Interview with Leighton Ford, June 30, 1976

Partial Transcript: Dr. Ford, where and when were you born?

Segment Synopsis: Ford discusses growing up in Canada and his education, as well as his religious influences and the experiences that moved him toward Evangelism.

Keywords: Adoption; Charles Richard Ford; Columbia Seminary; Dedication; Eda Olive Shanklin Ford; Mothers; Religious influences; Spiritual influence; Wheaton College

Subjects: Canada.; Childhood; Christianity.; Decatur (Ga.); Evangelicalism; Jesus Christ; Presbyterian Church; Religion

Partial Transcript: Why did you become involved in Christian work?

Segment Synopsis: Ford discusses the reasons he became involved in the Christian church and tells a story about his uncle who died in World War I.

Keywords: Christian service; Guidance; Inspiration; Ministry; Mothers; Uncles; World War I

Subjects: Christianity.; Jesus Christ; Religion; World War, 1914-1918

Partial Transcript: From reading Billy Graham's biography, I recall your first acquaintance with him was through Youth for Christ.

Segment Synopsis: Ford discusses his first meeting with Graham and the interest that Graham took in him. He also talks about the first impressions he had about Graham as well as the characteristics that stuck out about him.

Keywords: Canadian Youth Fellowship; Characteristics; Charisma; Communication; Compassion; Concern; Conferences; High schools; Knowledge; Memory; Rallies

Subjects: Christianity; Evangelicalism; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Jesus Christ; Religion; Youth for Christ, Canada

Partial Transcript: Uh, you are married to Dr. Graham's sister, Jean?

Segment Synopsis: Ford discusses the knowledge he has regarding Graham's family while Graham was growing up.

Keywords: Familial atmosphere; Familial relationships; Family; Farms; Fathers; Jean Graham Ford; Mothers

Subjects: Childhood; Childhood of world figures; Families.; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Religion

Partial Transcript: A much written about, written about experience of Mr. Graham's was his conversion in 1934 meeting when Mordecai Ham was preaching.

Segment Synopsis: Ford talks about his knowledge of Graham's conversion and Mordecai Ham's involvement in Graham's life.

Keywords: Crusades; Mistakes; Mordecai Ham

Subjects: Christianity; Conversion; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Religion

Partial Transcript: Before joining the Billy Graham team, what did, what did you do?

Segment Synopsis: Ford discusses how he became involved in Graham's crusade as well as the responsibilities he had throughout his time working with Graham.

Keywords: Associate evangelists; Churches; Columbia Seminary; Counseling; Counselors; Crusades; Graduation; Instruction; Interviews; Jean Graham Ford; Meetings; Pastorate; Pastors; Radio; Seminary; Television

Subjects: Canada; Christianity; Evangelists--United States--20th century; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Religion; Scotland

Partial Transcript: If you had to name the most influential man in Billy's life, who would you name?

Segment Synopsis: Ford speaks about the people that have had the most influence on Graham's life, to his knowledge.

Keywords: Character; Christianity Today; Cliff Barrows; Family; Father-in-laws; George Wilson; Grady Wilson; Influence; Mordecai Ham; Nelson Bell; Prayer; Presbyterian Journal; T. W. Wilson

Subjects: Charlotte (N.C.); Christianity; Families.; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Presbyterian Church; Religion

Partial Transcript: An important part of my work will be Billy Graham's influence on racial views in the south in the last twenty, thirty years. Has he ever faced the charge of, uh, of racism in his ministry?

Segment Synopsis: Ford discusses Graham's views on the racial situations in the '50s and '60s as well as his work to desegregate his crusades. He also talks about his own experiences in the racially segregated south and the influence growing up in the south had on Graham's racial views.

Keywords: Articles; Beliefs; Civil disobedience; Criticisms; Crusades; Culture; Demonstrations; Desegregation; Gospel; Government; Healing; Integration; Magazines; Ministry; Prejudice; Presidents; Public figures; Racial prejudice; Reader's Digest; Social justice; Stan Mooneyham; Walter Smith

Subjects: African Americans--Civil rights; African Americans--Segregation; Alabama; Christianity; Clinton (Tenn.); Evangelists--United States--20th century; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973; King, Martin Luther, Jr. 1929-1968; Presbyterian Church; Race relations.; Racism; Religion

Partial Transcript: Another--(coughs)--issue that's relevant has to do with, uh, national politics and Mr. Graham's relationship with the various presidents since nineteen and fifty.

Segment Synopsis: Ford talks about the types of relationships Graham had with the presidents of the United States. He also discusses Graham's reaction to the Watergate Scandal.

Keywords: Congressman; Friendships; Ministers; Politics; Relationships; Spiritual influence; Statements; Walter Reed Hospital; Watergate Scandal

Subjects: Christianity; Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973; Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963; Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994; Presbyterian Church; Presidents; Religion; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: Okay, now, to an entirely different subject.

Segment Synopsis: Ford discusses Graham's involvement in the Ecumenical Movement as well as the different types of denominations that Graham has had contact with.

