i am here because of the public billy graham and the private billy graham.had known was dying was cancer and only had a couple months to live, all he had to do, billy graham let me take him to home which then laid weighed less than 90 pounds. and i listened to them talk about life and afterlife. it was a conversation that will stay with me until the day i die. they didn't have to do that. no one would have known if he hadn't. not a single soul thought a bit less of him. he did it because of who he is. when i was in the white house on many occasions, billy would come by to visit with hillary or me or call and just write a letter when some foreign crisis or something was going on and always was incredibly kind. in the scripture, jesus tells us that the most important commandment is to love god with all our heart. the second is like unto it to love your neighbor as yourself. i have seen him do that in private when no one was looking . every president truth be told is mostly grateful to him because of that personal kindness. when he prays with you, in the oval o

billy graham was 15 years old at the time. just a few months later, he accepted jesus christ as his lord and savior. that choice didn't just change billy's life, it changed our lives. it changed our country and it changed, in fact, the entire world. the north carolina farm boy walked out of those fields into a great and beautiful history starting at a small bible school in florida, he soon led a nationwide revival from a large tent in los angeles to 100,000 people in a single day at yankee stadium, to more than two million people at madison square garden over 16 weeks in 1957. and i remember that because my father said to me come on, son, and by the way he said, come on, mom, let's go see billy graham at yankee stadium. and it was something very special. but americans came in droves to hear that great young preacher. fred trump was a big fan, fred trump was my father. in london, tokyo, seoul, bogota, moscow, new delhi, saigon and scores of other places all over the world reverend graham shared god's word with more than 200 mill

i learned from billy graham that the best way to teach people about god p is to witness for god. billy grahamwi was the witness of faith. we can all turn on booktv and find a fellow evangelists who will send you a bible and tell you you are saved for $25. that isn't true. you may be saved by them but you're not saved by jesus. he taught us to live a life of respect and honor and what jesus christ stands for and that we should live a life as an example to others on what it's like to be a christian. in the sadness of the loss of billy graham, he says rejoice evermore and pray without ceasing. i think we are in that time right now in terms of billy graham's life. we should rejoice for the great service he gave to all of us, the great message he brought around the world and we should pray that the world will continue to be blessed. we will do in our small way to see that we are disciples of that faith in jesus christ. witness and of and evangelism is to witness for other folks. he was a former marine and met hematocrit said. he volunteered to help him in his off-duty time and impress

i just wanted to voice my opinion about billy graham and franklin graham. i heard them speak at a revival in the rain billy graham was preaching at. he preached love and non-judgment. franklin graham preaches hate and judgment and mr. perkins sits up there and places judgment on everybody. and that is a sad day for franklin graham to do that to his daddy and that's just my opinion. thank you. >> perkins. >> well, you know, i would take issue with the caller. i don't think franklin graham preaches against anyone, i think he preaches the same message. i think that the receptivity to that message -- when you say that when billy graham would preach that we are all sinners and we need the grace that is extended by god through his son jesus christ, that is an offensive message today because that suggests that shower not going to make it on our own. franklin continues to preach that message. same message that we embrace as we embrace the gospel. again, we look at the times in which we live where a larger segment of society has rejected those biblical moral standar

billy graham. each of us has a special memory of billy graham. i can recall having graduated from college, my first job was with campus crusade for christ. i lived in dallas, texas; to prepare for a big meeting, a convocation that brought 84,000 young people. i was asked if i would like to caddy for billy graham. he was playing in the byron nelson golf classic. be arnold palmer, bob hope and billy graham. it was a great occasion. what i saw as a young believer in christ, i had come to christ my senior year of christ, i saw a man who looked you in the eye , he didn't look at his watch. he didn't walk over people to reach the world he understood the importance of every person before god. i think that's why his ministry and his mission was so outstanding with presidents and kings, cab drivers, or whoever it might be. the millions of people who came to christ because of him. this meeting we planned in dallas, 250,000 people came to downtown dallas and heard billy graham and johnny cash, it was a great assembly. the next decade working with dr. bright

