Seems Frontline misrepresented Graham's statement on their broadcast:
Dear FRONTLINE,
I believe Frontline misquoted an anecdote about George W Bush and Billy Graham. Frontline said (on the TV program):
"The evangelist sided with Barbara Bush by saying, "Don't worry about it. Live your life the way you're supposed to. Love everybody and move on.""
According to Jewish World Review / Dec. 23, 1998 / 4 Teves, 5759
This is NOT what Billy Graham said or meant. To quote them:
"So Barbara called Billy Graham, and, said Bush, “Billy said, ‘From a personal perspective, I agree with what George is saying, the New Testament has been my guide. But I want to caution you both. Don’t play God. Who are you two to be God?’ ”"
I think Frontline misrepresented Billy Graham's position on this.
Bill Potts
Tucson, Az
FRONTLINE's editors respond:
In FRONTLINE's program, "The Jesus Factor," Ken Herman, formerly a reporter for the Houston Post, recounts an anecdote about how then-Texas gubernatorial candidate George W. Bush declared to his mother that "there is no place in heaven for anyone who does not accept Jesus Christ as personal savior.” But, said Herman, Barbara Bush felt that "you shouldn't worry about it. Just sort of take care of yourself."
In the documentary, Herman recalls that Bush and his mother then called the Reverend Billy Graham, who Herman says "sided with (Bush's) mother."
However, in his article in the Houston Post, Herman wrote that Graham sided with Bush on theological grounds, but did agree with Bush's mother that they should "never play God."
www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jesus/talk/
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