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Graham enjoyed a bond with president after president.
• Prominent evangelical Christian and Southern Baptist minister Billy Graham has counseled presidents over the years, from Harry Truman to Barack Obama.
• Graham got along with some presidents more than others.
• The influential minister was particularly close with Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush.
For many, Billy Graham was truly "America's Pastor."
He was certainly one of the most influential American evangelical Christians of the 20th century. He died February 21, 2018 at the age of 99.
The Southern Baptist minister earned this renown thanks to his highly influential preaching. He held massive rallies, and broadcast his sermons using a variety of media, including television, radio, and, eventually, webcasts. His religious zeal and embrace of mass media allowed him to shoot to international prominence in the late 1940s.
Given Graham's fame, it's not surprising that appeared to be a regular presence in the White House over the years. But his circle of connections wasn't limited to the United States. He met with heads of state and prominent individuals from around the world - even Queen Elizabeth II.
During his life, Graham broke boundaries, advocating for Civil Rights, befriending Martin Luther King Jr., and desegregating his "crusades." He also stirred controversy. When taped conversations between Graham and President Richard Nixon were released in 2002 and 2009, it was revealed the minister had made anti-Semitic statements.
Throughout his career, however, Graham exerted influence on the White House and beyond.
Here's a look at his history of rubbing shoulders with some of the most influential people in the world: