BILLY GRAHAM : A BOYCOTT AND A WHITE HOUSE TAPE
by Stan Griffin

The world's best-known evangelist, 83-year-old Billy Graham, is in poor health. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 10 years ago. He has undergone major surgery and has been fighting bronchitis and sinusitis this year. His daughter has reported a complete hearing loss that doctors hope will be temporary.

In spite of his physical circumstances, Graham conducts a reduced number of "crusades": revival meetings with large choirs and trained counselors for potential converts. These traditionally draw thousands of people to major cities of the world. One is scheduled for Cincinnati, in June, 2002.

That city has, for the past year, been the target of a boycott by groups protesting the April, 2001 fatal shooting of a black youth by a white policeman. They have been asking organizations and individuals planning to make appearances or hold conventions in town to cancel. Entertainers such as Bill Cosby, Wynton Marsalis, Whoopi Goldberg, and Smokey Robinson agreed to honor the boycott. The Progressive National Baptist convention also agreed to hold its August convention elsewhere.

Rev. Graham was requested to join the boycott and withdraw the city from his schedule of appearances. After consideration he declined to change his iteinerary, saying "It's God's time" for his mission in Cincinnati. He also stated that " ... racism is a sin ... a moral ... and spiritual issue which I will be addressing in my preaching ... "

Graham's reputation as a healer and bridge-builder took a verbal beating in March after release of a 1972 White House Oval Office tape conversation between Graham and then-President Richard Nixon. In it Graham is heard using the phrases "satanic Jews" and "the total Jewish domination of the media." Rev. Graham released two statements of apology, one directed at the Jewish community and the other including this sentence: "God's mercy and grace give me hope--for myself and for our world."