billy graham, a son of north carolina. they wrote "who will be the next graham? no one. not only was graham a unique vintage of american character, he was the vintage of a unique time. he caught the wave of a communications revolution, writing new technology with an age-old message. hitit his stride as america a postwar boom that will likely never be rivaled." one, turtle the associated press it is hard to imagine that they would come together in the same way again. we can only be papal they came together once as they did -- thankful they came together once as they did. mary in the dinah, tennessee -- medina, tennessee. caller: good morning. it is raining here, and that is the way most of this area feels .bout losing billy graham i was a little girl when he was a young, fiery preacher, and i am not understanding the hate part, where these people are from about franklin graham. he is walking the world, giving so much comfort to people that have lost so much. i'm not understanding that. i think he is well-equipped to pick up where his father left off. i don't understand th

billy graham lifted up our nation. not because he occupied the spotlight so masterfully, but because he knew he was not the one who belonged in it. instrument a happy in the hands of his creator. right,rust that he was that his reward is something far surpassing his achievements on earth. a warm welcome for this good and faithful servant, and to his eternal home. are soate and the nation very grateful for his service. >> in the gospel of matthew jesus says, love the lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. billy graham woke up every day and did just that. god.ared his love of that love had no end. walks fromed to all some of the greats whose statues line this very hall. king, ford and reagan, to everyday citizens lining up to pay their respects. no matter how long the lines grew, no matter how much the times change, his message never diminished. -- the man hado a gift for connecting with people. to reverendd graham, it is if he is right there next to you, praying with you, tellin

had that for a long time. >> now, did any of the presidents actually dislike billy graham? >> guest: i'm not sure kennedy was in love with him. in the 1960s race mr. graham was very close to richard nixon and was counseling him almost constantly about running mates, about strategy, about race relations, about tactics, and nixon thought graham was an excellent judge of the country's mood. and mr. graham actually wrote an article for "life" magazine for henry luce endorsing nixon which luce had requested. can -- and then he agonized how this would ruin his ministry, and his wife told him to pull the piece. kennedy had demanded equal time. and this, i think, made everyone very nervous. luce pulled the story and ransoming much more tend -- ran something much more tepid. now, interestingly enough joe kennedy once, four days before kennedy was inaugurated, invited graham down to palm springs to meet his son face to face. he'd met him before, but to talk. they went out, they played golf together. kennedy did ask him so theological questions, mostly the difference between catholic i

the great billy graham is dead. there was nobody like him. he will be missed by christians and all religions. a very special man. lauren green has more on reverend graham's life and legacy. >> jesus said there are two roads, the broad road that leads to destruction and judgment and the other road that leads to heaven. >> he preached to more people than anyone in history. >> and follow jesus, let him lead you home. >> an evangelist who touched tens of millions called by some the protestant pope. the world was his pulpit. >> i never dreamed there would be a life like this in my life. >> he first felt the spirit at age 16 after hearing an evangelist preach in north carolina. he then went to bible college in florida where he started preaching on the streets of tampa. >> they have a place there where the saloon keeper threw me out into a ditch and told me never to come back. >> graham received a warmer reception from ruth bell, the two married in 1943 and as their family grew, so did his ministry. >> there are problems of sin and habits that cannot

thank god for reverend billy graham. amen, louie. thank god for reverend billy graham. thank you, i yield back. mr. hultgren: thank you, congressman olson. so grateful for so many of my colleagues who were able to join us tonight. to remember reverend billy graham. born november, 1918. died february 21, 2018. billy graham was a lion of the christian faith and a believer in the all-encompassing love of god,, for all people -- god, for all people. i knew billy graham from such an early age, knew of him, knew of his ministry. was struck even more so, most of my growing -- growing up years were in wheaten, illinois, where billy graham went to school, met his wife, and much of his ministry started in that area around there. his ministry spanned generations of american religious thought and culture, but his core message remained unchanged throughout his entire lifetime. his evangelical gatherings attracted millions throughout the globe for decades and his name is known around the world, as many have said tonight. maybe the most recognized, one of the most recognized names and

billy graham wasn't part of that.one who related to presidents of both parties up to and including the one i worked for and was assiduous about that, about trying to stay out of the scrum. he created the conditions for the evangelical movement to really move back into the mainstream of our political conversation. >> what was his relationship with president obama? was he considered something of a spiritual adviser? did the two men talk or meet? give us a little bit of the inside story. >> i honestly don't know how much they communicated. he was a presence in every oval office. this has been pointed out previously. he counseled presidents of both parties. obviously earlier in his life he was more prominent. he was a frequent visitor in lyndon johnson's oval office. for example, after having supported richard nixon for president in 1960. and notably, he did not allow himself to be used in the jim crow movement, even though he came from the south. that was an admirable thing. something i'm sure president obama appreciated

