President Trump preciously touched the wood of Billy Graham’s casket.

As the speaker of the House bowed his head, hundreds of other lawmakers, family and friends, stood in a rare salute Wednesday to the man they called, “America’s pastor.”

“He ministered to all walks, from some of the greats whose statues line this hall — Eisenhower, King, Ford, and Reagan — to the everyday citizens lining up today to pay their respects,” said House Speaker Paul Ryan, gesturing to Graham’s casket under the eye of the Capitol Rotunda.

President Trump, who met the late reverend Graham, is closer to his son, Franklin, recalled that the elder Graham had long been part of his life. Trump said his father, Fred, “said to me, ‘Come on, son … Let’s go see Billy Graham at Yankee Stadium.’ And it was something very special.”

He called Graham “an ambassador for Christ who reminded the world of the power of prayer and the gift of God’s grace.”

Graham’s influence stretched far beyond the city where he counseled presidents and lawmakers to a global flock over the better part of seven decades. He is known for having met every president, Trump included, and counseled most.

Graham was close to Richard Nixon while he was in office, but Graham said he felt used by the details of the Watergate scandal.

But the world of American politics and government embraced Graham on Wednesday, a week after he died at age 99. Those gathered, including Vice President Mike Pence, some members of Trump’s Cabinet and members of the House and Senate, stood around the casket. They were ringed by paintings of the nation’s founders.

“The man we recognize today shared the Gospel with more people, face-to-face, than anyone else in history,” said Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

As the leaders stood by the casket, Trump reached out to touch it. Ryan, nearby, bowed his head.