Michael Brooks
William Franklin Graham Jr., commonly known as Billy Graham, was an American evangelist, ordained Southern Baptist minister, and civil rights advocate. Graham's career spanned over six decades, during which he rose to prominence as an evangelical Christian figure in the United States and abroad. He was known for filling stadiums and massive venues around the world, with his sermons often being broadcast via radio and television. Graham was also a political figure, counselling Democratic and Republican presidents and playing a role in Richard Nixon's 1960 election. Despite being a registered Democrat, he supported Nixon, a Quaker, due to their shared anti-communist views and sympathies regarding American foreign policy. Graham's relationship with Catholicism and Judaism has been a subject of interest. While he was not a Catholic, Graham had friendships with prominent Catholics and was known for his ecumenical approach, which extended beyond his personal Baptist allegiances. However, Graham's legacy is marred by allegations of anti-Semitism. Tapes from the Nixon Library revealed that Graham held anti-Semitic views, expressing negative sentiments towards Jews in private conversations with Nixon. Despite initially denying these accusations, Graham eventually apologised and expressed remorse for his remarks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Anti-Semitic | Some sources claim that Billy Graham was anti-Semitic, as revealed in tapes of a conversation with President Nixon in 1972. However, others argue that there is no evidence of such sentiments in his archives or ministry. Graham himself apologized for his comments and tried to repair relationships with Jewish leaders. |
| Catholic | Billy Graham was not Catholic. He was a Protestant who received an honorary degree from the Roman Catholic school Belmont Abbey College. |
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What You'll Learn
Billy Graham's anti-Semitic comments in a 1972 conversation with President Nixon
Billy Graham was a prominent American evangelist who was known for his pro-Israel stance and his close relationships with several US presidents, including Richard Nixon. However, in 2002, tapes from the Nixon Library revealed anti-Semitic comments made by Graham during a conversation with Nixon in 1972.
In the tapes, Graham is heard expressing agreement with Nixon's assertions that liberal Jews were trying to undermine his presidency and the welfare of the nation. Graham also criticizes the media and popular culture, aligning himself with Nixon's view that Jews played a prominent role in these spheres. Specifically, Graham refers to the Jewish “stranglehold" on the media, stating that "this stranglehold has got to be broken or this country's going down the drain."
In addition to the comments made in 1972, further Nixon tapes released in 2009 revealed that Graham referred to a group of Jewish journalists as "the synagogue of Satan" in a 1973 conversation.
Following the release of the tapes, Graham issued a public apology for his remarks, stating that he had no memory of the occasion but deeply regretted the comments. He asserted that the comments did not reflect his views and expressed sincere apologies for any offense caused. Graham's spokesperson also denied any accusations of anti-Semitism, claiming that the evangelist had never been an anti-Semite.
While Graham's comments caused controversy and sparked debates about his true sentiments, it is important to consider the context of his close relationship with Nixon and the political landscape of the time. Graham's support for Israel and his interactions with Jewish communities throughout his life also complicate the interpretation of these comments.
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Graham's relationship with Nixon
Billy Graham, a renowned American evangelist, established close relationships with several US presidents, including Richard Nixon. Graham and Nixon first met when the latter was Vice President under Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the two became friends. Graham supported Nixon, a Quaker, in the 1960 presidential election, despite being a registered Democrat himself. He convened a strategy session with other evangelical leaders in Switzerland to plan how to oppose Nixon's Roman Catholic opponent, John F. Kennedy.
Graham and Nixon shared a traditional approach to Christianity and a firm anti-communist stance. Graham supported the Vietnam War and America's Cold War policy, even encouraging Nixon in a 1969 letter to bomb the dikes in North Vietnam if peace talks failed, an action that would have killed an estimated one million people. Graham also regularly extolled Nixon's spiritual depth and ethical integrity, qualities many others failed to perceive in the president.
Graham and Nixon's relationship is perhaps most famously documented through the White House Tapes, a series of recordings from the Nixon administration. These tapes include a conversation on February 1, 1972, where Nixon ranted against liberal Jews whom he saw as trying to undermine his presidency and the nation's welfare. Graham appeared to agree with Nixon's assertions, expressing his own criticism of the media and popular culture.
In 1973, as Nixon's presidency unravelled amid the Watergate scandal, Graham reviewed transcripts of Oval Office recordings and expressed disgust at his friend's foul language. Following the scandal, Graham continued to support Nixon, officiating at the funeral services of former First Lady Pat Nixon in 1993 and the state funeral of Richard Nixon in 1994.
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Graham's pro-Israel stance
Billy Graham was a vocal supporter of Israel, and his visits to the country in the 1960s helped to raise its profile among American evangelicals. In 1960, Graham embarked on an 18,000-mile preaching tour of Africa and the Middle East, which included a trip to Israel. There, he met with then-Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and assured him that he had no intention of proselytizing to Jews. He also expressed gratitude to Israel for producing Jesus, to whom he had dedicated his life. This trip to Israel signalled a shift for evangelicals in their views of the country.
Graham continued to advocate for Israel throughout his career. In 1967, after the Six-Day War, he told the Anti-Defamation League that he envisioned Jerusalem as an undivided Jewish city and called for evangelical-Jewish dialogue. He urged Israeli leaders not to yield to diplomatic pressures that could endanger the country's security. Graham also opposed Key 73, an interdenominational campaign to convert American Jews, and he supported the release of Soviet Jewry and encouraged their immigration to Israel.
