KIM LAWTON (Managing Editor, RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY): Billy Graham called Ruth his soul mate, his life partner. They were married for almost 64 years. She was actually born in China -- her parents were missionaries there -- and her dream was also to be a missionary. But when she met Billy and married him, that dream got put aside for his ministry. She raised their five children. I heard Billy say many times one of his regrets was that he was away from home so much while he was out preaching and doing his crusades
, and Ruth really raised the kids. She was a tough disciplinarian, the kids all said. They were a little wild, some of them, especially Franklin, and she really kept an iron fist on the home.
ABERNETHY: And Kim, what was her influence on him?
LAWTON: She had an enormous influence on Billy. She was his advisor. She didn't like to be in the limelight, but behind the scenes she was always telling him what she thought about his sermons. She would cut out newspaper clippings so that he could incorporate some of those things into his sermons. She would suggest Bible verses that he should include. But she also really tried to tell him how he was coming across, and when he got too involved in politics -- she would kick him under the table, for example, if he was talking too much about politics.
