Product Description

No one man or woman has ever been in a position to see the presidents, and the presidency, so intimately, over so many years. They called him in for photo opportunities. They called for comfort. They asked about death and salvation; about sin and forgiveness.

At a time when the nation is increasingly split over the place of religion in public life, THE PREACHER AND THE PRESIDENTS reveals how the world's most powerful men and world's most famous evangelist, Billy Graham, knit faith and politics together.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #419449 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 432 pages

From Booklist
*Starred Review* Despite Kennedy-era bigots' fears, the only clergyman to visit the White House regularly has been a minister of the major Protestant denomination historically most committed to separation of church and state, the Baptists. Veteran Time staffers Gibbs and Duffy's sympathetic history of evangelist Billy Graham's relations with every U.S. president since Truman testifies that, although sorely tempted by intense interest in politics and political leadership, Graham crossed the line of that separation only in his friendship with Richard Nixon. When he realized Nixon's duplicity and his own susceptibility to political seduction, Graham determined to be strictly a spiritual counselor to political leaders. In that capacity, he earlier served Eisenhower and Johnson, and later, Reagan, both Bushes, and both Clintons, all of whom acknowledged deep appreciation (that he likewise counseled Nixon after the latter's downfall speaks volumes about Graham's character). Kennedy wasn't much interested, Ford infrequently consulted him, and Carter was sufficiently spiritually grounded not to resort to Graham's counsel. But called upon or not, Graham was always available to the president and always prayed for him. Gibbs and Duffy have done posterity immense (and very readable) service by chronicling Graham's devotion. Olson, Ray

Review
"Finely wrought," says the Chicago Tribune (August 18, 2007) "...Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy's smartly written, thoroughly researched book...represents a major advance in our understanding of Graham and, more broadly, religion in modern American political life. The Author, both prize-winning journalists for TIME, not only know how to tell a fast-paced story, but also know how to ask the right questions of the many people -- including Graham and former presidents -- they interviewed." -- The Chicago Tribune August 18, 2007

"Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy, both veterans at TIME Magazine, have that peculiar gift among newsmagazine writers for being able to shape masses of complex and contradictory information into a compelling narrative. Even better, they have...packed their story full of details so delicious that even if you've read them before you're happy to read them again. They...show a lion in his winter, turning over the events of his extraordinary life sweetly, with pride, puzzlement and remorse." - -- Newsweek Magazine August 20, 2007

"...Shrewd analysis and absorbing narrative" -- The Wall Street Journal August 14, 2007

"Written with the full cooperation of Billy Graham, this book is no puff piece. From the beginning, Graham asked the authors to share the bad as well as the good. The result is an insightful and thorough account of Graham's life among the presidents, both his blunders and blessings, from his naïveté with the duplicitous Nixon to his support of the Clintons during impeachment and its aftermath. As well written as it is researched, the book grants a fascinating look into the private faith, hopes and fears of the men and families who have lived in the White House... Gibbs and Duffy also reveal how Graham's presence contributed to the rise of faith-based political activism in both parties--though he himself steadily grew in a conviction not to take sides. Whether your interest is politics, faith or simply the history of modern times, The Preacher and the Presidents offers a compelling read--and a reminder that the secular and the sacred are never truly separate. -- BookPage August, 2007

Review
"Ganser, an oft-employed stage and television actor, has recorded about 200 audio books. He knows what he's doing behind the microphone, bringing nonfiction material to life in a way that makes it seem the stuff of a great novel you just can't put down.".... AudioFile

LJ Ganser does a great job of naration. It's easy to listen to and not overacted in any way. An enjoyable listen!

Customer Reviews

The White House Preacher
Since Harry Truman more than a half century ago, Billy Graham has been the private minister to 11 U.S. Presidents. In poor health and recovering from the death of his beloved wife, Ruth, earlier this summer, Mr. Graham seems to be ending this private ministry by going public and being interviewed for this book. Never before has he spoken of his relationships with different Presidents and there is a lot he withheld for reasons of confidentiality, especially of the living Presidents. He had a knack for befriending politicians on the rise and tending to their spiritual needs.

There is a photo section of Mr. Graham with each President. The authors are editors of Time magazine -- their writing is concise and clear. Their research (who met who when, the religious background of each President, ect.) is considerable. All in all, a must read for political junkies and Billy Graham fans.

Full of surprises
I found this book as interesting as "Just As I Am" was tedious.

The insights are countless:
* Harry Truman hated Graham
* Eisenhower's bland civil religion policies may have obscured some real spiritaul awakening during his presidency.
* LBJ considered Graham one of his best friends. He would phone Graham in the middle of the night to come to the White House bedroom to kneel and pray with him. Long after LBJ left office and was demonized by both Republicans and Democrats, Graham regularly visited him on his ranch. Graham was truly a pastor to him.
* Nixon used and manipulated Graham, but also cared about him. The "Two Nixon" portrait rings true.
* JFK was thoroughly secular and was amused but fairly disinterested in Graham. JFK once asked him why Protestants believed in a 2nd Coming while his own Catholics did not. Graham gently reminded JFK that the 2nd Coming was a part of the Apostles' Creed and Catholic dogma.
* Carter despised Graham. Not surprising, given that Carter's theology is not remotely evangelical and that Carter liked very, very few people in general.

I ended up respectinga nd liking Graham more AND less as a result of this book. Most horrifying was to learn more of his almost complete lack of ecclesiology. To him the Church seems to have value only as an instrument to bring people into a personal relationship with Christ. There is no sense of the centrality of community, or how the Church is not the means but the end. So when Graham sees Nixon criticized for starting Sunday worship inisde the White House, Graham's response is "Mr. President, the critics are pastors who fear peopel worshipping outside church."

Graham also was often too quick to allow his political favorites to be known even if he technically avoided all out endorsements.

And yet, it is also clear that Graham's pastoral heart and care for the presidents as men was sincere.

The book partly clears up what appeared to be a major inconsistency in Graham's approach to various presidents. Graham has been eager to support presidents currently in office regardless of whether they are Right or Left, Dem or Rep. The authors show that this is probably less about pandering to power and more about a deeply held theological conviction that God has ordained our rulers and we must help them whether or not we voted for them.

The authors are very knowledgable in both politics and contemporary church life and thought. The writing style is clear. They are thorough without being slow or ponderous.

A truly wonderful book.

Apple Pie and Motherhood
Billy Graham, whose evangelistic missions have circled the globe and brought relief to millions of people, is as American as apple pie and motherhood - an icon whose personal struggles with illness and loss and his forebearance in the face of those challenges has been an inspiration to many of us. It's hard to speak of religion and America, without the name Billy Graham coming up.

Perhaps not as well known yet made clear in this book, Billy Graham has personally ministered to 11 American presidents through the years. It's amazing to read about the reach of this man, and to contemplate the affect that he's had on the course of history.

This book, while definitely not a "tell-all", is chockful of interesting tidbits of meetings with movers and shakers, and reveals the authors' commitment to a well-researched and well written book on one of the most interesting living Americans.

Whether you agree with Mr. Graham's religious beliefs or not, you will find this a fascinating book about a well-intentioned, highly committed religious leader whose reach and influence may very well have colored some of the decisions made by US presidents over the years. This is definitely a story of one of the "Men behind the Man".