Graham received awards from the organized Jewish community and was honoured by Israeli officials. In 1960, Prime Minister Golda Meir held an official luncheon in his honour, and she presented him with a Bible inscribed, "To a great teacher in all the important matters to humanity and a true friend of Israel." Graham also received awards from the American Jewish community, including the Big Brother of the Year Award for his work on behalf of children.
Despite his public support for Israel, Graham made anti-Semitic remarks in private conversations with US President Richard Nixon, which were revealed in tapes released by the Nixon Library in 2002. In these conversations, Graham agreed with Nixon's negative stereotypes about Jews and their role in the media and popular culture. However, Graham later apologized for these remarks and expressed remorse, and his apology was accepted by Jewish community leaders.
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Graham's awards and accolades
Billy Graham received numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. Graham was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1983 by US President Ronald Reagan. He also received the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Freedom Award in 2000 for his lasting contributions to the cause of freedom. In 1974, Graham was honoured with the George Washington Medal Award for Patriotism by the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge. In 1996, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honour bestowed by Congress on a private citizen. Graham was also the recipient of the Templeton Foundation Prize for Progress in Religion and the Sylvanus Thayer Award for his commitment to "Duty, Honor, Country".
Graham was also recognised for his work with children, receiving the Big Brother of the Year Award. He was further honoured by the George Washington Carver Memorial Institute for his contributions to race relations, receiving their Gold Award in 1964. In addition, Graham was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999, recognising his significant influence on Christian music artists.
Graham was also bestowed with honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 2001, becoming an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) for his contributions to civic and religious life. He also received numerous honorary degrees, including an honorary degree from Belmont Abbey College, a Roman Catholic school, in 1967, making him the first Protestant to receive such an honour. Graham was also recognised by Hollywood, receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989, the first clergyman to be honoured in this way.
Graham's literary works also received recognition, with several of his books becoming bestsellers and winning awards. His book "Angels: God's Secret Agents" topped The New York Times bestseller list and received the ECPA Platinum Book Award. Another book, "Peace with God", sold over 2 million copies and was translated into 38 languages.
Billy Graham was also included in Gallup's list of the "Ten Most Admired Men in the World" an impressive 61 times, the most of any personality in the poll's history.
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Graham's anti-LGBTQ views
Billy Graham was a prominent evangelical Christian preacher and a figure of some controversy due to his views on social issues, including his stance on LGBTQ+ rights. While he never explicitly labeled himself as an anti-LGBTQ+ activist, his comments and actions have been interpreted by many as reflecting a deep-seated bias against the community.
Graham's views on homosexuality were rooted in his traditional interpretation of Christian scripture. He believed that homosexual acts were sinful and contrary to God's design for human sexuality. In a 1974 interview with Playboy magazine, Graham stated, "I think God will have to deal with the problem of homosexuality, just as he will have to deal with adultery, theft, and lying. They are all sins in God's eyes." While he acknowledged that homosexuality may be influenced by genetic or environmental factors, he maintained that it was ultimately a choice that people made.
Graham's opposition to LGBTQ+ rights was most prominently displayed in his support for anti-gay legislation. In the 1970s, he backed Anita Bryant's "Save Our Children" campaign, which sought to repeal a local ordinance in Miami, Florida, that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. In a full-page newspaper ad, Graham wrote, "I urge you to stand firmly for God's moral and ethical standards as revealed in His Word, the Bible, and do everything you can to defeat the forces that are trying to legalize sin." The campaign ultimately succeeded in repealing the anti-discrimination ordinance.
In the 1990s, Graham again voiced his opposition to LGBTQ+ rights when he supported a North Carolina state amendment that would have banned gay marriage and prohibited local governments from offering domestic partnership benefits to same-sex couples. In a letter to a local newspaper, Graham wrote, "I believe God's law and definition of marriage should be upheld and honored across our land, and that the Bible's teaching on the family should be confirmed and adopted as the standard for our nation."
While Graham's views on homosexuality were rooted in his religious beliefs, he was also criticized for contributing to a climate of discrimination and hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community. His public comments and support for anti-gay legislation were seen by many as legitimizing prejudice and encouraging marginalization. Despite this, Graham never publicly expressed regret or apologized for his stance on LGBTQ+ rights, even as societal attitudes toward the community underwent significant shifts in later years.
It is important to note that Graham's views on certain social issues, including his opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, have been a source of contention and have complicated his legacy. While he was influential in spreading evangelical Christianity and was respected by many, his stance on this matter has been a point of criticism and has contributed to a mixed assessment of his impact on society.
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Frequently asked questions
Billy Graham was accused of anti-Semitism after White House tapes from 1972 revealed him agreeing with President Nixon's anti-Semitic views. In the tapes, Graham is heard agreeing with Nixon's rant against liberal Jews, stating that Jews played prominent roles in the media and popular culture. Graham later apologized for his comments, saying they did not reflect his views.
Billy Graham was not Catholic. He was a Protestant and a registered Democrat. He supported Nixon, a Quaker, in the 1960 presidential election against Nixon's Roman Catholic opponent, Senator John F. Kennedy.
Billy Graham was known for his support of Israel. In 1960, he visited Israel and was presented with a Bible by Prime Minister Golda Meir, who called him "a true friend of Israel." Graham also publicly opposed a campaign to convert the Jews of America, stating that God has always had a special relationship with the Jewish people.
