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Groton Daily Independent
Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018 ~ Vol. 25 - No. 223 ~ 32 of 52
closely as he did world events. Who wore old blue jeans, comfortable sweaters, and a baseball cap. Who loved lukewarm coffee, sweet ice tea, one scoop of ice cream, and a plain hamburger from McDonald’s.” In his later years, Graham visited communist Eastern Europe and increasingly appealed for world peace. He opened a 1983 convention of evangelists from 140 nations by urging the elimination of nuclear and
biological weapons.
He told audiences in Czechoslovakia that “we must do all we can to preserve life and avoid war,” although
he opposed unilateral disarmament. In 1982, he went to Moscow to preach and attend a conference on world peace.
During that visit, he said he saw no signs of Soviet religious persecution, a misguided attempt at diplo- macy that brought scathing criticism from author Alexander Solzhenitsyn, among others.
Graham’s relationship with Nixon became an issue once again when tapes released in 2002 caught the preacher telling the president that Jews “don’t know how I really feel about what they’re doing to this country.”
Graham apologized, saying he didn’t recall ever having such feelings and asking the Jewish community to consider his actions above his words.
In 1995, his son Franklin was named the ministry’s leader.
Along with many other honors, Graham received the $1 million Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion in 1982 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1996.
“I have been asked, ‘What is the secret?’” Graham had said of his preaching. “Is it showmanship, orga- nization or what? The secret of my work is God. I would be nothing without him.”
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Online: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: http://www.billygraham.org
Billy Graham Center archives: http://www.wheaton.edu/bgc/archives/archhp1.html
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Zoll reported from New York. Retired Associated Press Religion Writer Richard N. Ostling contributed to
this report.
Oversight committee wants to look at Pruitt’s travel records By MICHAEL BIESECKER, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican-led congressional committee is demanding records related to premium-class ights taken by Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt.
House Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy issued a letter to Pruitt this week seeking an accounting of all ights taken by the EPA administrator over the last year and whether the ticket was coach, business or rst class. Pruitt defended his use of premium-class airfare in media interviews earlier this month, saying security concerns were raised after unpleasant interactions with other passengers.
The South Carolina Republican’s letter sent Tuesday speci cally cites the evolving explanations of EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox, who initially told reporters that Pruitt had a “blanket waiver” to y rst class before then saying separate waiver had been granted by ethics of cials for each ight. Federal employees are typically supposed to y coach, and travel rules such bar blanket waivers.
“We will respond to Chairman Gowdy through the proper channel,” Wilcox said Wednesday.
Pruitt, the former GOP attorney general of Oklahoma, has been under increasing scrutiny for his jet setting since his appointment by President Donald Trump last year. Records show Pruitt’s airfare is often several times more expensive than that of aides booked on the same ights.
Gowdy’s letter says the requested records are to be provided to his committee by March 6.
“Federal regulations require government travelers to obtain approval or authorization from their agency to use accommodations other than coach-class when traveling on of cial business,” Gowdy wrote. “Clearly, federal regulations prohibit a blanket waiver to y rst class except to accommodate disabilities or special needs.”
Pruitt said earlier this month he had some “incidents” on ights that necessitated his need for rst-class seats. EPA has refused requests from The Associated Press to provide details of those incidents.