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  3. The late evangelist Billy Graham was a regular presence in the White House and befriended numerous presidents - as well as the Queen of England

The late evangelist Billy Graham was a regular presence in the White House and befriended numerous presidents - as well as the Queen of England

In 1950, 31-year-old Graham met with Harry Truman to talk about combatting communism in North Korea. But this first presidential encounter didn't end well. Graham shared details of the conversation with the press, and Truman severed their fledgling relationship.

The late evangelist Billy Graham was a regular presence in the White House and befriended numerous presidents - as well as the Queen of England

But Graham got his second chance with Dwight Eisenhower, whom he helped craft an inaugural prayer. During the 1957 Little Rock Crisis, when African American students were prevented from attending Little Rock Central High School, Graham reportedly urged the president to intervene. In later years, the preacher and the president prayed together before the latter's death in 1968.

But Graham got his second chance with Dwight Eisenhower, whom he helped craft an inaugural prayer. During the 1957 Little Rock Crisis, when African American students were prevented from attending Little Rock Central High School, Graham reportedly urged the president to intervene. In later years, the preacher and the president prayed together before the latter

Graham didn't just stick to American leaders. In 1955, he met Queen Elizabeth II — an event depicted on the Netflix show "The Crown." He delivered a sermon for her in the royal family's chapel on Easter Sunday. "She is unquestionably one of the best-informed people on world affairs I have ever met," he later wrote in his book "Just As I Am." In 2001, he was given an honorary knighthood.

Graham didn

During the 1960 presidential election, Graham opposed John F. Kennedy, and supported Richard Nixon. He reportedly attended a meeting of Protestant leaders in Switzerland, who were intent on stopping the politician from ascending to the White House, on account of his Roman Catholic faith. After Kennedy won, however, he invited Graham to various golf outings and meetings. Graham's views toward ecumenism evolved overtime, and he ultimately met with Pope John Paul II in 1981.

During the 1960 presidential election, Graham opposed John F. Kennedy, and supported Richard Nixon. He reportedly attended a meeting of Protestant leaders in Switzerland, who were intent on stopping the politician from ascending to the White House, on account of his Roman Catholic faith. After Kennedy won, however, he invited Graham to various golf outings and meetings. Graham

In the wake of Kennedy's assassination, Lyndon B. Johnson turned to Graham for guidance, and the two forged a close bond. "I almost used the White House as a hotel when Johnson was President," Graham said, according to his biographer Marshall Frady. "He was always trying to keep me there." Johnson would excuse himself for cursing in the minister's presence, and ask him to come kneel at his bedside and pray for him. Graham stayed with Johnson during his last night in the White House, and remained through the first night of Nixon's presidency.

In the wake of Kennedy

Graham had known Nixon for years before he became president. When Nixon was elected, the minister led the president's private worship sessions, and said he had one of the most "brilliant minds." After Watergate broke, the preacher wrote a New York Times oped criticizing Nixon, but the two reconciled in later years. But when the Nixon tapes were declassified in 2002 and 2009, it was revealed that Graham had been recorded agreeing with many of Nixon's anti-Semitic sentiments, and suggesting Jews had a "stranglehold" on the media. He apologized for the remarks, and asked for forgiveness in a meeting with American Jewish leaders, saying he was "wrong for not disagreeing with the president."

Graham had known Nixon for years before he became president. When Nixon was elected, the minister led the president

Of Ford, Graham said, "He was always to me a man of tremendous integrity," according to the book "Ask Billy Graham." The two played golf together, and met for a session of prayer after Ford's inauguration. The book "The Faiths of the Postwar Presidents" indicates that the president's advisors wanted to distance him from the preacher due to his association with Nixon. Graham may have urged Ford to pardon Nixon.

Of Ford, Graham said, "He was always to me a man of tremendous integrity," according to the book "Ask Billy Graham." The two played golf together, and met for a session of prayer after Ford

Carter and Graham were both devout Southern Baptists, and Carter actually "idolized" Graham in his youth, according to David L. Holmes' "The Faiths of the Postwar Presidents." But Graham skipped Carter's first inauguration, and previously seemed to favor his rival Ford. While Carter's communication's director declared the president "wouldn't turn the White House into a Billy Graham Bible class," he did see the minister's advice on Strategic Arms Limitation Talks.

Carter and Graham were both devout Southern Baptists, and Carter actually "idolized" Graham in his youth, according to David L. Holmes

Graham met Ronald Reagan at a charity benefit 1953, long before he would become president. According to W. Terry Whalin's biography of Graham, the Hollywood actor convinced the minister that movies weren't inherently sinful. As president, Reagan invited Graham to state dinners and private prayer sessions, and awarded him the Presidential Medal of Honor.

Graham met Ronald Reagan at a charity benefit 1953, long before he would become president. According to W. Terry Whalin

Graham maintained a close relationship with George H.W. Bush. He and his wife Ruth frequently vacationed with the Bushes over the years. In the book "Billy Graham: A Tribute from Friends," the senior Bush wrote that, during his inauguration, the preacher left the parade to spent time with the president's ailing mother. He also stayed in the White House on the eve of the Gulf War.

Graham maintained a close relationship with George H.W. Bush. He and his wife Ruth frequently vacationed with the Bushes over the years. In the book "Billy Graham: A Tribute from Friends," the senior Bush wrote that, during his inauguration, the preacher left the parade to spent time with the president

Bill Clinton first encountered Graham as a 13-year-old, at one of his Little Rock crusades. He later got to know the minister as Governor of Arkansas. As president, he honored Graham and his wife Ruth after they were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Later, during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Graham supported First Lady Hillary Clinton when she forgave her husband for the widely-publicized infidelity.

Bill Clinton first encountered Graham as a 13-year-old, at one of his Little Rock crusades. He later got to know the minister as Governor of Arkansas. As president, he honored Graham and his wife Ruth after they were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Later, during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Graham supported First Lady Hillary Clinton when she forgave her husband for the widely-publicized infidelity.

George W. Bush knew Graham through his parents. The two took walks together at the Bush family vacation house in Kennebunkport, Maine. "It was the beginning to a new walk where I would recommit my heart to Jesus Christ," Bush wrote in his 1999 autobiography. But Graham never visited the younger Bush in the White House, likely partly because of his growing health issues.

George W. Bush knew Graham through his parents. The two took walks together at the Bush family vacation house in Kennebunkport, Maine. "It was the beginning to a new walk where I would recommit my heart to Jesus Christ," Bush wrote in his 1999 autobiography. But Graham never visited the younger Bush in the White House, likely partly because of his growing health issues.

When Barack Obama met Graham in 2010, he actually called upon the minister's Montreat, NC home. TIME reported that the two men prayed for one another, and that Graham gave the president two Bibles, for him and First Lady Michelle Obama. Obama had previously called Graham to wish him a happy 91st birthday.

When Barack Obama met Graham in 2010, he actually called upon the minister

Source: TIME

Graham made fewer public appearances in recent years, on account of his age on health. Graham's son Franklin has allied himself with current president Donald Trump. The Washington Post reported the younger Graham once said "I believe it was God" when asked how Trump won the presidency. After the elder Graham died, Trump tweeted: "The GREAT Billy Graham is dead. There was nobody like him! He will be missed by Christians and all religions. A very special man."

Graham made fewer public appearances in recent years, on account of his age on health. Graham
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