bush who credits billy graham.ithout billy graham he would have never stopped drinking and he talked about the influence billy graham had on him and certainly his family. what did it mean to these presidents to have a man of his stature and faith give them advice that other people could not provide? >> well, the longevity of that. 12 presidents. throughout billy graham's professional life. the track record speaks for itself. something else i was struck by was an interview our colleague griff jenkins did this morning with house speaker paul ryan and he talked about how he heard billy graham speak to people after 9/11 and he said that was a moment that resonated with him. that the country was really on the fringe of things after 9/11 and that helped bring people together. we hear that a lot but remember that time at 9/11. that was something that resonated with paul ryan who at the time was a rank and file back bench congressman. he is now the speaker of the house. that seemed to be part of what put this into motion,

reverend billy graham. billy graham's ministry for the gospel of jesus christ and his matchless voice changed the lives of millions. we mourn passing. i know with absolute certainty today he heard those words, well done, good and faithful servant. thank you, billy graham. god bless you. those are the words of mike pence. we have not heard from the president yet although the president did just tweet on the russia investigation. >>> joining me by phone is david brody, host on the christian broadcasting network. thanks so much for being with us, to help us understand that. there's so many aspects to the life of billy graham that are so important to america in general. let's start with the religious, though. what was his contribution to faith in this country? >> thanks for having me. introducing roughly over 200 million people to jesus christ, whether it be at the crusade rallies in the '50s, all around the world through his illustrious -- you can call it career, a life passion, john. it's great when your life

the one on one passing of the world -- billy graham. the one on one passing of the word from me to someone else, dr. graham to someone else is the way christianity was built over the years and will continue to be preserved in the years to co. as we honor in the united states senate and united states of america, the great man, a great leader, a man of god and servant of god, i am just so thankful i had the opportunity to be in this chamber on the day we honored billy graham and his life. i'm so happy that i had the ability and opportunity to know his servant henry holly and be one of those along the way that henry helped to live a more response and love -- responsible and loving life. i yield back my time and defer to the gentleman from oklahoma. mr. lankford: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from oklahoma. mr. lankford: mr. president, it was an exceptionally moving service in the rotunda today. for a man to be able to lie in honor in the rotunda and for the nation to pause for a moment, for the leadership of the house an

billy graham was 15 years old at the time. s later, he accepted jesus christ as his lord and savior. that choice didn't just change billy's life, it changed our lives. it changed our country and it changed in fact the entire world. the north carolina farm boy walked out of those fields into a great and beautiful history. starting at a small bible school in florida he soon led a nationwide revival from a large tent in los angeles to 100,000 people in a single day at yankee stadium, to more than two million people at madison square garden, over 16 weeks in 1957. i remember that, because my that's right said to me, come on, son, and by the way, he said, come on, mom, let's go see billy graham at yankee stadium, and it was something very special. but americans came in droves to hear that great young preacher, fred trump was a big fan. fred trump was my father. in london, tokyo, seoul, bogota, moscow, new delhi, saigon, johannesburg, scores of other places all over the world, reverend graham shared the power of god's word with more

i'm so glad we got to live in era that billy graham preached. thank you. steve: todd starnes is still with us. i'm reading one of the obits. something i didn't realize about billy graham, he was 16 years old, a teenager, going up, he himself found christ at tent prevail. i didn't realize that. >> also a big baseball fan. a lot of folks didn't realize that. a couple years ago, back when democrats were holding their convention in charlotte i did a feature story on the library for "fox & friends." steve: i remember. >> one of the things i took away from that, when you go into that giant facility, which is shaped like a barn, you literally walk through the cross. and i thought that what great symbolism there, that really identify what is billy graham's message was. what pastor jack graham said, it was simplicity of the message. transcended denominations. that is what billy graham was. brian: he had an audience of 215 million in 185 countries, doesn't count hundreds of millions more that watched him on television and listened on the radio. as the mult

the reverend billy graham died at his north carolina home this morning. he was 99. during most of those years, graham spread the gospel to hundreds of millions of people in person and almost 200 countries. he was a pastor to the world and a pastor to presidents. president trump tweeted today: "the great billy graham is dead. there was nobody like him! he will be missed by christians and all religions. a very special man." >> jesus said there is two road roads. >> fitting for a man who touched hundreds of millions with this message of hope and faith. >> followed jesus. let him lead you home. >> bret: the outpouring of condolences for the passing of billy graham have been just as heartfelt. >> we remember reverend graham and keep his family in our hearts, we continue this work. >> bret: graham preached two more people than anyone. >> christianity is not a white man's religion. don't let anyone tell you it is white or black. christ belongs to all people. >> bret: a man of god humbled by the fellowship that shaped and embraced him, called by some the protestant pope. the

