A Prophet with Honor

by William C. Martin

  269.“While African laborers . . . a dream of equal opportunity.” Africa on the Bridge. 269. African nationalists oppose BG’s visit. McMahan, Safari, p. 58; “Sixty Africans Demonstrate As Graham Talks,” Cleveland Press, February 26, 1960; unidentified clipping from CN 360, MF Reel 14, BGCA.

  269.“tempted to reconsider his boycott of South Africa.” “Graham May Still Visit South Africa,” Durban P.E. Evening Post, February 22, 1960.

  269.“I don’t see how the South African approach can possibly work.” Unidentified clipping from press conference at Victoria Falls, in CN 360, MF Reel 14, BGCA.

  269.Only Christ could bring change of heart. “Graham May Still Visit South Africa,” February 22, 1960.

  269.Racial separation won’t work. AP, in Charlotte News, April 4, 1960; also, stories in Charlotte Observer, March 30, 1960, and April 1, 1960. McMahan, “Safari,” press release.

  269.“They doubt US will be a true friend.” UPI story, Observer, March 20, 1960.

  270.“70 percent . . . all differences can be settled.” “No Solution to Race Problem ‘At the Point of Bayonets,’” U.S. News & World Report, April 25, 1960, pp. 94–95; UPI, March 30, 1960.

  270.Received by patriarch and emperor in Ethiopia. McMahan, “Safari,” press release.

  270.Ethiopian and Egyptian visits aided by Nixon. Letter, Ambassador Raymond A. Hare to Richard Nixon, May 11, 1959, with copy to BG, reattempt to set up meeting between BG and Egyptian president Nasser; Letter, BG to Nixon, November 19, 1959, requesting letter of entree to Haile Selassie, CN 74, MF Reel 1, from Box 299 (National Archives Pre-Presidential Papers of Richard Nixon, National Archives and Record Service), BGCA. In fact, I could find no record that such a letter was furnished, but it seems likely. Selassie’s independent approval of BG, however, was indicated by his attendance, in 1966, at a major BGEA-funded conference in Berlin. See Chapter 20, “Second Comings.”

  270.Why BG reluctant to hold a crusade in Cairo. BG, quoted in David Poling, Why Billy Graham? (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1977), p. 86.

  270.BG and Barrows whoop at animal herds. Charlotte News, February, 1960 (exact date obscured). Also, McMahan, Safari, p. 48, quoting from BG’s diary, and p. 52.

  271.BG banned from, then visits Jordan. Charlotte News, December 8, 1959; Charlotte Observer, December 7, 1959; January 1, 1960; February 6, 1960; March 19, 1960; McMahan, Safari, p. 88.

  271.Hussein welcomes, Muslim radio station plays sermon. Roy Gustafson, oral history, 1976, CN 141, Box 4, Folder 12, BGCA.

  271.BG in Israel. McMahan, Safari, pp. 88–92; “Mission’s End,” Time, March 28, 1960, pp. 63–64; Graham, interview, February 26, 1987; Gustafson, oral history. BG did not meet with Ben-Gurion, who was in New York at the time.

  272.BG with Rabbi Toledano. McMahan, Safari, p. 92.

  272.Luce clipping service report. Atchison, Kansas, Globe, August 15, 1959, in CN 19 (Ferm Papers), BGCA.

  272.BG stimulates newspaper and magazine coverage of religion. Letter, AP religion writer George Cornell to Robert Ferm, August 20, 1959, CN 19, BGCA. Calvin Thielman quoted a similar observation by Time religion writer Richard Ostling; interview, February 25, 1987. In another letter to Ferm, Henry Luce had said of BG, “In his personality and in his manner, [Graham] has shown a rare combination of strength and forcefulness, with kindness and pervasive friendliness. [His] ability to attract and to deliver a message to great numbers of people has been, it seems to me, providential at this time in America.” August 22, 1959, CN 19 (Ferm papers), BGCA.

  272.“all the kingdoms.” Matt. 4:8, from the story of the Temptation of Jesus.

