Graham praised by Trump, politicians as 'America's pastor'

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praised by Trump, politicians as 'America's pastor' 16 / 34

Associated Press
By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press2 hrs ago
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The Associated Press President Donald Trump touches the casket of Rev. Billy Graham, who died last week at age 99, during a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda where he will lie in honor as a tribute to America's m…
WASHINGTON — The nation's political leaders bowed their heads for a solemn salute Wednesday to the Rev. Billy Graham in the soaring Capitol Rotunda, paying tribute to a man who ministered to presidents and other Americans of both parties.

"Here lies America's pastor," said House Speaker Paul Ryan, gesturing to Graham's casket under the eye of the dome, surrounded by family, friends, lawmakers and a ring of paintings of the nation's founders. "He ministered to all walks, from some of the greats whose statues line this hall_Eisenhower, King, Ford, and Reagan_to the everyday citizens lining up today to pay their respects."

President Donald Trump said his father was an admirer of Graham's and that the "legendary" American figure deserved to be recognized in the place "where the memory of the American people is enshrined."

Graham's influence stretched far beyond the city where he counseled lawmakers to a global flock over the better part of seven decades.

"The man we recognize today shared the Gospel with more people, face-to-face, than anyone else in history," said Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

As the leaders stood by the casket, Trump reached out to touch the bare wood and Ryan bowed his head.

Graham died a week earlier at age 99. Some 30 family members are accompanying Graham's casket to Washington, where he befriended presidents of both parties and counseled others over seven decades. Graham's son, Franklin, tweeted a photo Wednesday of family members loading the casket onto a jet emblazoned with "Samaritan's Purse," the name of a Christian relief charity that he chairs.

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Slide 1 of 9: MONTREAT, NC - JULY 25: Evangelist Billy Graham at his home in the mountains of Montreat, July 25, 2006 near Asheville, North Carolina. Billy and Ruth Graham see out their days reading, watching the latest news and playing with their dogs, Paula (white), China and Theo at the Little Piney Cove homestead, where the Blue Ridge meets the Black Mountain range east of Asheville.
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1/9 SLIDES  Charles Ommanney/Getty Images

The Rev. Billy Graham, a renowned Christian evangelist who served as an adviser to several U.S. presidents, died February 21, 2018 at the age of 99. Here, we look at photos from his life and career.
Pictured: Billy Graham at his home on  July 25, 2006 near Asheville, North Carolina. 

2/9 SLIDES  Werner Kreusch/File/AP Photo

Billy Graham speaks to over 100,000 Berliners at the Olympic Stadium on June 27, 1954 in Berlin, Germany. 

3/9 SLIDES  Harry Fox/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

Billy Graham speaks to a crowd at Earls Court, London on June 30, 1967.

4/9 SLIDES  Francois Lochon/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Graham is seen at an event in Paris on September 20, 1986.

5/9 SLIDES  The Denver Post/Getty Images

Billy Graham speaks to a large crowd on July 19, 1987.

6/9 SLIDES  ADN-Bildarchiv/ullstein bild/Getty Images

Billy Graham delivers a sermon at Berlin (East-Berlin) Gethsemane-church in 1990.

7/9 SLIDES  Charles Ommanney/Getty Images

Billy Graham meets privately with then-presidential candidate George W. Bush on November 5, 2000 in Jacksonville, Florida.

8/9 SLIDES  Charles Ommanney/Getty Images

Billy Graham preaches during his New York Crusade at Flushing Meadows Park on June 24, 2005 in Queens, New York.

9/9 SLIDES  Gerry Broome/Getty Images

Billy Graham speaks during a dedication ceremony for the Billy Graham Library on, May 31, 2007, in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

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Graham is lying in honor before a funeral Friday near his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Rotunda entrances were draped with black fabric, and Graham's casket rested on a black-draped catafalque beneath the soaring ceiling and its painting, the "Apotheosis of Washington."


Though he met every president since Harry Truman and counseled most, Graham grew wary of politics after Watergate. He was closest to Richard Nixon but later said he felt used by him.

Nonetheless, Graham ministered to other presidents until his health began to fail about 10 years ago.

Former President Bill Clinton recalled seeing one of Graham's crusades as a child, a profound experience that became more amazing over his life. Graham counseled him as Arkansas governor, and later as president in the White House itself.

"In that little room, he was the same person I saw when I was 11 on that football field," Clinton said Tuesday after viewing the casket at Graham's home.

Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, also visited Graham's home on Tuesday.

In Washington, Ryan said there had been no doubt that Graham would receive the honor of a public viewing in the Rotunda. He told reporters that almost immediately upon hearing of Graham's death he, Trump, McConnell and Rep. Patrick McHenry, who represents the Graham family's district, agreed it would happen.

Graham shares the honor with 11 presidents and other distinguished Americans, starting with Sen. Henry Clay of Kentucky in 1852 and, most recently, Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii in 2012, according to the House and the Architect of the Capitol.

Graham is only the fourth private person to lie in honor since 1998. The others are two U.S. Capitol Police officers who died in the line of duty in 1998 and civil rights hero Rosa Parks in 2005.

Trump met Graham at the pastor's 95th birthday party in 2013, but is closer to Franklin Graham Jr.

On Friday, Trump was to attend Graham's funeral near his library in Charlotte, North Carolina. Former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush will not be there, meaning no former presidents will attend the funeral.