquotingthemandthattheycouldtalkabouttheirpersonalproblemsinprivate,thattheycouldpraytogetherwithoutthemreadingaboutitinthepapers,hebecametheindispensablemanandtheirunofficialpastor.“Iloved’emall,”hesaid.“Iadmiredthemall.IknewtheyhadburdensbeyondanythingIcouldknoworunderstand.”PeopleclosetothepresidentshadtoldusthatGrahamwasuniquebecause,virtually

aloneamongthepeopleapresidentsees,Grahamdidn’tseemtowantanything.“Myonethoughtwastobeaspiritualblessing,tobeawitness,”hesaid,meaningnotjustsomeonewhodroppedinandtalkedaboutfaithbutlivedhislifeinsuchawaythatitsetanexample.“Excuseme,preacher,”JohnsonwouldsaywheneverhecursedinfrontofGraham.Hecouldhopetobringoutthebestinpeople,evenpresidents,becausethattendedtobeallthathesawinthem.Butdopresidents,becauseofthekindsofdecisionstheyhavetomake—thehard

ones,thatcan’tbemadebyanyoneelselowerdown—alwaysneedmoreforgivenessthanotherpeople,justbecauseofthenatureofthejob?“Ithinkweallneedforgiveness,”hesaid.“Ilookatmyownlifeandmyownheart.

AndsomedayI’llstandbeforeGodtotallynaked.Iwon’tbeapreacherorwhateverI’vebeen.I’lljustbebeforeGod,andIwillneedforgivenessandthemercyofGodandthe

been.I’lljustbebeforeGod,andIwillneedforgivenessandthemercyofGodandthegraceofGod.”Thepresidentswerethesame.“Afteryougettoknowthemforalittlewhile,theyarejustpeople.Justsitdowninthelivingroomorbedroomorwhateverintheireverydayclothesandtalkandtalkabouteverything,talkaboutthefamily.”Thepresidentsweinterviewed—Ford,Carter,Bushtheelder,Clinton—oftensaidhe

keptthemhumble.“It’sbecauseIalwayshadprayerwiththem,”Grahamsaid.“Severalwouldgetontheirknees.BecauseI’dalwaysstartoutbygettingonmykneestopray,andthey’dkneeldowntoo.”Hesawhowhardtheyworked,whattheytriedtodo,whatthecriticismfeltlike.“SeeingallthesethingstheycriticizePresident[GeorgeW.]Bushfor,everythingisthrownathim,everyproblem,everycrisis.Katrina,Iraq,allthesethings,Isometimeswonderhowanybodycanenduresucharesponsibility.”Butit’sacomplexkindofsympathy,hesaid,because,ashenoted,“Andyetsomeofthesepeople,youknow,theyfighttogetthejob.”Butwhentheywinandtheygettheirshot,thetaskisalwaysbiggerthaneventhe

biggestpresidentcouldhandle.“EverypresidentIthinkI’veeverknown,exceptTruman,”Grahamsaid,“hasthoughttheydidn’tquitegetwhattheywanteddone.Andtowardtheendoftheiradministrations,theyaredisappointedandwishedthey’ddonesomethingsdifferently.”

NEARBYISTHECHATLOSCHAPEL,WHATamountainwouldlooklikeifitwokeuponedayandfoundthatithadturnedintoachurch.It’sallstonerisingupoutofthesideofthehill,withtall,clearwindows,nostains,sothatthesunlightstreamsthroughitandwhenyou’reinsideyoufeellikeyou’reinatreehouse.Ithasshinywoodfloors,hardwoodenbenches,andhighwhitewallsandceiling.Thiswasthechapelwiththestretched-outsteeplethatRuthimagined,higher,highershetoldthebuilders,sothatitnestledinthecoverbutreachedupaboveeverythingelse,andyoucouldseeitglowinginthetreesfromtheothersideofthevalleys.Walkoutsideandyouseeameditationwalk,whichpullsyoualittlefurtherupthe

