Description

William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr.(bornNovember 7, 1918) is an American evangelical Christianevangelist,ordained as a Southern Baptist minister, who rose tocelebritystatus in 1949 reaching a core constituency ofmiddle-class,moderately conservative Protestants. He held largeindoor andoutdoor rallies; sermons were broadcast on radio andtelevision,some still being re-broadcast today. In his six decadesoftelevision, Graham is principally known for hosting theannualBilly Graham Crusades, which he began in 1947, until heconcludedin 2005, at the time of his retirement. He also hosted thepopularradio show Hour of Decision from 1950 to 1954. Herepudiatedsegregation and, in addition to his religious aims,helped shapethe worldview of fundamentalists and evangelicals,leading them toappreciate the relationship between the Bible andcontemporarysecular viewpoints.

Graham was a spiritual adviser to American presidents; hewasparticularly close to Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson(oneof Graham's closest friends) and Richard Nixon. He insistedonintegration for his revivals and crusades in 1953 andinvitedMartin Luther King, Jr. to preach jointly at a revival inNew YorkCity in 1957. Graham bailed King out of jail in the 1960swhen Kingwas arrested in demonstrations. He was also lifelongfriends withanother televangelist, Robert H. Schuller, whom Grahamtalked intodoing his own television ministry.[citationneeded]

Graham operates a variety of media and publishing outlets.Accordingto his staff, more than 3.2 million people have respondedto theinvitation at Billy Graham Crusades to "accept Jesus Christas theirpersonal savior". As of 2008, Graham's estimated lifetimeaudience,including radio and television broadcasts, topped 2.2billion.Because of his crusades, Graham has preached the gospel tomorepeople in person than anyone in the history ofChristianity.

Graham has repeatedly been on Gallup's list of most admired menandwomen. He has appeared on the list 60 times since 1955, morethanany other individual in the world. Grant Wacker reports that bythemid-1960s, he had become the "Great Legitimator":

By then his presence conferred status on presidents,acceptabilityon wars, shame on racial prejudice, desirability ondecency,dishonor on indecency, and prestige on civic events.