  Chapter 17: Election and Free Will

  275.BG urges Eisenhower to visit Africa. Tom McMahan, “Safari for Souls,” press release, CN 19 (Ferm Papers), Box 5, Folder 50, Africa 1960, BGCA.

  275.BG intercedes with Eisenhower on Nixon’s behalf. Graham, interview, March 5, 1989.

  276.BG urges Nixon to attend church. Letter, BG to Nixon, November 19, 1959, CN 74, MF Reel 1, from Box 299 (Pre-Presidential Papers of Richard Nixon, National Archives and Record Service), BGCA. Unless otherwise indicated, all correspondence between BG and Nixon and White House staffers referred to in this chapter is found in this collection.

  276.“This is a time” . . . “roared with laughter.” The quote from Graham is a reconstruction of two reports, one in a story by Bill Lamkin, Charlotte Observer, May 21, 1960, and the other in an unidentified newspaper clipping, May 21, 1960, included in file of correspondence between Graham and Nixon.

  276.BG willing to endorse Nixon on Meet the Press. Memo, Leonard W. Hall to RN, May 23, 1960.

  276.BG on the U-2 and Communist attempts to affect election. Letter, BG to RN, May 27, 1960.

  277.BG recommends Judd as Nixon’s running mate. Letter, BG to RN, June 21, 1960.

  277.Grady claims Catholics prayed for BG’s death. UP1, Charlotte Observer and Chattanooga Free Press, August 8,1960; AP, in Gastonia, North Carolina, Gazette, August 10, 1960; and Columbia, South Carolina, State, August 13, 1960. If this allegation was not an invention of Wilson’s, and it seems unlikely that it was, it was probably based on a report relayed to the Graham organization by missionaries in South America. Given the animosity that often existed between Protestant missionaries and local Catholic authorities, it is difficult to rule out either some sort of misguided effort by a local priest or a paranoid reaction by a missionary to some unfounded rumor. In fact, I don’t know, and could not discover the source of this allegation. By the time I became aware of it, Grady Wilson had died. Kennedy’s request for pledge noted in letter, R. Ferm to E. Loren Pugsley, July 31, 1962, CN 19 (Ferm Papers), Box 4, Folder 21 (general correspondence), BGCA.

  277.Salinger’s denial, Columbia State, August 13, 1960.

  277.LBJ: JFK “obviously impressed by your attitude.” BG to LBJ, August 8, 1960; LBJ to BG, August 16, 1960. Box 227a (“Billy Graham”), White House Central Files (WHCF), Lyndon Baines Johnson Library Archives (LBJLA). Unless otherwise noted, all correspondence between BG and LBJ is from this file.

  278.“This conference” . . . “minds of millions.” Letter, BG to RN, August 23, 1960.

  278.King: JFK lacks “depthed understanding.” Taylor Branch, Parting the Waters: America in the King Years, 1954–63 (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1988), p. 314.

  278.“I think I at least neutralized him.” Letter, BG to RN, August 23, 1960.

  278.Kennedy aids King’s release from prison. For an extended description of the efforts of both parties to win the black vote without alienating whites, see Branch, Parting the Waters, pp. 347–76.

  278.“a question as to your religious convictions.” Letter, BG to RN, August 23, 1960.

  279.“states in your column.” Letter, BG to RN, August 23, 1960.

  278.“keep Kennedy and Johnson off-balance.” Letter, BG to Eisenhower, August 4, 1960, CN 74, Box 1, Folder 12, BGCA.

  278.BG “delighted to cooperate.” Letter, BG to RN, August 23, 1960.

  280.BG in West Berlin. UPI stories, September 27, 28, 1960, and AP stories, September 25, 29, 1960, all in Charlotte Observer.

  280.Ockenga’s sermon on religion and politics. Religion, Politics, and the Presidency (Sea Cliff, N.Y. Christ’s Mission, 1960), a sermon preached at Park Street Church, Boston, June 5, 1960.

