Most newspapers have canned obits of famous people ready to go. When I saw the Rev. Billy Graham was in the hospital several months ago, I remembered that I had shot Billy Graham Day in Charlotte, N.C., on Oct. 15, 1971. I’d better pull out those files “just in case,” I thought.
As it turned out, the Preacher to the Presidents got better and was released from the hospital. I’m happy to use the occasion of his 93rd birthday today as an excuse to run the photos.
Billy Graham Day and Richard Nixon
Billy Graham Day had several political subplots.
President Richard Nixon had appeared with Graham in Knoxville, TN., in May 1970, the first time a president had spoken on the stage with an evangelist, according to reports I’ve read. The mostly sympathetic audience’s reaction to protestors who showed up gave the President’s re-election team an idea. The Watergate hearings uncovered a plot to plant agents provocateur in the crowd to cause trouble, then have pickup trucks of “cowboys” show up to “let things happen.”
Event figured in Watergate Hearings
Apparently those shenanigans never got beyond the frat boy talking stage, but the “fake ticket” ruse WAS employed. An advance man would demand to see a protestor’s ticket, pronounce it “fake” and have him escorted away.
Nixon beams at crowd
I don’t remember anything about the President’s speech. The paper’s religion writer was along with me to cover the event, so I could concentrate on shooting and not have to worry about taking notes.
Published accounts say that he praised the minister’s family, “Let me just say this, we all think of Billy Graham as a strong man. But as I look at the Graham family, if I am asked who are stronger, Billy Graham or the women in his family, I’ll say the women every time…God made man out of the soft earth but he made woman out of a hard rib – the woman is the stronger of the two.”
Ruth Graham ambivalent
Patricia Daniels Cornwell wrote in Ruth, A Portrait: The story of Ruth Bell Graham that Mrs. Graham had her own private ambivalence about Nixon’s appearance on her husband’s platform. “I think to have [presidents] come and sit in the audience is one thing. To have them speak from the platform is another.”
“What is your affiliation, Young Man”
Bill Williams, editor of The Gastonia Gazette, thought it would be a neat story idea to send the religion writer and me over to Charlotte to the rally on a church bus to get some local flavor.
I had no sooner boarded the bus when a blue-haired, primly attired little old lady accosted me. “What is your affiliation, Young Man? she demanded.
Somewhat taken aback by her tone, but raised to be polite to my elders, I replied, “I’m with The Gastonia Gazette, Mam. Would you like to see my identification?”
“I mean your RELIGIOUS affiliation.”
Looking at me like she would look at her shoe if she sensed that she had just stepped in something unpleasant, and speaking slowly and enunciating clearly because it had just become obvious that everything she had been told about Yankees was true, she gave an audible “sniff” and asked again, “Young man, I mean what is your RELIGIOUS affiliation?”
“Well, Mam, to be honest, despite eight years of parochial schooling, I mostly serve as a bad example.”
She didn’t invite me to sit next to her.
I don’t recall the ride BACK on the bus, either. I think I might have called one of the other photographers to drive the 19 miles over to Charlotte to pick us up. I would have had no problem approving his mileage for THAT trip.
Photo Gallery of Billy Graham Day
Here’s a collection of photos from the Nixon / Graham rally. Click on any photo to maker it larger, then click on the left or right side to move through the gallery. Happy Birthday Mr. Graham.
I didn’t know it was Billy Graham’s birthday, but did you know that George Beverly Shay, the soloist with Graham, is over 100? And Cliff Barrows, the song leader’s wife, was a distant, distant cousin to my husband.
Great shots of Nixon…wow you were close to greatness!
So was Nixon.
I loved your comment! I know you can really think that fast, too. My grandson’s band got to play for both Billy Graham and the Pope. He got to drive the golf cart that took Billy Graham to the stage and after the talk, backstage again. He said Billy Graham was so kind and humble and thanked them for playing there. Ben said they would have played for nothing for the advertising they got from a Billy Graham Crusade. They took the money though.
I learned to “take the money” when I covered a church revival in Gastonia.
Graham was a class act. He made some comments on Nixon’s tapes that made him look slightly antisemitic, but he managed to stay clear of personal scandal unlike so many of the televangelists.
Oh my goodness. The hairstyles then took WAY too much hairspray. Hilarious.
You mean on the men or the women?
I figured you wouldn’t get past the studly Secret Service guys hanging onto the running boards.
My friend Donna and I went to St. Louis (on a school bus with members of Donna’s church) several years ago to see and hear Billie Graham speak at the TWA Dome. The stadium was packed. We sat close to the stage and had a great view of everything going on – plus we could clearly see behind the staging area as well.
After 30+ minutes of music and special speakers, I saw Bille Graham and his group gathering behind the stage. (At that very moment, it reminded me of what it may have been like when Elivs Presely prepared to take the stage in Las Vegas.) Rev. Graham and his men joined together and prayed … then BG was lifted up to stage level on a hydraulic lift.
This was the first of several nights in St. Louis, and BG was very strong in his presentation. I knew this was something special – it was a very special moment in my life.
Happy Birthday Billie Graham!
God bless Billy Graham
why cant i say this again if i want toWGod bless Billy Graham
Please respond I only want to praise such a wonderful man
Praise him all you want to. I tried to send you an email to tell you to press Ctrl-F5 to refresh your browser, but it bounced. Your comments all all there.