i literally grew up with billy graham.my mother was a north carolinans you could not get in and out without knowing about evangelist billy graham. he's had an impact and so important he's here today. >> when it is walked into the capitol rotunda it will be the north carolina delegation that leads it, his home state playing a big role in this. the fourth private citizen ever to lie in honor in the capitol rotunda and that tells you something about billy graham. >> by any measure he was an important and influential person on american life. and in that sense he specicerta deserves that honor. >> again, we've noted he met ever president since harry truman and george w. bush credits a walk with the reverend billy graham in maine for helping him stop drinking over time. he's had not just sorts of a political impact but very personal impact on our nation's leaders, professor. >> he has. some more than others. he arranged a meeting with harry truman and the white house and harry truman was not terribly impressioned with this flamb

billy graham was 15 years old at the time. ew months later he accepted jesus christ as his lord and savior. that choice didn't just change billy's life, it changed our lives. it changed our country and it changed in fact the entire world. the north carolina farm boy walked out of those fields into a great and beautiful history, starting at a small bible school in florida, he soon led a nationwide revival. from a large tent in los angeles, to 100,000 people in a single day at yankee's stadium to more than 2 million people at madison square garden, over 16 weeks in 1957. and i remember that because my father said to me, come on, son, and by the way he said come on, mom, let's go see billy graham at yankee stadium and it was something very special. but americans came in droves to hear that great young preacher. fred trump was a big fan. fred trump was my father. in london, tokyo, seoul, bogota, moscow, new delhi, saigon and jo han necessary berg and scores of other places he shared the power of god's word with more than 200 millio

you have to say there is a god and billy graham told us about him or there isn't a god and billy graham was a delusional nut and everyone who followed god is as well. that's the option you have. david: well he had influence with every single one of those presidents. you think of some presidents who had a lot of faith, like ronald reagan didn't like to wear it on his shirt sleeve but clearly had the need for faith in his own life and to help him through his job as president. >> and i think sometimes we want our presidents, you know, to be sunday schoolteachers and most of them are not. but the fact is, billy graham's presence was a calming and very powerful influence on the lives of presidents and they listened to him. and he prayed with them. i think the important thing is that those presidents may have changed in his presence but billy graham never changed in their presence. he went as an ambassador of god, he represented the kingdom of god and he represented it effectively and powerfully and it didn't matter if it was the president, a pope, prime minister or just an ordinary street ki

we have had no other american impact the lives that billy graham has for think about this, the majority of the 20th century. that's why it was so important to acknowledge his class, his humility. his authenticity. this is why it was very important for reverend graham to become only the fourth american to do so. >> harris: as we look forward, we look back to prepare ourselves. what was the message and being from his home state, what was the message so great that reverend graham took out into even remote corners of the world? here is a man that had esteem steamed all kinds of power. when you pick up the phone, kings and queens, presidents, going all the way back, think about this to the 40s of harry truman. his kind of impact. he never let it get to the place where he thought himself better than others. in fact, as i stood there, directly behind the casket and watched all the senators and members of congress there. the thing that i guess that impacted me the most is billy graham's life reached many, many more people than all the others combined in that room today. >> harris: you know, we

>> reporter: for nearly seven decades, billy graham traveled the world, preaching the christian gospel. >> man cannot be saved by bread alone. >> reporter: "america's pastor," as he was known, graham ventured to 185 other countries as well, spreading the word to more than 200 million people at his crusays. >> that is the reason that men today are turning to god. >> reporter: and leveraging then-emerging technologies to reach hundreds of millions more by radio and tv. >> faith in him. >> reporter: born on november stef, 1918, on his family's farm in north carolina, william franklin graham dedicated his life to jesus christ at the age of 16 and was ordained a baptist miner? minister in 1939. with his movie star looks and fire-and-brimstone speak style, he started preaching his own vand of populist evangelism in tent revivals. >> i do not believe that any man can soft problems of life without jesus christ. >> reporter: soon, a sought-after councilor to every american president, from truman on, with them at their inaugurations. >> now on this 20th day of january, 1993. >> reporter: presidi