mountaintowhereitisquieterstill.Beforethegreatfamilybattle,thedecisionthattheywouldbeburiedattheBillyGrahamLibraryinCharlotte,wherevisitorsfromallovertheworldcouldcomeandseeandlearn,thislittleclearingwaswhereBillyandRuthhadplannedtobeburied.Shecalledthespot“mylaunchingpad.”It’snotthemostbeautifulplaceintheworldorthemostgrand.Butitwasutterlyreal,andpeaceful,aleafyenclosureofbeechesandredandwhiteoakssurroundedbyalow,winding,moss-coveredwall.Thiswasthedayweweregoingtotalkaboutdying.Wewentuptothehouse,andGrahamwasinthelivingroomthistime.Hewas

dressedinayellowshirt,agreenishsweater,andabluejacketthatbroughtouttheextraordinarycolorofhiseyes.Itwasasthoughtalkingandrememberinghad

extraordinarycolorofhiseyes.Itwasasthoughtalkingandrememberinghadstrengthenedhim;hewasmoreanimated,moreeasy,andthememoriesweresharper.Itbecameclearwhatwasworryinghimabouttheseconversations.Hisfearwasthat

hewould,becauseofhisage,hismemory,thebrainoperations,getsomethingwrongorsaysomethingwrong,somethingthatwouldhurtoneofthesepresidents,oneofthesefriends.Orhurttheirchildrensomehow.“I’msureIsaidsomethingsIshouldn’thave,”hesaid.“WhenIwasoperatedoninmybrain,”hesaid,“theyputinshunts,becauseIhad

hydrocephalus.Whentheyputthefirstonein,somethingwentwrong.Itleftmewithanumbnessthatcomesovermeatabout11inthemorning.Itgetsworseuntilabout6,andthenitgetsbetter.Andrightnow,mybrain,mywholebodyislikeanoctopushasagriponme.”Thiswashardforhim,hesaid,buthehadacceptedit.Whenhebrokehishiptheyear

before,andthenhispelvisinthreeplaces,heacceptedit.Hehadseenthebiggerpicturenow.Hetalkedaboutdyingwithacalmthatwasitselfcalming,toanyonewhohaswatched

aparentgrowoldandfade,orfeltitinoneself.It’snotthathewasmorbid.Hehadlivedanenormouslife,andhewasacuriousman,andhebelievedassureashebelievedanythingthattherewasanotheradventureahead,thegreatestofall.Thestaffhadbeenworriedafterhislastcrusade,animmenserevivalinNewYork

CityinJune2005.Happiness,theysaid,dependedonthreethings:somethingtodo,someonetolove,andsomethingtolookforwardto.HehadRuth;hehadthebookhewaswriting;butafterthelastcrusade,theywereworried—hewasatriple-Apersonality,andtheywonderedhowhewouldreactwhenhedidn’thavethattorallyfor.“Onenight,whenIwasinthehospitalinRochester,IknewIwasdying,”hesaid.“I

thinkthedoctordidknow...andduringthatnight,IknewIwasatdeath’sdoorandIprayedandIaskedtheLord...forforgiveness.Andallofasudden,allofmysinsfrommywholelifecameinfrontofme.Andthenthewordsofthescriptures,thebloodofJesusChristwillwashawaymysins....Ihadthegreatestpeacecomeovertome,andI’vehadittothisday.Ihaven’thadonesingledoubtorproblem.”Itwashard,however,towatchsomeoneyoulovesuffer.Ruthhadhadmultiplehip

replacements,anddegenerativebackdiseaseleftherbedriddenandinpain.Billysaidhelovedhermorenowthanwhenhemarriedher.“Mywife,”hesaidquietly.“It’shardtositandwatchwhenIlovehersomuch....”Hewantedustomeether;shewashomefromthehospital.Wewalkeddownthelong

hallwaytoherbedroom.Itwasbig,warm,withafireburninginthefireplaceandahalfcanopybedinwhitecrocheteddrapes,picturesandphotosalloverthewalls,andthereshewasonachaisebythewindow,withasoftafghanonherlap,lookingsosmall.She

