Billy
Graham And Barack Obama: The Power Of Prayer
In this image released
by the White House, President Barack Obama meets with Billy Graham, 91, at his
mountainside home in Montreat, N.C., Sunday, April
25, 2010. Obama concluded his North Carolina vacation with his first meeting of
the ailing evangelist, who has counseled commanders in chief since Dwight
Eisenhower. (AP Photo/The White House, Pete Souza) (Pete Souza - AP)
By PHILIP ELLIOTT and MIKE BAKER
The Associated Press
Sunday, April 25, 2010; 5:01 PM
MONTREAT, N.C. -- President Barack Obama made a pilgrimage
Sunday to Billy Graham's mountainside home, concluding his North Carolina
vacation with his first meeting with the ailing evangelist who has counseled
commanders in chief since Dwight Eisenhower.
The 48-year-old president made the short drive to Montreat from Asheville, where he spent the weekend, to see
the 91-year-old Graham and son Franklin, also an evangelist.
During the visit, which lasted about 30 minutes and included
aides and advisers to both men, Obama had a private prayer and conversation
with Billy Graham. The evangelist gave Obama two Bibles, one for him and one
for the first lady, Graham spokesman Larry Ross said.
Obama was "extraordinarily gratified that he took the
time to meet with him," White House spokesman Bill Burton said.
Franklin Graham said his father and Obama did most of the
talking. They reminisced about their roots in Chicago - Graham went to Wheaton
College and began some of his ministry in the region; Obama moved to Chicago
after college and began his political career there. And they talked about golf.
"The conversation was very cordial, very nice,"
the younger Graham said. "When the president got ready to leave, the
president prayed for my father, my father prayed for him."
Graham said his father prayed for the nation and that God
would give Obama wisdom in his decisions. The president prayed to thank God for
Billy Graham's life, Franklin Graham said.
Obama confided, like other presidents before him, how
lonely, demanding and humbling the presidency can be, Ross said.
"That is a discussion that Mr. Graham has had with
previous presidents who realize not only the demands but the loneliness of the
job. And they're humbled by that," Ross said. "The only way one can
do (the job) properly is to draw on spiritual resources."
Billy Graham has been ailing for years, yet his son said the
frail evangelist appeared as strong as ever during the conversation with Obama.
"It's like my father rises to the occasion," he
said.
Afterward, Obama departed for a memorial service in West
Virginia for the 29 coal miners killed in an explosion on April 5.
When Obama last spoke with Billy Graham, in a telephone call
in November on Graham's birthday, they said they would try to get together as
soon as possible, Burton said.
"The president wanted to meet with Rev. Graham for a
while," Burton told reporters who were kept outside the Graham compound
gate. "They were going to meet during the campaign when he was here for
debate prep."
Graham's health prevented that October 2008 meeting from
taking place while Obama's campaign holed up at a resort to practice debate
answers.
Burton said Graham was in good enough health to take the
meeting on Sunday, which came up when Obama phoned Graham to wish him a happy
birthday last year.
Asked about Graham's health, Burton said: "He's still
as sharp as he ever was."
Mark DeMoss, a spokesman for the
Grahams, said the White House requested the meeting several days ago. He noted
that the meeting had been tentative, given the president's schedule and Billy
Graham's unpredictable health.
Billy Graham's last crusade was in 2005, in New York. Since
his wife's death nearly three years ago, he has spent most of his time at his
home. Public appearances have been rare, and his hearing and eyesight are
failing. Ross said Obama's visit was the first time a sitting president has met
with Graham at his home.
Franklin Graham has been in the news recently, with the Army
rescinding an invitation for him to speak at a Pentagon prayer service, citing
what it said were his inappropriate comments about Islam.
Franklin Graham said he and Obama spoke briefly about the
Pentagon spat, with the younger Graham saying that activists with an agenda
were trying to pull all religion out of the military.
"I wanted to make him aware of that," Franklin
Graham said. "He said he would look into it."
Franklin Graham also said he thanked the president for his
decision to have the government appeal a federal judge's ruling that the
National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional. Obama has said he plans to issue a
proclamation again this year.
In 2001, the younger Graham described Islam as evil. More
recently, he has said he finds Islam offensive and wants Muslims to know that
Jesus Christ died for their sins.
Graham said he regretted that the Army felt its decision was
necessary. In a statement, Graham said he would continue to pray for the troops
to "give them guidance, wisdom and protection as they serve this great
country."
Before the meeting with Graham, the president and first lady
Michelle Obama played tennis at an Asheville resort.
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Baker reported from Raleigh, N.C.