10 Questions For Billy Graham

By Sonja Steptoe

In this season's postelection pulse taking, morality re-emerged as a top voter concern. But it has been a consistent theme for the Rev. Billy Graham, 86, preacher to millions over six decades and counselor to 10 Presidents. TIME's Sonja Steptoe caught up with him as he embarked on what will probably be his final round of crusades, beginning last weekend at the Rose Bowl.

YOU'RE SUFFERING FROM PARKINSON'S, AND YOU HAD TWO SERIOUS FALLS EARLIER THIS YEAR. HOW ARE YOU FEELING NOW?

One fall broke my left hip, and I had to have a new hip put in. In the second fall, I broke my pelvic bone in three places. The only way at my age to get healing of the pelvic bone is to stay in bed, so I've had to stay in bed most of this year. I feel a little weak from that, but I feel fine otherwise.

WILL YOU RETIRE FROM PREACHING AFTER THE JUNE EVENT IN NEW YORK?

Probably. I have preached all over New York, in every stadium, so it will be like going home again. I don't think I can go on forever. I don't know of any clergy who has held meetings in big stadiums like this at my age. John Wesley may have come close, but he spoke to smaller groups in churches.

YOU'RE KNOWN AS THE MINISTER TO PRESIDENTS. WHAT'S YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO PRESIDENT BUSH?

I've known him for many years. We've taken summer vacations with him at Kennebunkport in Maine. We love the Bush family, especially his father and mother. I consider his father one of my closest friends.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE EXIT-POLL RESULTS SHOWING THAT ONE-FIFTH OF VOTERS LISTED MORAL VALUES AS THEIR TOP CONCERN? I sense that people are searching for purpose and meaning in their lives. Many feel lonely and are out of touch with the culture.

DO YOU THINK GOD, FAITH AND RELIGIOUS VALUES SHOULD HAVE A MORE PROMINENT ROLE IN PUBLIC LIFE?

Yes I do. I think our heritage over more than 200 years has indicated that this is a nation under God. It's reflected in various ways, such as the words of the Pledge of Allegiance and the presence of Bibles in public places like hotels.

DO YOU APPROVE OF GAY MARRIAGE?

I believe marriage is between a man and woman.

WHAT ABOUT PLACING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS?

So many people today are breaking the Commandments, they need to be reminded of them. I would like to see them displayed in many places. If you go to the Supreme Court or to many of the public buildings in Washington, you see them on plaques. It indicates that historically we have attempted to present to the American people the basic moral-law foundations, which I think are contained in the Ten Commandments.

BEYOND POLITICS, ARE THERE ISSUES SUCH AS POVERTY, FAMINE OR THE AIDS CRISIS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE CHRISTIANS EMBRACE NOW?

As an Evangelist, I try to address how the Bible speaks to personal and societal problems. I will probably mention all those issues and more in my upcoming crusade sermons. The big issue is sin. From the very beginning, man rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden and that has been inherited by the entire human race. It's a problem all over the world and in our own hearts. That's why the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer to sin, because when he died on the Cross, he took the sins of the world upon him.

WHAT ADVICE HAVE YOU GIVEN YOUR SON FRANKLIN AS HE PREPARES TO TAKE THE REINS OF YOUR MINISTRY?

We have spent hundreds of hours talking. Mostly he's given me advice. I'm very proud of him and appreciative of the way he's taken leadership of our organization and expanded it far beyond what I have done.

WHAT ATTRIBUTE IS MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING YOU THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MINISTER IN AMERICA?

I don't think I am the most influential. At my age I sometimes feel like the world has left me behind. The only thing that I can think of is that I've tried to love leaders in both parties and all over the world. I've had many opportunities to see what the average clergy would never see, and on each of those occasions I've tried to let those I've come in contact with see a little bit of what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about.