icon, could be us legislator to president passing away in sleep republican pay respects at the billy grahamrary north carolina monday and tuesday private fiernl next friday graham is remembered for factory and quack on the world. >> unconsciously hoodlumorous a remarkable sense of humor one other thing, too he took god very severeriously never to himself too he seriously i think gave him a human anness that was very, very relatable to all of us. >> billy graham touched the world ministry reached to all corners of the earth, legacy not so much in looking back, but looking forward, not ovenl for him in he ter errantly eter >> most who heard his message can say we offer pro foun condolences to family gratitude to god this man showed up on planet earth to point the way to millions of people to the knowledge of christ. >> president remembering on twitter wriekt there was nobody like him missed by christians all refugees very issue special man. >> mike pence saying billy graham's ministry for gospel of jesus pricey changed lives he will be missed. >> 11 minutes after a hour a shocking plot veiled

he said, had it not been for the ministry of my good friend doctor billy graham, my work in the civil rights movement would not have been successful as it has been. madam president, the country mourns the loss of doctor graha graham. the country understands the impact of his life. that life is a servant doe of god who preaches word to everyone that he could find. in his career of 84 years, he exhausted the opportunities that were given to t him and proudlyy affects generations that have yet to be borne by the work that he did as a disciple of our lord jesus christ. i yield the floor. >> madam president. >> senator from north carolina. >> thank you madam president. i would think my friend and colleague, the senior senator from north carolina and his words about reverend billy graham. i will only add a few comments. minor very personal. i a justling someone yesterday that i have two very distincth memories of times with my father. one was watching walter on kate and the other was watching billy graham. i was talking to my mother earlier this week and she talked about how much my father

today president trump tweeted this, quote, the great billy graham is dead. nd all religions. a very special man. graham said he first felt the spirit at age 16. he left his family's dairy farm to attend bible college in florida and started preaching on the streets of tampa before he took on the whole world. >> my father is clear in giving people an opportunity to accept, by faith, and to invite jesus christ into their hearts and into their lives. >> if you remember nothing that i say tonight except one thing i want you to remember, god loves you. >> jon: private funeral is planned for billy graham at the library in charlotte. he will be buried beside his wife, ruth. billy graham, an american icon will always be remembered. back to you. >> molly: what a remarkable life of service. thanks for sharing it with us. and we'll be right back. . . hat. it was tough getting out there hat. on stage. i wanted to be clear. i wanted it to last. so i kept on fighting. i found something that worked. and keeps on working. now? they see me. see me. see if cosentyx could make a

the world is mourning the loss of one of the most influential people in history, the reverend billy grahamd at his north carolina home earlier this morning. he was 99. his body will lie in repose starting monday at the graham library in charlotte, north carolina, and funeral services will be held friday march 2nd. those services are for family and friends. he spread the gospel to hundreds of millions of people in person and nearly 200 countries. he was a pastor to the world and a pastor to presidents. and he paved the way for the media ministry. his son jonathan falwell is now pastor of the church his father started, thomas wrote baptist church. he joins us from lynchburg, virginia. great to have you with us. >> great to be with you, thanks so much. >> shannon: i often heard your father talk about the influence of reverend graham and thinks he took from his ministry and the way that he operated in the world. what can you say about his influence? >> there's no question that the influence that dr. graham had one that goes back for decades. but what's interesting is if you look back decades i

i think billy graham is the unusual figure. i think he's a singularly unusual figure in probably over 1,000 years. i think god will raise up another billy graham. he or she will be a different figure in american life. but -- and maybe not an american, probably not an american. >> paul: really? that's fascinating. >> i don't know who that person is. you think of c.s. lewis, the great apologist of the 20th century, started out as an atheist scholar. another man turned into a great driver of prison ministry and evangelism across the country. the next billy graham might be someone who is not even a christian yet. >> paul: fascinating to contemplate. thank you for being here. >> thanks for having me. >> paul: when we come back, a battle over the congressional map in pennsylvania, could make or break democratic efforts to take back the house this november. patrick woke up with back pain. but he has work to do. so he took aleve. if he'd taken tylenol, he'd be stopping for more pills right now. only aleve has the strength to stop tough

