Just joking

Christian Century, July 26, 2005

JUST JOKING: An ailing Billy Graham is still able to draw tens of thousands to his evangelistic rallies, such as his supposedly last such event in New York City in June. The 85-year-old minister said near the end of the three-day crusade that he may preach in London, and again in New York. But it was his jocular comment June 25 to former president Clinton that upset political and religious conservatives.

Graham told the former president that with his girls he should be an evangelist and allow his wife, Democratic senator Hillary Clinton, "to run the country." Evangelist Franklin Graham (l) said that his father was joking: "For a long time, my father has refrained from endorsing political candidates, and he certainly did not intend for his comments to be an endorsement for Senator Hillary Clinton."