Billy Graham Meets with President Obama

Posted by Kevin D. Hendricks on April 25, 2010

U.S. President Barack Obama met with 91-year-old Billy Graham today at the evangelist’s North Carolina home. It was Obama’s first meeting with Graham, who has met with every president back to Harry Truman. The two tried to meet back in 2008 during the presidential campaign but it never happened due to scheduling conflicts. It was also Graham’s first meeting with a president in his Montreat, N.C., home.

Graham presented Obama with two Bibles, one for him and one for his wife. The two also prayed for each other.

Like other presidents before him, Obama confided with Graham how lonely, demanding and humbling the presidency can be:

“That is a discussion that Mr. Graham has had with previous presidents who realize not only the demands but the loneliness of the job. And they’re humbled by that,” [Graham spokesman Larry] Ross said. “The only way one can do the job properly is to draw on spiritual resources.”

Graham and Obama spoke for about 35 minutes over coffee. The discussion included their wives, their past history in Chicago and golf.