« The Top 15 Most-Read CT Articles of 2012 | Main | Employer-Limited Speech Not a First Amendment Violation, Appeals Court Says »
December 31, 2012
Billy Graham's Record Grows as 'Most Admired Man' in America
Graham outranks the Dalai Lama, ties with the Pope in 2012.
While Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton once again top this year's Gallup poll of whom Americans admire most, Billy Graham continues his record streak of appearances on the nation's "Most Admired Man" list.
After Obama and Nelson Mandela (who ranked second), Graham tied for 3rd place alongside Mitt Romney, George W. Bush, and Pope Benedict XVI on Gallup's 2012 list.
Gallup noted that the 94-year-old Graham "has been on the top 10 Most Admired list 56 times since 1955, more than any other man—although he has never been in first place." Graham reached 2nd place four times, the last being in 1999. Ronald Reagan is next with 31 appearances on the top 10 list.
Per Gallup:
Gallup's "Most Admired" question is open-ended, asking Americans to name, without prompting, the man and the woman they most admire living in any part of the world....The open-ended nature of the question produces the names of people with high top-of-mind name identification, most often hailing from the world of government and politics; the list also includes individuals who have become famous serving humanitarian causes and others whose fame comes from the business and entertainment worlds.
Comments
Billy Graham, OK, but only half the way! Ruth Graham was his head, heart and conscience, and she is missing everyway.
Posted By: Peter Widmer | December 31, 2012 11:58 AM
Billy Graham was a great preacher, preaching clear law and gospel to millions of people. Unfortunately, he returned to the preaching of the law after the preaching of the gospel in telling people they had to "make a decision" and that really ruined the sermons. See what St Paul writes about man's natural condition in Eph. 2;1-3 !!!
Posted By: CRB | December 31, 2012 3:11 PM
It is so good to see Billy Graham once again near the top of the Gallup List Of Most Admired People in the World. And to see that he is far and away the leader with the most number of times on the list, with Ronald Reagan in far second place [56 times vs 31 times].
Having worked with Mr Graham for over 30 years, I can say that he richly deserves this honor and that, if anything, he is even more honest and ethical and worthy privately than what the public sees - if that is even possible.
If only we had more leaders and role models like Mr Graham in the world today.
Posted By: Larry Backlund | January 1, 2013 1:46 AM
CRB: "he returned to the preaching of the law after the preaching of the gospel in telling people they had to "make a decision" and that really ruined the sermons",,,
The 'old human war' between arminians and reformed 'calvinists'? :-)
see Php 1,18:
"But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice".
Posted By: Peter Widmer | January 1, 2013 6:11 AM
Larry, it's unfortunate that Graham has tarnished his legacy in having his organization remove negative comments about Mormonism in a moment of political calculation. It it wasn't Billy but his son Franklin who made that decision and others this past political season (CT even had a roundtable discussion on whether Franklin is using his dad's name for political ends), then it's unfortunate that this distinguished man has allowed his son to take over and misuse his name. But if it wasn't his son but Billy himself doing it, then Billy reneged on his post-Nixon pledge to stay out of politics. The whole Mormonism-not-a-cult debacle demonstrated that Billy, Franklin, and/or the BGEA prioritize politics over the claims of the Gospel. I really did admire Billy for years, but after 2012's political entanglements, he's off my list.
Posted By: Ken | January 1, 2013 9:45 AM
That 'Americans' put Obama and Hilary Clinton at the top of the list is proof positive how far this country has gone into the cesspool of of immorality.
Posted By: John | January 2, 2013 2:01 PM
Larry,
I said nothing about Graham's motivation. What I'm trying to make clear is that when one preaches the law (2nd use) after the gospel, the hearer must conclude that, "I decided to believer the gospel" and that is no place to stand before God, for we are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
Posted By: CRB | January 2, 2013 3:38 PM
Post a comment: