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VP Mike Pence in Tennessee calls Trump 'most pro-life president in all of history'

During his trip to Nashville, Pence praised the president for his strong anti-abortion stance and listed off the policy changes made under the Trump Administration.

Vice President Mike Pence used his latest visit to Nashville to offer support for the anti-abortion movement and reassure those gathered at a Christian broadcasting conference that the current administration will be the most vociferous supporter yet of issues important to evangelicals.

The vice president delivered two well-received speeches Tuesday at the National Religious Broadcasters' 75th annual meeting, which is being held this week at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.

The thousands of Christian communicators attending the evangelical association's annual convention greeted Pence with standing applause.

"I’m a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order," Pence said, repeating one of his oft-used phrases in his afternoon speech. "To all of you whose faith and ministries have inspired the hearts of millions, it is great to be back."

Pence's second visit to Nashville as VP

Pence, who is visiting Nashville for the second time since the 2016 election, welcomed U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson to the stage, and both men decried abortion, with Pence later specifically calling out Planned Parenthood as an adversary to the sanctity of life.

Vice President Mike Pence speaks to the National Religious Broadcasters' 75th Annual Convention at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center Tuesday February 27, 2018, in Nashville. Photo: Larry McCormack, The Tennessean.

The vice president lauded the Trump administration's first-year progress during his roughly 25-minute long afternoon talk. He covered topics ranging from school safety to fighting terrorism. A few remarks brought the audience to their feet, including the decision to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

That resonated with John White, of Results Business Solutions in Terrel, N.C. He supports recognizing the city as Israel’s capital.

“For Christians and believers, we know how powerful that is for us to support the Jewish nation,” White said.

Honoring the late Billy Graham

Pence also drew attention to the late evangelist Billy Graham, who died last week, saying he had drawn millions to Christ. The vice president spoke about his children responding to Graham’s call years ago to accept Jesus.

"He was a man of towering faith," Pence said. "He was an example and his ministry for the gospel and his matchless voice inspired our nation and the world."

Many at the NRB conference this week are reflecting on Graham’s legacy not only as a preacher, but also as a trailblazer in Christian communications.

Mark Seignious, a communications professor at the University of Northwestern, found Pence’s personal story about Graham heartening. The late evangelist served as president of the St. Paul, Minn., school, he said.

“It’s what we’re all feeling this week,” Seignious said.

Pence said he and President Donald Trump will attend Graham's funeral.

Jerry Johnson, the NRB's president and CEO, told those gathered that Pence had been "a champion of life and liberty." He reminded the crowd that the NRB had given Pence an award in 2009 for his work.

"Now as vice president, he and President Trump have worked to ensure that those who value such societal building blocks as life, liberty, family and faith, we’re not constantly on our heels," Johnson said of Pence. "Rather, this administration is leading the charge in a return to First Amendment principles at home and abroad."

Pence takes aim at Planned Parenthood

Earlier in the day, Pence addressed a much smaller crowd attending a luncheon hosted by the Susan B. Anthony List and Life Institute, an anti-abortion organization. He praised the president for his strong anti-abortion stance and listed off the policy changes made under the Trump administration.

"Allow me to bring greetings to you from the most pro-life president in all of history, President Donald Trump," Pence said. "To all of you who are gathered here, to religious broadcasters who have made a difference for the cause of life, we thank you."

Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the Susan B. Anthony List & Life Institute Luncheon Tuesday, February 27, 2018, in Nashville. Photo: Larry McCormack, The Tennessean.

The vice president said he is proud of the tie-breaking role he played in the U.S. Senate on one of those efforts.

Last year, Pence's vote helped pass legislation to withhold federal funds from Planned Parenthood and other health care providers that perform abortions.

He also praised U.S. Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., for her anti-abortion work. Black, who is running for governor or Tennessee, spoke before the vice president.

Planned Parenthood has pushed back against both Trump and Pence for the administration's actions.

“The Trump-Pence administration is quietly taking aim at access to birth control under the nation’s program for affordable reproductive health care, which more than four million people rely on each year," Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement last week in response to proposed changes to Title X, the federal government's program for affordable contraception.

“Don’t be fooled — this is a clear attempt to roll back access to the type of birth control that most women want to use. The last thing anyone wants is for Donald Trump or Mike Pence to weigh in on her sex life — but this announcement essentially invites them into the bedroom."

In August, Pence made his first visit to Nashville since becoming vice president when he spoke at the Tennessee Republican Party's Statesmen's Dinner, the state party's largest annual fundraiser.

Before leaving Nashville, the vice president was expected to attend a Republican Governors Association event with Gov. Bill Haslam.

Reach Jordan Buie and jbuie@tennessean.com or 615-726-5970 and on Twitter @JordanBuie. Reach Holly Meyer at hmeyer@tennessean.com or 615-259-8241 and on Twitter @HollyAMeyer.

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