reverend graham wanted that way. billyhe was known as a boy grew up on a farm in north carolina, dairy farm, light braer is made to resemble a barn. all day people have been coming through, paying their respects and celebrating billy graham's life. his childhood home sits on the library property. and so next week we are told reverend graham's body will be brought here to the house. the public will be allowed to file through. the castle coat will be closed. burial will happen here right along side his wife of nearly 63 years, ruth graham. billy graham will be laid to rest here at his library. the funeral closed to the public. invitation only. trying to work out details. it will happen at some point next week. >> david begnaud thank you from north carolina. that's the "overnight news" for thursday. for some the news continues. for others check back later for the morning news and cbs this morning. from the broadcast center in new york city, i'm jeff glor. >> your life can be changed. you can become a new person. by surrenderi

billy graham. we will follow his procession to the final resting place in charlotte, north carolina and back with the long legacy for the faithful. welcome to america's news headquarters from washington. speech is great to be with you this saturday. more sheriff's deputies under increased scrutiny in florida after new reports that multiple deputies waited outside marjorie stone zimmerman douglas high school is a shooter attack students and teachers inside. and park visible land, the president called one of these deputies a coward. do folks down there feel the same way? >> reporter: there is glowing disgust and outrage how law enforcement failed to respond to the shooting. the fbi admitting it failed to properly investigate a tip about a caller that he is capable of shooting up a school was fired after it was discovered he stayed outside during the shooting was his boss, brown county sheriff said that deputy should have gone inside to kill the shooter and there are more emerging details, three sheri

so billy graham was never angry, billy graham was nef resentful.ulture in the world around him. he was john 3:16, he loved the world because god loves the world enough to say come to christ. >> i saw an old interview that diane sawyer had done with him years ago and said when the time comes he doesn't want people to say nice things about him because he didn't deserve it. what he wants to hear from the lord is, well done. well done my servant. >> yeah. >> you knew him personally. what stands out to you about him? >> what stood out to me was the gravity. first time i met him i was in my early 20s, young ministry and walking into the room it was almost like coming into the room with an old testament prophet in one sense. at the same time there was this warmth. i think of him sort of like -- i heard someone mention a preacher in london many years ago and said he was a steamroller but a gentle steamroller. i think that was true of billy graham. gentleness and warmth but the gravity of the message was overwhelming. >> and still endures. we need that mess

i think billy graham is the unusual figure.hink he's a singularly unusual figure in probably over 1,000 years. i think god will raise up another billy graham. he or she will be a different figure in american life. but -- and maybe not an american, probably not an american. >> paul: really? that's fascinating. >> i don't know who that person is. you think of c.s. lewis, the great apologist of the 20th century, started out as an atheist scholar. another man turned into a great driver of prison ministry and evangelism across the country. the next billy graham might be someone who is not even a christian yet. >> paul: fascinating to contemplate. thank you for being here. >> thanks for having me. >> paul: when we come back, a battle over the congressional map in pennsylvania, could make or break democratic efforts to take back the house this november. with big dreams... we came with big appetites. with expedia one click gives you access to discounts on thousands of hotels, cars and things to do. like the garland hotel for 40% off. e

billy graham, a prominent, probably the most prominent evangelical pastor has died at the age of 99. at is a life well lived. graham gave his final sermon four years ago when he was 95 years old. and moments ago, president trump tweeted, the great billy graham is dead. there was nobody like him. he will be missed by christians and all religions. a very special man. nbc's brian williams takes a look back at the life and legacy of billy graham. >> the answer to your sin today is jesus christ. >> billy graham used to say all he ever wanted was to bear witness to the power of the gospel. >> what a tragedy it would be, i tell you, if you were not saved. >> he ended up becoming a legend. >> god can be trusted even when life seems at its darkest. >> as an evangelist, billy graham changed the way america talked to god and viewed god. a true civic pastor, he was confidant to 11 presidents dating back to eisenhower. >> what is the trouble with the world? our problem today with the hearts of individuals. >> for more than half a century, it always seemed as if billy graham was there to guide the

the american evangelist, billy graham, has died at the age of 99. r of 1947, and during the course of his life he is thought to have spoken to 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories around the world. he was the founder and the master of the art of tele—evangelism. mr graham was close to presidents and world leaders. today buckingham palace said the queen will send a private message of condolence to his family. but he was not without some controversy. he apologised after audio recordings revealed he'd failed to criticise richard nixon's anti—semitic comments and he was criticised for preaching behind the iron curtain. the problems that face us tonight that will never be solved, unless we bring them to the lord jesus christ. charismatic and handsome, billy graham preached a simple message that he took around the world. that people should turn tojesus. he had a remarkable effect on a sometimes disinterested public. god loves you and if there's one thing you get out of these days we are in edinburgh it is that god loves you. in 195