shewasonachaisebythewindow,withasoftafghanonherlap,lookingsosmall.Shewasvivid,eyesbright,hairdone,makeup.OncewhensheandBillyarrivedinEnglandforhisfirstbigcrusadetherein1954,hedressedconservatively,darkhat,apreacher’scoat,andheaskedhernottowearanylipstickbecauseitmightstriketheBritishclergyastooworldly.Shewroteinherdiary,“BillystoopedfrombeingamanofGodtobecomeameddlesomehusband,soIsaiditdoesn’tseemtometobeacredittoChristtobedrab.”Youcouldn’thelpbutmarvel,lookingatthem,atthispartnership,thisenterprisethey

livedtogether.TheywerebothawardedtheCongressionalGoldMedalin1996fortheir“outstandingandlastingcontributionstomorality,racialequality,family,philanthropy,andreligion.”Whatwasitlikeallthoseyears,tohavefivechildrenathomeandsendyourhusbandoff,knowinghe’dbeinfiveor10countriesbeforeyousawhimagainthreemonthshence?Don’tcry,bestrong,holddownthefort,prayforhim,helpthechildrenunderstandthattheyarelendingtheirdaddytoGod.Whentheycelebratedtheir60thweddinganniversary,sheworeheroriginaldress.ThewomanwhokickedherhusbandunderthetablewhenLyndonJohnsontriedtosoundhimoutonpotentialrunningmatesin1964—sticktoyourbusiness,shetoldhim,andleavethepresidenttohis—wasaforceofnatureherself.ONTHELASTDAYOFOURVISIT,HEWASINAplayfulmood.Itwasalovelyday,nearly60degrees,andhewassittingoutsideinhisfavoritechairwithanembroideredpad.Hewasdressedallinblueandhadhisdarksunglasseson.Thedogswereroaming,andhelookedpeaceful.Beingpresident,hetoldus,orforthatmatterbeinganyonewithaheavy

responsibilityforotherpeople,can’thelpbutmakeyoumoredevout.“Theyhadallkindsofadvisersandpeople,”hesaid.“ButIthinkitdoesdeepenthem.I’msureitdeepenedmetowatchthem,evenfromafardistance,toseetheburdensthattheycarry.Ican’tthinkofaonethatI’dsaydidn’tdeepenintheirpersonalrelationshipwithGod.”Thehumilitycameoutoverandover.Hewasmoreintouchwithhisregrets,whathe

didn’tknowthenbutknewnow.Heclearlyhadbeenthinkingaboutthesemenasweprobedthenatureoftherelationships.Itwasonethingtorelatetothemasfriends.Butlookingbackandfieldingourquestions,herememberedthemaspublic,powerfulmen,whowouldaskforhisguidance.Therewasnowaytoprepare—excepttopray.“IfeltIwasterriblyunqualifiedforthattypeofthing,”hesaid.“AsIlookbackIfeelevenmoreunqualifiedtothinkIsatthereandtalkedtothepresidentoftheUnitedStates.IcanonlyexplainthatGodwasplanningitinsomewaysbutIdidn’tunderstandit.”Thatdayharderquestionscame,aboutwhetherhewasusedbythepresidentsorthe

presidents’men,whetherhewonderedwhethertheycourtedhimtowinvotes,orvouchforapietythatwasn’tmaybesoreal.Heneverthoughtaboutbeingusedatthetime;butthenthememoirscameout.BobHaldemanwroteaboutNixon’steamplayingGraham.“Ijustneverthoughtaboutthat,”hesaid.“Butthatcouldbe.ButitmaybethatIwasusinghim.Idon’tknow.”Helikedseeingpastpresidentsmakefriendswitheachother.Heevenhelpedthem

sometimes,flyingouttoCaliforniain1969asPresidentNixonhostedabigcelebrationforLyndonJohnson’sbirthdayandthendedicatedaparktohonorLadyBird.“HeandNixonhadestablishedarelationship,”Grahamsaid,“thatIthinkintheyearstocomewasgoodforthecountry.”HerecalledthefirsttimehehadalongtalkwithBillClinton,whenhewasanew

