Posted by Kevin D. Hendricks on January 17, 2009
Billy Graham has offered many inaugural prayers and sermons for incoming presidents. He won’t be doing so this year, though his name still comes up, but we can look to one of his past prayers, the 1969 inaugural prayer for Richard Nixon:
“We beseech Thee that he will have Thy divine guidance and power daily. Help him as Thou didst help Thy servants of old. Our Father, we know his burdens and responsibilities will be overwhelming. He will hold in his hands the destiny of more people than any man in history. O God, our new President needs Thee as no man ever needed Thee in leading a people! There will be times when he will be overwhelmed by the problems at home and abroad that have been building up to the breaking point for many years. Protect him from physical danger. And in the lonely moments of decision grant him an uncompromising courage to do what is morally right. Give him a cool head and a warm heart. Give him a compassion for those in physical, moral, and spiritual need. We pray that Thou wilt so guide Richard Nixon in handling the affairs of state that the whole world will marvel and glorify Thee.
Those “lonely moments of decision” didn’t turn out so well for Nixon (or Graham, for that matter), but hindsight is 20/20. These same words could be said for Barack Obama today, as Graham has reminded people time and time again to pray for presidents no matter their political party.
Posted by Kevin D. Hendricks on January 13, 2009
Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. is often quoted as declaring, “Eleven o’clock Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America.” While King frequently used the line, he was actually quoting a 1950s Reader’s Digest article on racism written by Billy Graham.
Graham took an early and strong stand for civil rights, insisting on holding integrated crusades in Jackson, Miss., as early as 1952 (two years before the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case). During a 1953 crusade in Chatanooga, Tenn., Billy Graham himself tore down ropes diving white and black sections.
“My action caused the head usher to resign in anger on the spot,” Billy said in his 1997 autobiography Just As I Am, “But I did not back down.”
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Posted by Kevin D. Hendricks on January 8, 2009
While Billy Graham won’t be participating in Barack Obama’s inauguration in a few weeks (though many comparisons have been made between Billy Graham and Rick Warren, who will be delivering the prayer), Graham has participated in nine presidential inaugurations. That ties Chief Justice John Marshall’s record from the early 1800s. While he didn’t participate, Billy Graham did attend a tenth inauguration, that of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953.
The Billy Graham Center has an archive of the presidential inauguration prayers and sermons given by Billy Graham:
- 1965: A sermon at Lyndon Johnson’s inauguration.
- 1969: A prayer at Richard Nixon’s first inauguration.
- 1973: A sermon at a White House worship service following Nixon’s second inauguration.
- 1981: A prayer at a private service following Ronald Reagan’s first inauguration.
- 1985: A sermon at Washington Cathedral preceding Reagan’s second inauguration.
- 1989: An invocation at George H.W. Bush’s inauguration.
- 1993: An invocation at Bill Clinton’s first inauguration.
- 1997: A prayer at Clinton’s second inauguration.
- 2005: Opening prayer at the National Prayer Service for George W. Bush’s second inauguration.
The 2008 book Preacher and the Presidents gives more details on Billy Graham’s interactions with U.S. presidents.
Posted by Kevin D. Hendricks on January 7, 2009
Billy Graham has had personal interactions with every U.S. president going back to Harry Truman and has counseled many of them. But that historic role, chronicled in the book The Preacher and the Presidents, may be coming to an end. Franklin Graham, Billy Graham’s son and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, told USA Today that Billy Graham would not be mentoring Barack Obama, though the 90-year-old evangelist would like to meet and pray with the president elect.
“My father feels like his time and day for that is over,” Franklin Graham said. “But he would certainly like to meet [Obama] and pray with him.”
Obama tried to meet with Billy Graham during the campaign but wasn’t able to due Billy’s poor health.
While Billy Graham is a registered Democrat (a fact that still seems to raise eyebrows in some circles), Franklin Graham made it clear that he and his father disagree with Obama on abortion and gay marriage.
“President-elect Obama heard our position,” said Franklin Graham. “And I told him that this was very difficult for us and hard for us. It’s a moral issue that we just can’t back down on.”
Posted by Kevin D. Hendricks on December 26, 2008
Billy Graham is being frequently mentioned in the current flap over president elect Barack Obama tapping evangelical pastor Rick Warren to offer a prayer at his inauguration. Nearly every article mentions Billy Graham’s role as a pastor to presidents over the years.
Billy Graham has had personal encounters with every president going back to Harry Truman. Billy Graham has participated in nine presidential inaugurations, tying Chief Justice John Marshall’s record from the early 1800s. While he didn’t participate, Billy Graham did attend a tenth inauguration, that of Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953.
The speculation continues that Warren will take the mantle from Billy and assume the role as “America’s pastor.” Billy’s son Franklin Graham comments in an interview with Christianity Today that “time will tell” if Warren takes on that role, noting that it’s a role God gives you, not one you seek. He also notes Billy Graham’s history with U.S. presidents and that “There’s no other American that has had more influence on the White House.” The 2008 book Preacher and the Presidents details Billy Graham’s interactions with U.S. presidents.