  281.Bell’s warnings against Catholic domination. Speech, “Protestant Distinctives and the American Crisis,” reprint, in CN 19 (Ferm Papers), Box 9, Folder 8 (Materials regarding Catholicism), BGCA. The speech was apparently given at least twice, on August 21, 1960, in Montreat and on September 7, 1960, in Washington.

  281.NAE concerns over a Catholic president. Ford pamphlet filed in CN 19 (Ferm Papers), Box 9, Folder 9, BGCA. NAE plan of action located in 1960 Campaign Files, Religious Issues files of James Wine, John F. Kennedy Pre-Presidential Papers, Box 1018, John F. Kennedy Library Archives (JFKLA).

  281.Christianity Today warns of Catholic opppresion. See, for example, Christianity Today, February 1, 1960, p. 20; J
une 20; 1960, p. 31; October 24, 1960, p. 25.

  281.BGEA flyer. Contained in Wine Files, Box 1018, JFKLA.

  281.Anti-Kennedy sentiment at Wheaton College. Lowell D. Streiker and Gerald S. Strober, Religion and the New Majority: Billy Graham, Middle America, and the Politics of the 70’s (New York: Association Press, 1972), pp. 60–61.

  281.JFK could not withstand Roman hierarchy. Theodore Sorenson, Kennedy (New York: Harper & Row, 1965), p. 188.

  282.Oxnam and Blake “uneasy” about Kennedy. Mark Silk, Spiritual Politics (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1988), pp. 121–22.

  282.“The Roman Catholic Church will take advantage of this.” Letter, BG to Eisenhower, August 4, 1960, CN 71, Box 1, Folder 12, BGCA. Dr. Bell had made this same point in his speech, “Protestant Distinctives.”

  282.BG’s statement to Time and Newsweek. Statement was dated August 28, 1960. A reprint was attached to a letter from BG to RN on the same date.

  282.BG “detaching myself” . . . “at this time.” Letter, BG to RN, September 1, 1960.

  283.“Kennedy’s tactic” . . . “wait for the developments.” Letter, BG to RN, September 24, 1960. BG barely missed the barrage of criticism aimed at Peale. He had been scheduled to appear at the meeting, labeled the Study Conference on the Relationship of Religion and Freedom, but, for whatever reason, did not.

  283.“shut the mouth of your opponent.” Letter, BG to RN, October 17, 1960.

  284.“I think this makes a hell of a lot of sense.” Memo, RN to Len Hall and Bob Finch, October 5, 1960. This memo refers not to the October 17 letter from BG but to similar recommendations contained in his letter of September 24.

  284.“Graham continued to be vexed” . . . “praying needs to be done.” Letter, BG to RN, October 17, 1960.

  284.BG felt obliged to Luce. Graham, interview, March 6, 1989.

  284.BG’s article for Life. Unpublished manuscript, submitted to Life, CN 74, MF Reel 1, BGCA.

  284.BG consults politically astute friends. Letter, BG to RN, June 21, 1961, explaining the episode to RN, who wanted full details for use in writing his book, My Six Crises.

  286.“I had peace.” Letter, BG to RN, June 21, 1961. Other letters pertinent to the Life article include Luce to BG, September 19 and December 9, 1960; BG to Luce, October 16 and 24, 1960; BG to RN, July 17, 1960; RN to BG, August 18, 1960, BG private files, Montreat. The second article ran as “We Are Electing a President of the World,” Life, November 7, 1960, pp. 109–10.

  286.“I shouldn’t become involved in partisan politics.” AP, October 30, 1960.

  286.“There is a great deal of evidence” . . . “you cannot win this election.” Letter, BG to RN, November 2, 1960.

  286.“Dixie no longer in the bag.” Lowell D. Streiker and Gerald S. Strober, Religion and the New Majority: Billy Graham, Middle America, and the Politics of the 70’s (New York: Association Press, 1972), p. 61.

  286.“believe your great campaign . . . in the future” Telegram, BG to RN, November 9, 1960.

  286.“I understand there is to be a recount” Charlotte News, November 19, 1960.