governorofArkansas,andherecalledhisvisitswiththeBushfamilyatKennebunkport.HerecalledwhenhewenttoseetheReagans;NancyReaganisaremarkablewoman,hesaid,tohavespent10yearsatherhusband’sside,ashefadedfromher.“Alzheimer’sisanawfulthing,”hesaid.HewentandsatwithNancyforalongtimetalking,thenwenttoseeRonnie.“Hetotallyinmyjudgmentdidn’tknowIwasthere,”Grahamsaid.“HisdaughterPattiwashelpingfeedhim,andtheyhadbeensomewhatestranged.”Butnowshewastheretocareforhim.Beforeheleft,hesaidaprayerforthepresident.HeaskedNancy,“DoyouthinkheeverknewIwasthere?”“Duringyourprayer,”shesaid,“hegrunted,andIthinkheknew....”“Whataloadshecarried,”hesaid.WetalkedabouttheClintons,abouthowhetriedtohelpthem,andthecriticismhe

gotwhentheyappearedonstageathisNewYorkCrusade.“That’sthetwoextremeswehaveinthiscountry,”hesaid.“Theextremerightandtheextremeleft.Ineverpayattentiontosuchthings.IfItriedtoanswerallthecriticsthroughtheyears....”Hiscritics,byandlarge,havefaded.Heoutlivedoroutlovedthem,stucktohis

purposes,refusedtofightordivideordetourfromhisessentialmessage.Buthehasmadesomediscoveriesofhisownashetraveledbackintime.“IhaveParkinson’s,”hetoldus,“andIhaveprostatecancerandthatgivesmesomedifficulties.Butthesethingsarerightatthetwilightofmylife...andyourall’sinterestinallofthesethingshasencouragedme.IjusthopeIdon’tsayanythingtopunishpeoplewhohavetrustedme....It’sbeenagreathonorformetohaveyouhere.I’dlovetoseeyouagainifyouwanttoseeme....IhopeIhavemadetwogoodnewfriends.”Hebadeusgoodbye,andslowly,carefully,hewalkedusoutoftheroom,downthe

hallway,outtothedriveway,andstoodthereinthesun,wavinggoodbye.

WERETURNEDAYEARLATER,ABEAUTIFULmidwinterdayintheSmokies,

snowinthehighelevations,baretreesandovercoatsonthestreets.Weknewwehadtoaskthehardestquestionsthistime,aboutthelowestpoints,abouttheenemies,andhowfarpoliticianswouldgotowin.WehadtoaskaboutNixon,andtheconversationsGrahamhadhadatthelipofthe1972campaign,likeonthedayoftheNationalPrayerBreakfast,whentheytalkedaboutabouttheJewscontrollingthemedia,andGrahamsaidthat“thisstrangleholdhasgottobebrokenorthecountry’sgoingtogodownthedrain.”Grahamhadapologizedrepeatedly,ardently.Butthepainwouldabide.“Idon’t

understandit,”hesaidofhisbehavior.“Ican’tevenrememberit.Imean,Iremember,Iguess,themeeting.Irememberthat.ButIcan’trememberwhatIsaidbecauseIneverfeltthatway.IneverthoughtthatwayandIwasjusttryingtoagreewithwhathesaidorsomething,Idon’tknow.”Ofallthepresidentsheknew,Nixonwastheonewhodrewhimdeepestintothe

WhiteHouse,wooedhim,usedhim,damagedhim.“Ididmisjudgehim,”hesaid.“ItwasasidetohimIneverknew,yetI’dbeenwithhimsomanytimes.Hewasjustlikeawholenewperson.IalmostfeltasifademonhadcomeintotheWhiteHouseandhadenteredhispresidency,becauseitseemedtobesortofsupernatural,Imeanitwassouglyandsoterrible,especiallythecover-upandthelanguageandallthat.ItwasjustsomethingIneverknew.”ThefuroroverwhatGrahamhadsaid,aftertherecordingsofthoseconversations

weremadepublicin2002,wasthelowpointofalonglife’sministry.Hehadworkedsohardtoavoidthescandalsthatdestroyedotherprominentpreachers.“IprayedmanytimesthattheLordwouldspareme,”hesaid.Nixonwasthegreatestthreat,thegreatestchallengetohisbalance,duringhishalf-

