Barack Obama today became the 12th president to meet with Billy Graham, and the first sitting one to visit Graham’s mountaintop home in Montreat.
In a meeting that lasted 30 to 35 minutes, the president and the 91-year-old preacher prayed for each other, talked about Chicago – a city that helped launch both of their careers – and took a tour of Graham’s homestead, which was designed by his late wife, Ruth. Graham gave Obama two Bibles, one for him, one for the first lady.
“Daddy reminisced a little bit about the first time he met a president, Truman,” reported Graham’s son, Franklin, who also attended the get-together. “My father told the president that he stays out of politics (now). And the president said, ‘I wish I could.’ ”