  287.BG explains luncheon with Kennedy. Memo, JDH (unidentified) to RN, November 23, 1960, CN 74, MF Reel 1 from Box 299 (Pre-Presidential Papers of Richard Nixon, National Archives and Record Services), BGCA.

  287.Kennedy’s curiosity about the Second Coming. Sermon, Washington, D.C., May 4, 1986; also, Billy Graham, “Billy Graham’s Own Story: ‘God Is My Witness,’” Part III, McCall’s, June 1964, p. 145.

  287.BG “tried to walk the middle line.” Graham, interview, March 26, 1987.

  287.“Dr. Graham hails Kennedy victory.” The New York Times, January 17, 1961. In the copy of this article contained in Nixon’s Pre-Presidential Papers, a Nixon staff member had circled the headline before routing it to his boss.

  288.Photographs for personal use only. Letter, Pierre Salinger to Jack Ledden (photographer, Palm Beach Post-Times), February 24, 1961. Letters, White House Names File, Billy Graham, JFKLA.

  288.“probably the best and most effective statement . . .” “Ck for sure that his wife’s name is Ruth.” Draft of letter, RN to BG, January 15, 1961.

  288.RN requests explanation of BG’s decision on Life article. Letter, RN to BG, May 31, 1961.

  288.“The more I listened . . . I had hoped you would say.” Letter, BG to RN, June 12, 1961.

  289.BG fears he has offended Nixon. Letter, BG to RN, June 21, 1961.

  289.“The Life article should have been published.” Letter, RN to BG, August 17, 1961.

  289.BG recommends a goodwill press conference. Letter, BG to RN, November 11, 1962.

  289.“There are few men I have loved as I love you.” Ibid.

  Chapter 18: The Kennedy Years

  290.“A decade of marathon campaigns . . . students.” As early as the mid-1950s, BG began to predict that his life and ministry would be short.

  290.JFK “will be your John the Baptist.” BG, interview, March 26, 1987. The incident is recounted in several newspaper articles, including a story by Eustaquio Ramientos, Jr., “Billy Graham a Great American,” Quezon City, Philippines, Examiner-News Weekly, March 1963, CN 360, MF Reel 50, BGCA.

  291.“Stick around and try to get some pictures.” Russ Busby, interview, April 30, 1986.

  291.BG in Venezuela. AP stories, in Charlotte Observer, January 23,24, and 25, and February 2, 1962; Sandra Hill, story in Charlotte News, January 30, 1962; Norman Mydske (a BGEA operative who has specialized in Latin American ministry), interview, November 25, 1987; Russ Busby (BGEA photographer), interview, April 30, 1986.

  291.Storm in Paraguay. Charles Ward, interview, October 21, 1986.

  292.BG’s impact on South American Evangelicalism. Dr. Kenneth Strachan, as quoted by Mydske, interview, November 25, 1987.

  292.BG invited by a rising vote. The chair of the meeting was Herbert J. Taylor, who had sponsored Bev Shea and supported Youth for Christ years earlier. Letter, H. J. Taylor to BG, May 18, 1960, in CN 17 (BGEA Vice-President, 1954–1977), Box 2, Folder 23, Chicago 1962, BGCA.

  292.BG returns to Soldier Field for dramatic TV finale. Chuck Ashman, The Gospel According to Billy (Secaucus, N.J.: Lyle Stuart, 1977), pp. 131–34; Pollock, Authorized Biography, pp. 237–39.

  294.Beginnings of the Billy Graham School of Evangelism. John Pollock, Billy Graham: The Authorized Biography (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1966), pp. 234–36; George Wilson, interview, August 3, 1987; Victor Nelson, interview, August 5, 1987; John Dillon (dean of the Billy Graham School of Evangelism), interview, April 30, 1987.

  294.T. W. Wilson becomes BG’s personal assistant. Wilson, interview, February 27, 1987. Wilson told essentially the same story in his oral history, CN 141, Box 8, Folder 12, BGCA.