centurytightropewalk.How,weasked,didyoumanageit?Howdidhehandlethecrosswindsofpoliticsandfaith?“Ididn’tsitdownandtrytomanageitorthinkitthrough,”hesaid.“Ijusttriedtobemyself,Ithink.Ihavefivechildren,andeachhastheirowntemperament,theirownideas,theyhavegrownupindifferentcultures...andtheyhavedifferentpointsofviewandIacceptallofthem.Andlove’emall.AndIdothesamewithpeople.”Itbecameclearashetalkedthattheliveswesawasseparate,theglobaltraveler,the

greatmodernevangelist,andtheprivatemanonhismountaintopwithhispowerfulfriends,wereallonelife,inseparable.Theprinciplesdidnotshiftwiththecircumstances.Intheendweareallthesame,hesaid,andneedthesamethings.“Iforgetwhoitwas,somefamousmansaidhenevermetamanthathehated,”

Grahamwenton,andthenforoneraremoment,heturnedthecameraonhimself.“AndIfeltthatway.Ihaven’thatedpeople.Ihaven’tfeltthatIneededtotakerevengeonsomebody.IneverwasjealousofpeoplethatIcanremember.”

onsomebody.IneverwasjealousofpeoplethatIcanremember.”“ThatwasagiftfromtheLord,”hesaid.“Jesusspentagreatdealofhisministry

talkingabouttheneedforloveandworkingtogether,andthat’swhyhediedonthecross—becauseoflove.Helovedsinners,peoplewhodidn’tdeserveit;that’swhatgraceis.ItmeansGodgivesusforgivenessthatwedon’tdeserve.Andtomethat’sawonderfulthing.”

In1967,GrahamvisitedHarryTrumanathomeinIndependence,Mo.,theirfirstencounterin27years.

WithDwightEisenhowerin1957.In1952,GrahamhadflowntoParistourgeIketorunforpresident.

GrahamwithJ.F.K.atthe1961PresidentialPrayerBreakfast,afewweeksafterKennedy’sinauguration.

WithLyndonJohnson,oneofthepresidentshewasclosestto,atthe1964PresidentialPrayerBreakfast.

GrahamandRichardNixonwavetothecrowdsinCharlotte,N.C.,on“BillyGrahamDay”—Oct.15,1971.

InMarch1974,Grahamclownswiththen–VicePresidentGeraldFordonaCharlottegolfcourse.

GrahamwithJimmyCarterinDecember1980,notlongafterCarterwassweptfromoffice.

GrahamwithRonaldReaganduringa1987ceremonyatEllisIslandinNewYorkHarbor.

Duringhis2002crusadeinIrving,Texas,GrahamsharesalaughwithformerpresidentGeorgeH.W.Bush.

WithformerpresidentBillClintonatthe2007dedicationoftheBillyGrahamLibraryinCharlotte.

WithGeorgeW.BushinNovember2000.GrahamcameveryclosethatyeartoformallyendorsingBush.

InApril2010,BarackObamapaidavisittoGrahamathishomeinMontreat,N.C.

AdaptedfromThePreacherandthePresidents:BillyGrahamintheWhiteHousebyNancyGibbsandMichaelDuffy.Copyright©2007byNancyGibbsandMichaelDuffy.ReprintedbypermissionofCenterStreet,adivisionofHachetteBookGroupUSA,Inc.

Credits

BillyandRuthGrahamathomeinMontreat,N.C.

FRONTCOVERHarryRedlThenumbersinthissectionreferencethepagenumbersoftheprintversionofthistext.

