Graham praised as ‘America’s pastor’
Honored with public viewing in Capitol Rotunda
WASHINGTON — The president gently touched the bare wood of the Rev. Billy Graham’s casket. The speaker of the House bowed his head. And hundreds of other lawmakers, family and friends stood in a rare salute Wednesday to the man they called “America’s pastor.”
“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,” said House Speaker Paul Ryan, gesturing to Rev. Graham’s casket under the eye of the Capitol Rotunda — the first American clergyman to be honored in that way.
PresidentDonald Trump, who met Rev. Graham but is closer to his son, Franklin, nonetheless recalled that the elder Graham had long been part of his life. Mr. Trump said his father, Fred, “said to me, ‘Come on, son ... Let’s go see Billy Graham at Yankee Stadium.’ And it was something very special.”
He called Rev. Graham “an ambassador for Christ who reminded the world of the power of prayer and the gift of God’s grace,” and said in “this room we are reminded that the United States is a nation founded in prayer.”
Rev. Graham’s influence stretched far beyond the city where he counseled presidents and lawmakers to a global flock over the better part of seven decades. He is known for having met every president, Mr. Trump included, and counseled most.
But he learned to be wary of the heat of politics. Close to Richard Nixon, Rev. Graham later said the details of the Watergate scandal made him feel used.
But the world of American politics and government embraced Rev. Graham on Wednesday, a week after he died at age 99. Those gathered, including Vice President Mike Pence, some members of Mr. Trump’s Cabinet and members of the House and Senate, stood around the casket. They were ringed by paintings of the nation’s founders.
“The man we recognize today shared the Gospel with more people, face-toface, than anyone else in history,” said Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
As the leaders stood by the casket, Mr. Trump reached out to touch it. Mr. Ryan, nearby, bowed his head.
Mr. Trump also laid a wreath at the coffin of the man whose legacy includes an outsize influence on the life of America by encouraging millions of evangelical Christians to be engaged in social and political activism. feel about what they’re doing He told reporters to this country.” He that almost immediately
Some 30 family members apologized. upon hearing of Rev. accompanied Rev. Nonetheless, he ministered Graham’s death he, Mr. Graham’s casket to Washington, to other presidents until Trump, Mr. McConnell and where he had befriended his health began to fail. Rep. Patrick McHenry, who presidents of both Former President Bill represents the Rev. Graham parties. Rev. Graham’s son, Clinton recalled seeing one family’s district, agreed it Franklin, tweeted a photo of Rev. Graham’s crusades would happen. Wednesday of family members as a child, a profound experience Mr. Trump met Rev. loading the casket onto that became more Graham at the pastor’s 95th a jet emblazoned with amazing over his life. Rev. birthday party in 2013. “Samaritan’s Purse,” the Graham counseled him as Rev. Graham shares the name of a Christian relief Arkansas governor, and honor of a public viewing in charity that he chairs. later as president in the the Rotunda with 11 presidents
Rev. Graham is lying in White House itself. and other distinguished honor before a funeral Friday “In that little room, he Americans, starting near his home in North was the same person I saw with Sen. Henry Clay of Carolina. The Rotunda entrances when I was 11 on that football Kentucky in 1852 and, most were draped with field,” Mr. Clinton said recently, Sen. Daniel black fabric, and Rev. Tuesday after viewing the Inouye of Hawaii in 2012. Graham’s casket rested on a casket at Rev. Graham’s Rev. Graham is only the black-draped catafalque beneath home. fourth private person to lie the soaring ceiling Former Presidentin honor since 1998. The others and its painting, the “Apotheosis George W. Bush and his are two U.S. Capitol Police of Washington.” wife, Laura, visited Rev. officers who died in the
Rev. Graham felt burned Graham’s home earlier in line of duty in 1998 and civil by Mr. Nixon for years. Mr. the week. rights hero Rosa Parks in Nixon’s White House tapes In Washington, Mr. Ryan 2005. released in 2002 included said there had been no Rev. Graham’s voice telling doubt that Rev. Graham the president that Jews would receive the honor of a “don’t know how I really public viewing in the Rotunda.