NEW YORK - On his last U.S. crusade, Billy Graham is playing it safe.

The evangelist known as "America's pastor" vowed Tuesday to stick to the Bible - and stay away from politics during his mammoth revival meeting in New York this weekend.

"I'm going to talk about the Gospel of Christ and I'm going to refuse to answer questions on subjects I might have 20 years ago," Graham said at a news conference at the Rainbow Room.

The frail 86-year-old Protestant minister is less of a political activist than some of his fellow pulpiteers, but he's spoken out on communism, civil rights and nuclear disarmament over the years.

When he takes the stage at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens on Friday night, however, his message to the masses will have a single focus.

"If I get up and I talk about some political issue, it divides the audience," Graham said. "What I want is a united audience to hear the Gospel."

Although Graham cemented his reputation with an historic 16-week crusade at Madison Square Garden in 1957, he hasn't led one in the city since 1991, when 250,000 followers flocked to Central Park.

With his advanced age and poor health - he suffers from water on the brain, prostate cancer, Parkinson's and hearing loss - he didn't think he'd ever hold another crusade here.

But after Sept. 11, his son Franklin Graham began meeting with church leaders in the city and broached the idea of one final New York extravaganza.

"He kept talking to me and saying, 'I think they want you to come back.' I said, 'I don't think I could ever do that,'" Graham said.

He eventually changed his mind and now plans to preach for 35 minutes each day before expected crowds of more than 70,000.

Franklin Graham, who drew criticism in 2001 for calling Islam "evil and wicked," will sermonize in his father's place in case of illness.

In his resonant North Carolina drawl, Billy Graham confirmed Tuesday that this trip to New York will be his last crusade in America.

It could be his last ever if he declines an invitation from London - or receives one from heaven, he said.

"I look forward to death. I look forward to seeing God face-to-face," said Graham, who uses a walker but still has vibrant blue eyes and a mane of white hair.

"I hope I'll see all of you there," he said to the crush of media at the news conference. "And bring your cameras."