TITLEPAGE1RussBusby/BillyGrahamEvangelisticAssociationCONTENTS2–3EdClark/TimeLifePictures/GettyImages

INTRODUCTION4–5BettmannArchive/GettyImages;7ShannonStapleton/Reuters;8–9BenjaminLowy/GettyImages;10BettmannArchive/GettyImages;11JamesBurke/TheLIFEPictureCollection/GettyImages;12–13EdwardMiller/HultonArchive/Getty

ImagesTIMELINE14–15Chronologically:BobPardue/Alamy;CourtesyofLibrarySpecialCollections,WesternKentuckyUniversity;BettmannArchive/GettyImages;CourtesyofRaymondH.CenterLibrary/TrinityCollegeofFlorida;BillyGrahamEvangelisticAssociation;WheatonCollege(Illinois)Archives&SpecialCollections;KRT/Newscom;BrownBrothers;BettmannArchive/GettyImages;Hulton-DeutschCollection/Corbis/GettyImages;PIP/GlobePhotos,Inc;nocredit;CourtesyofTheHerald&WeeklyTimesPtyLtd;AP/Rex/Shutterstock;KRT/Newscom;AFP/GettyImages;DavidMcNew/GettyImages;RussBusby/BillyGrahamEvangelisticAssociation

CHAPTER117BettmannArchive/GettyImages;19BillyGrahamEvangelisticAssociation;21(left-right)BillyGrahamEvangelisticAssociation;AP/REX/Shutterstock

CHAPTER223WheatonCollege(Illinois)Archives&SpecialCollections;24–25CourtesyofRaymondH.CenterLibrary/TrinityCollegeofFlorida(2);27–30WheatonCollege(Illinois)Archives&SpecialCollections(4)

CHAPTER333BettmannArchive/GettyImages(2);34RudolphVetter/TheCommercialAppeal/ZumaPress;36–39LoomisDean/TheLIFEPictureCollection/GettyImage(3);41–45BettmannArchive/GettyImages(3)FROMTHETIMEARCHIVES49CornellCapa©InternationalCenterofPhotography/MagnumPhotos;51–55BettmannArchive/GettyImages(3)

CHAPTER457BettmannArchive/GettyImages;59AP/REX/Shutterstock;60–61BettmannArchive/GettyImages;63GeorgeSilk/TheLIFEPictureCollection/GettyImages;64–65EdClark/TheLIFEPictureCollection/GettyImages;67(clockwisefromright)JamesBurke/TheLIFEPictureCollection/GettyImages;AP/Rex/Shutterstock(2);69(fromtop)YoichiR.Okamoto/L.B.J.Library;BettmannArchive/GettyImages

CHAPTER571©DavidBurnett/ContactPressImages;72–73BillyGrahamEvangelisticAssociation;75KRT/Newscom;76AFP/GettyImages79ShannonStapleton/Reuters;80CharlesOmmanney/GettyImagesPRESIDENTIALDISCUSSIONS82–83DianaWalkerforTIME;85(fromtop)Newscom;PaulSchutzer/TheLIFEPictureCollection/GettyImages;86(fromtop)HenryBurroughs/AP/REX/Shutterstock;Bettmann/GettyImages;89(fromtop)Bettmann/GettyImages(2);90(fromtop)Bettmann/GettyImages;DianaWalker/Liaison/GettyImages;92(fromtop)RonaldMartinez/GettyImages;ChrisKeane/Reuters;93CharlesOmmanney/GettyImages;94Rex/Shutterstock;95BillyGrahamEvangelisticAssociationLASTWORD

96CharlesOmmanney/GettyImages Formoreone-of-a-kindTIMEspecial

editionsandkeepsakes,gototimespecialeditions.com

EDITOREdwardFelsenthalCREATIVEDIRECTORD.W.PineDIRECTOROFPHOTOGRAPHYKiraPollackBillyGraham

America’sPreacherEDITORRichardLacayoWRITERSJefferyL.Sheler,NancyGibbs,MichaelDuffyDESIGNERArthurHochsteinPHOTOEDITORDotMcMahonRESEARCHERLisaMcLaughlinEDITORIALPRODUCTIONLionelP.Vargas,DavidSloanTIMEINC.BOOKS,ADIVISIONOFMEREDITHCORPORATION

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“Iknowthatsoonmylifewillbeover...IthankGodforit,andforallHehasgivenmeinthislife.ButIlookforward

toheaven.”—BILLYGRAHAM