Keywords: Charles Finney; Denominations; Grass Roots Ecumenism; Humanization; Independent churches; John Wesley White; Social justice; Unity

Subjects: Anglican Catholic Church; Baptists; Charlotte (N.C.); Christianity; Ecumenical movement.; Episcopal Church; Evangelists--United States--20th century; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Jesus Christ; Judaism.; Pentecostal churches.; Religion; Roman Catholic Church; World Council of Churches.

Partial Transcript: Is, uh, is Mr. Graham related to the National Association of Evangelicals yet?

Segment Synopsis: Ford talks about Graham's involvement with the National Association of Evangelicals.

Keywords: Clyde Taylor; Committees; Friendships; Harold Ockenga

Subjects: Christianity; Evangelists--United States--20th century; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; National Association of Evangelicals; Religion

Partial Transcript: I know from research that, uh, Dr. Graham has been criticized by several people, uh, namely John R. Rice and Bob Jones Sr. and Jr.

Segment Synopsis: Ford talks about the criticisms that Graham has faced regarding his methods of conducting his crusades. He also discusses how Graham handled them.

Keywords: Bob Jones Jr.; Bob Jones Sr.; Bob Jones University; Cooperative Evangelism; Freedom; Gospel; Greenville Crusade; John R. Rice; Liberalism; Liberals; Polarization; Preachers

Subjects: Christianity; Criticism.; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Religion; Theology

Partial Transcript: Having, having been associated with Mr. Graham for sometime, would you, uh--what would you say would be the heart of this theology?

Segment Synopsis: Ford speaks about the theology of Graham's crusades and what the theology emphasizes. He also discusses how it reflects Graham's past experiences with religion.

Keywords: Biblical; Conversion; Eschatology; Fundamentals; Judgment; Redemption; Resurrection; Scripture; Traditional

Subjects: Baptists; Christianity; Evangelists--United States--20th century; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Jesus Christ; Presbyterian; Religion; Theology

Partial Transcript: Do you see, uh, in the whole of Mr. Graham's ministry, say from f--uh, '49 to the present, do you see, uh, a revival having taken place?

Segment Synopsis: Ford gives his opinion on whether or not Graham's crusades have caused another revival in Evangelism to take place. He also discusses the contrasting elements of the Great Awakening and Graham's crusades (media, groups, etc.).

Keywords: Charles Finney; Christianity Today; Churches; Evangelical Movement; Great Awakening; Magazines; Movements; Organization; Revival; Social reformation; The Navigators; World Vision; Young Light; Youth for Christ

Subjects: Christianity; Evangelical Revival--United States--History; Evangelists--United States--20th century; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Religion

Partial Transcript: What, um, what do you see as, uh, uh, well, let me put it this way, how do you view Billy Graham?

Segment Synopsis: Ford discusses his opinion on Graham's status as either a Revivalist or an Evangelist. He also discusses the influence of Graham's crusades.

Keywords: Crusades; Influence; Journalism; Ministry; Revivalism; Revivalists; Social movements; Television

Subjects: Christianity; Evangelists--United States--20th century; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Religion

Partial Transcript: My next question was going to be: What are the other ministries of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association?

Segment Synopsis: Ford lists many of the different ministries within the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and what they contribute to the organization.

Keywords: Associate Evangelists; Billy Graham Center; Decision Magazine; Film ministry; Ministries; Ministry of Counseling; Ministry of Literature; Ministry of World Relief; Schools of Evangelism; Television; The Hour of Decision; Wheaton College; World Wide Pictures

Subjects: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; Christianity; Evangelists--United States--20th century; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Israel; Religion

Partial Transcript: I'm sure that you've been asked this very frequently or others have asked the question.

Segment Synopsis: Ford discusses what would happen to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association if Graham were to die. He also talks about the potential outcome of someone besides Graham leading the association.

Keywords: Crusades; Fellowship; Influence; Leadership

Subjects: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; Christianity; Evangelists--United States--20th century; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Religion

Partial Transcript: Earlier in our conversation, you mentioned the New York crusade, specifically, uh, Martin Luther King's invitation to come to that crusade.

Segment Synopsis: Ford discusses Martin Luther King's involvement in Graham's New York crusade and the relationship between King and Graham that stemmed from this crusade.

Keywords: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; New York crusade; Prayer

Subjects: Baptist World Alliance; Christianity; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; King, Martin Luther, Jr. 1929-1968; New York (N.Y.); Religion

Partial Transcript: At least one historian has written that, uh, uh, Billy Graham's Evangelism, uh, is what he calls the engineering of mass consent.

Segment Synopsis: Ford talks about the idea that Graham's Evangelism is "the engineering of mass consent." He also contrasts Graham's Evangelism with Hitler's use of mass consent.

Keywords: Business; Crusades; Decisions; Emotions; Individuals; Mass consent; Organization; Robots

Subjects: Christianity; Evangelists--United States--20th century; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Hitler, Adolf, 1889-1945.; Religion

Partial Transcript: One last question, which encompasses a great deal.

Segment Synopsis: Ford tells of some other people that could supplement the information given regarding Graham and his life, ministry, and personal views.

Keywords: E. D. Hill; Howard Jones; Racial views; Ralph Bell; T. W. Wilson

Subjects: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; Graham, Billy, 1918-2018; Research; Theology