  296.BG is stranded in a truck stop. Grady Wilson, Count It All Joy (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1984), pp. 244–47; Mary Bishop, Billy Graham: The Man and His Ministry (New York: Grosser & Dunlap, 1978), pp. 76–77; UPI, in Charlotte Observer, March 20, 1965.

  296.Franklin learns to smoke. Patricia Daniels Cornwell, A Time for Remembering: The Ruth Bell Graham Story (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1983), pp. 163–64.

  297.“I’ll have a cheeseburger.” Ibid., p. 143.

  297.Franklin and Ned on love. Ruth Graham, It’s My Turn (Old Tappan, N.J.: Fleming H. Revell, 1982), p. 119.

  297.“He’s a pretty good little boy.” Ibid., p. 20.

  298.GiGi’s courtship. GiGi Tchividjian, interview, October 25, 1990.

  299.BG sets Los Angeles Coliseum record. Pollock, Authorized Biography, p. 253.

  300.Fundamentalists object to Bishop Kennedy doubts about deity of Jesus. Gerald Kennedy, God’s Good News (New York: Harper Bros., 1955), p. 125, quoted in Charles Emert, Billy Graham’s 23 Years of Theological Change, ed. D. A. Waite (Collingswood, N.J.: Bible for Today, 1971), p. 13.

  300.Kennedy on Virgin Birth. Letter from Kennedy to R. T. Ketcham, quoted in Emert, 23 Years of Change, p. 37.

  300.“farthest reach yet.” Anonymous mimeogr
aphed document, “Bishop Gerald Kennedy to Head Billy Graham Los Angeles Campaign in 1963,” in CN 19 (Ferm Papers), Box 6, Folder 18 (Southern California), BGCA.

  300.Ferm answers critics. Letters, Ferm to C. H. Lewis, July 12, 1963, and the Reverend Gunnar Hoglund, October 30, 1963, in CN 19 (Ferm Papers), Box 4, Folder 29, BGCA.

  300.Changes in BG’s concept of the church. Billy Graham, “What Ten Years Have Taught Me,” Christian Century, February 17, 1960, pp. 186, 188.

  301.Ferm defends BG’s relationship with Catholics: “Catholic priests do not attend” . . . “the Roman communion.” Letter, Ferm to E. Loren Pugsley, Newton, Kansas, July 31, 1962, CN 19 (Ferm Papers), Box 4, Folder 21 (General Correspondence), BGCA.

  301.Pope John “a rare exception.” Letter, Ferm to Murray W. Downey, CN 19 (Ferm Papers), Box 4, Folder 34 (Correspondence, May 1964), BGCA.

  301.BG’s attitudes on race, insistence on integrated crusades. Letters, Douglas M. Branch, general secretary of North Carolina Baptist Convention, to Haymaker, November 28, 1961; Haymaker to Branch, November 22, 1961; James J. Steward, Jr., to Branch, November 29, 1961, all in CN 1 (Haymaker Papers), Box 5, Folder 13, BGCA; Haymaker to Harold G. Sanders, pastor of First Baptist Church, Tallahassee, November 11, 1960, CN 1 (Haymaker Papers), Box 4, Folder 18, BGCA; Florida Times-Union Qacksonville), January 15, 1961; Keesing’s Research Report, Race Relations in the U.S.A., 1954–1968 (New York, 1970), pp. 146–50; the New York Times, May 18, 1961; Letter, Gordon Clark to Carl F. H. Henry, July 21, 1961, CN 8 (CT Collection), Box 15, Folder 13, BGCA, all cited in Jerry Berl Hopkins, “Billy Graham and the Race Problem” (Ph.D. diss., University of Kentucky, 1986), pp. 108–12. During this period, the AP and UP1 carried other similar expressions of the need for churchmen to take a leading role in desegregating churches and defusing racial tensions.

  301.“Jim Crow must go . . . too far and too fast.” Chicago Sun-Times, May 31, 1962, quoted in Hopkins, “Race Problem,” p. 112; also, AP, in Charlotte Observer, July 9, 1961.

  301.BG feels King should “put on the brakes.” The New York Times, April 18, 1963, p. 21.