Richard Nixon on “Our Jewish Friends”
Recently released tapes of Richard Nixon’s Oval Office conversations from January and February 1973 reveal his bigoted feelings about Jews, women and minorities.
Of “our Jewish friends,” Nixon told evangelist Billy Graham in a February 1973 conversation about how Jewish-Americans were resisting evangelicals’ attempts to spread Christianity:
“What I really think is deep down in this country, there is a lot of anti-Semitism, and all this is going to do is stir it up.”
He added: “It may be they have a death wish. You know that’s been the problem with our Jewish friends for centuries.”
Nixon disclosed his views on mixed-race children in his private response to the Roe v. Wade decision, acknowledging that abortion would be useful in certain cases, such as, “When you have a black and a white.” Jews, presumably, weren’t a concern because of their death wish.
And on women in politics, Nixon had this gem to share with then-Republican party chairman George H.W. Bush, recounting his recent trip to South Carolina:
“I noticed a couple of very attractive women, both of them Republicans, in the legislature. I want you to be sure to emphasize to our people, God, let’s look for some … Understand, I don’t do it because I’m for women, but I’m doing it because I think maybe a woman might win someplace where a man might not…”
Don’t you worry, Mr. Nixon, we understand perfectly.
While my gut reaction to these comments is to suddenly feel less proud to be an American, the fact that the tapes have been revealed (36 years later, but who’s counting) and can be discussed openly, restores a measure of patriotism.
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[...] To be sure, there is plenty of anti-Semitism in America, but at least our celebrities and political figures generally limit their anti-Semitic rants to the privacy of the Oval Office. [...]
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