Graham’s Crusades for Christ were a regular fixture on tv for much of my early life. His organization presented specials that ran a couple times a year.
I always enjoyed hearing his sermons. He created a wonderful organization that transformed many lives.
Billy: I am here Jesus, I am awaiting my paradise!
Jesus: Look Bill, you did my work pretty good…but you were kiiiiiiind of an asshole about it…
I’m ambivalent about him. On one hand, he seems to be quite sincere in his beliefs and he wasn’t one of these “send my money and I’ll have God bless you” televangelists. On the other, he seemed to be an “America! Fuck yeah!” kind of guy. I don’t think fervent nationalism and Christianity are compatible. Plus, he afflicted the world with Franklin Graham, who has a vicious anti-gay and pro-Republican agenda.
He also praised T***p on many occasions, another trait incompatible with Christianity.
Screw him. He was Nixon’s Holy Roller lap dog.
To be fair, he preached with Martin Luther King and he wouldn’t preach in South Africa unless the crowds were integrated. On race relations, he was quite a bit ahead of his time.
Graham has been frail for quite a few years. He hasn’t been involved in the National discourse for over a decade. It’s probably closer to two decades since he was regularly seen on tv in the news.
So many evangelists got caught up in scandal. Jimmy Swaggart and Jim & Tammy Faye Baker being the most notorious examples.
Billy was the exception that wasn’t in it for the money or fame. He preached salvation through Christ and that message never wavered throughout his seventy year ministry.
Bully for him. He’s still playin’ cribbage in Hell with Billy Sunday right now, and the deck is missing all the Jacks.
I don’t think it’s all that fair to blame the parents for how the kids turned out. Especially kids of famous parents. I think Billy would be somewhat appalled by how Franklin is acting if he had been in his right mind the last few years.
I was sure that Billy Graham would make it to 100 or more. Almost, but not quite, I guess.
Billy Graham and gangster Mickey Cohen…
Loved him in the WWF. 
Christopher Hitchens called him a “religious valet” to the presidents.
Don’t know anything about his religious work, but I always liked his crackers.
The Dope weighed in a few years ago: Billy Graham; he’s one of the good guys, right?
Graham crackers were originally invented by a Presbyterian minister to prevent masturbation*, so you’re not to far off the mark.
*They were originally blander. Exciting food = Satan fuel, was the thinking.
If he did the first quote, then the second quote wouldn’t be true.
A good quote that may show how different Billy was from his son, Franklin:
And furthermore:
I believe both quotes arise from a February 1981 cover story in Parade magazine
If you are ever so unfortunate to have to visit the Metropolitan (traffic) Court of Los Angeles, you’ll find that the entrance is plays host to this plaque. It doesn’t make the experience any less unpleasant.
Say ‘Hi’ to my Daddy, Rev. Graham.
He loved you with his whole drunken, gambling self.
Jesus was also his friend, so I am fairly certain he’s playing ponies up there somewhere. He always said the track was like heaven, to him.