On February 1, 1953, just 10 days after his inauguration, Eisenhower was baptized and welcomed into the National Presbyterian Church by the Rev. In fact, Eisenhower played a very personal role in popularizing religious faith in America. Eisenhower-along with Graham-played an important part in encouraging this spiritual devotion. That decade was a time of extraordinary religious revival: Church membership rose from 49 percent of Americans in 1940 to 69 percent in 1960. The close bond between Christianity-evangelical Protestantism, in particular-and the American presidency began to form in the 1950s. As spiritual counsel to a dozen presidents, Graham was emblematic of the mutually beneficial relationship between politicians and religious groups. After his death, the Reverend Billy Graham became just the fourth private citizen in American history to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda, a recognition usually reserved for elected officials and military leaders.