the evangelist, billy graham, who preached to e llions worldwd was known as god's ambassador has died at the age of 99. ♪ laura: welcome to our viewers. the movement that started with young people who watheir friends die in a horrific school massacre has taken on new momentum today. rvivors of the florida school shooting were among those meeting with president trump at the white house today. taile others protested in the florida state capi john has more. a school trip like a weather. these students from marjorie stoneman douglas haven't come to l the florida state capita listen. they have come to speak. after 17 ofhange their classmates and teachers were killed last week. they are determined to be heard. >> no one needs these weapons that are taking liildren's s. they should just ban them are used forhey his destruction. they are just not eded. >> you should go to school feeling safe and be confident that you are here for an education. you're not here to worry about gettinshot. the students were joined by thousands of others from across the state. noisy, determined, emboldened. the st

billy grahamives to begin an australia-wide crusade. >> sreenivasan: overears graham ministered to populareaders, as well as those, reviled by much as north korea's kim il sung. a though life-long democrat, the evangelist said he never favored one party over the other, and that gave him credibility with icboth democratic and repu presidents. >> if i said things publicly and preached to the president from unme pulpit somewhere, i'd never get another oppoy to talk to them privately. >> senivasan: in 1991 as the first gulf war got underway, graham was in the white house with president george h.w. bush and his family.er >> i turned tond i said, barbara, i said, is this the beginning of the war? and she didn't say anything, but i could sense by the way she looked that she knew something that i didn't know, that this was the beginning. >> sreenivasan: but his relationships with the powerful also drew criticism. in 2002, tapes recorded in the nixon white house revealed a conversation between graham and president nixon in which both made disparaging remarks about jewish people. graham apologized.

i think billy graham is the unusual figure.nusual figure in probably over 1,000 years. i think god will raise up another billy graham. he or she will be a different figure in american life. but -- and maybe not an american, probably not an american. >> paul: really? that's fascinating. >> i don't know who that person is. you think of c.s. lewis, the great apologist of the 20th century, started out as an atheist scholar. another man turned into a great driver of prison ministry and evangelism across the country. the next billy graham might be someone who is not even a christian yet. >> paul: fascinating to contemplate. thank you for being here. >> thanks for having me. >> paul: when we come back, a battle over the congressional map in pennsylvania, could make or break democratic efforts to take back the house this november. i have type 2 diabetes. i'm trying to manage my a1c, then i learn type 2 diabetes puts me at greater risk for heart attack or stroke. can one medicine help treat both blood sugar and cardiovascular risk? i as

billy graham everreminded to us look to the ancient truths of god's word. >> reverend graham said he first felt the spirit at age 16. >> left his family's dairy farm to attend bible college in florida. he started preaching on the streets of tampa before he took on the whole world. >> if you remember nothing that i say tonight, except one thing, i want you to remember. god loves you. >> the private funeral is planned at the library in charlotte. billy graham, an inspirational american icon will still live on within so many. harris? >> harris: eric shawn, thank you. for more now, let's bring in my next guest jerry falwell jr. president of liberty university whose father was also a well-known evangelist the late reverend jerry falwell. mr. falwell, great to see you today. i'm sorry it's under these circumstances. but i want to get your thoughts, first of all, just reaction to the passing of reverend graham. >> well, it's obviously the christian faith has lost the greatest communicator that it had over the last century. he literally took the message to billions of people that even though

, when u look , it waselical preachers billy graham and the pack.at is how far he was ahe everyone else over the last 100 years. he was charismatic. heas captivating. butal he wa ecumenical. he brought anyone into christ who was willing to come to christ. yet, he didn't see his onrole as a politica how did he come to be the pastor to america's presidents ? >> because he captivated dents, the same y he captivated ordinary people. they wanted comfort from him. they wanted spiritual guidance from him. he crossed politic lines. he gave guidance to dwight eisenhower, richard nixon, lyndon johnson, even bill clinton and his time of troubles. laura: he had a particularly close relationship with the bush family.he what role did play in george w. bush conversion to christianity? >> george w. bush credits billy graham with hi being a born again christian and with his finding sobriety. which of course, is absolutely essential to the career of george w. bush. laura: in moments of national pain, like 9/11, the oklahoma city bombing, what was it about having bill

