Either the papers are misquoting him, or Mr. Clinton is having another "vivid" childhood memory. If it's the latter, take it with a grain of salt:
Clinton spoke briefly before Graham's sermon and recalled how the man known as America's pastor had refused to preach before a segregated audience in Arkansas decades ago when that state was in a bitter fight over school desegregation.
"I was just a little boy and I'll never forget it," said Clinton, who was joined by his wife, Sen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton. "I've loved him ever since. God bless you, friend."
Billy Graham spent his career being pointedly non-political and sidestepping divisive issues. He wouldn't "refuse to preach before a segregated audience."
Little Rock's school troubles began in 1957. Billy Graham had very quietly begun removing ropes that separated the races at his meetings back in 1953.
He preached in Little Rock in 1959 and this is what happened:
[Governor] Faubus is in attendance as evangelist Billy Graham preaches for 45 minutes to an audience of 30,000 in the second of two revival meetings in War Memorial Stadium.
Graham refers to the desegregation crisis, declaring that "only Christ can heal these scars and wounds." About 600 people come forward in response to Graham's regular call for public witness. He challenges the news media "to carry this story of hundreds of people of both races standing at the foot of the cross to receive Christ."
This sounds more like it. Billy Graham has only ever had one thing he was going to talk to people about.
Posted by floridacracker at June 27, 2005 12:10 AMClinton's memory is likely impaired by what he didn't inhale.
Posted by: ayekah at June 27, 2005 12:14 AMThe ever changing, ongoing charade that is Bill Clinton, aided by Bill Graham's vulnerable state of health, unfortunately.
I respect Graham immensely but his statements encouraging the Clinton's as "a couple" and excusing of Bill Clinton's 'appeal to the ladies' as if it was even decent -- much less the pandering to Hillary Clinton as Presidential -- were the pit of disappointment as to what disease and physical impairments can over time do to the person, any person, and have apparently done to Billy Graham.
He's a kindly old man now but he is showing sure signs of the influence of...well...of sin. What else do you call it?
Posted by: -S- at June 28, 2005 03:35 PM