. >> tributes pouring in for america's pastor, reverend billy graham. "fox and friends first" continues right now. ♪ we were keeping the faith. ♪ yeah, yeah, yeah, keeping the faith. >> a little billy joel to get you going on this thursday morning. we all need a little faith this day and age. you don't agree? >> i completely ah agree. we lost a big man of faith yesterday. >> we have to remember to keep the faith. you are watching "fox and friends first." >>> breaking overnight, a by glair storbizarre story from th. afternooan attacker blew himsel. >> a motive is not known. americans are asked to stay away from the embassy until further notice. we will keep you updated. >>> police officers lining the streets, saluting an officer who made the ultimate sacrifice to save a neighbor in need. the corporal was off duty when he was shot and killed, trying to help a woman threatened by her estranged husband. >> he was not working, needing help. he immediately responded to that plea for help. but he saved her life by giving his own. >> the suspect in this, glen ti

so josh, president obama actually had spent time with billy graham. >> yeah. this was later in reverend graham's life but he did have a couple of occasions to spend time with him. president obama i do think had enormous respect for billy graham and the kind of gospel that he preached. he preached a gospel that was accessible and welcoming and was inherently optimistic sharing the good news and that is a tone that is missing from so much, not just in our politics but even in our public commentary on our -- in our culture. >> in our daily life. >> we don't have as much access to that kind of an optimistic view of the world. and you know, and unfortunately that's particularly true in evangelical christianity. and reverend graham almost came of age at a time when he was able to capitalize on the explosion of television. in some ways he talk evangelical christianity mainstream. he was actually preaching on television and he was -- he was a compelling figure and i think -- >> who lived as you said, who lived as faith who was humble. >> he was very humble and i think

being inspired by billy graham, and i guess being led by billy graham, i started reading the bible and shortly thereafter i quit drinking. >> reporter: president johnson leaned on the reverend during vietnam, and reagan famously called graham from his hospital bed after he was shot. but graham was questioned for the relationship he kept with nixon. >> i prayed for him, prayed for him several times a day, that god would help him. >> reporter: he prayed with presidents and just as easy, with everyday americans. reverend billy graham will be laid to rest at his library and childhood home directly behind me. he will be buried next to his wife, who died in 2007. david? >> steve osunsami in north carolina. steve, thank you. and later, right here tonight, what reverend graham said when diane sawyer asked him how often he thought about death, and his hope afterward. >>> but first, the other news tonight, and to the severe weather at this hour, that major winter storm bringing snow, freezing rain, flooding. and a tornado watch in louisiana for much of the day. that winter storm stretching from

growing up in a baptist home, billy graham was our pope and i read my first billy graham but i thinkhen i was in the sixth grade. at 17 i heard him for the first time and was thrilled at the oakland crusade. and at 20 i met him person-to-person at the l.a. crusade and began a 20 year -- excuse me, a 40 year relationship where he mentored me over the last 40 years. >> laura: did to get you through the good times and the bad? did you seek counsel from him when you needed it most? >> you know, one of the greatest things about billy that people don't know is that he was in a encourager to the next generation. i've actually tried to learn from him on that and a lot of stuff that he taught me i've done with the next generation myself and one of them was he provided platforms for younger people. i remember when i was in high school -- nope, college, i wrote my first book on how to study the bible, methods. i wasn't a a very confident writer at all. but billy graham believed in me and somehow he got a copy of a book that i had self published. he called me in the mid-'80s and said i'm bringin

this is what billy graham did and did with an energy in astonishing success helped along by william randolph instruction to puff graham. and christians would say by the holy spirit whose astonishing crew side sades in madison square garden, london, around the globe, to his last in the rose bowl in 2004. billy graham, to put it simply, would preach the gospel. the "new york times" obituary read in order in 2007, the billy tkpweul aoe van gelistic association estimated he preached the gospel to more than 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories beginning his crusades in 1947 in grand rapids, michigan. he reached hundreds of millions more on television through video and in film. this is not mass aoe van gellism but personal aoe van gellism on a mass scan. i had occasion to watch him preach twice for the 1993 funeral of former first lady pat nixon in yorba linda and a few months later at the massive gathering that came to witness the funeral of richard nixon. both teams billy graham preached salvation through jesus christ. and he changed lives, tens of millions of american l