Nixon, (Rev. Billy) Graham talk on tape of American anti-Semitism

[sabra]

Source: JTA

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Richard Nixon and the Rev. Billy Graham believed Jewish opposition to Christian evangelism efforts would foster anti-Semitism.

"Deep down in this country there is a lot of anti-Semitism. All this is going to do is stir it up," said the former president in a Feb. 21, 1973 phone conversation with Graham, a leading evangelist.

...

Graham responds that anti-Semitism in America is "right under the surface" and that Jewish criticism of a major evangelism effort would bring it "right to the top."

Nixon responds, "Anti-Semitism is stronger than we think. You know, it’s unfortunate. But this has happened to the Jews. It happened in Spain, it happened in Germany, it’s happening -- and now it’s going to happen in America if these people don’t start behaving."

..

"They better understand it quick because there are elements in this country, not just the Birchers, but a lot of reasonable people that are getting awfully sick of it." The term Birchers is a reference to members of the extreme right-wing John Birch Society.

Nixon later states about Jews that "it may be they have a death wish. You know that's been the problem with our Jewish friends for centuries."

Read more: http://jta.org/news/article/2009/06/24/1006108/nixon-graham-talk-of-jews-bringing-about-anti-semitism

[sharp_stick]

1. I can't believe Nixon

was really dumb enough or paranoid enough to tape every conversation he ever had in the White House.

I don't know what he thought he could accomplish other than to show the world at some point that he was just another batshit insane Republican in what has become a long line of batshit insane Republicans.

[sofa king]

6. I think he thought it was his duty.

Lyndon Johnson felt the same way, and recorded most of his phone conversations. I think that both took their duty to document their Presidency as seriously as the law does.

Remember that when it comes time to start declassifying the records of Reagan and the Bushes.

[twitomy]

2. I think Nixon was right;

There is anti-semitism "just under the surface" in America. But it seems to be more on the left nowadays than the right, at least in the USA. Evangelicals today LOVE Isreal, if only for their own selfish interests (Isreal would be restored prior to the Apocalypse) Just read any of the threads here relating to Isreal to see what I mean...

[VWolf]

3. Not sure about that

I think what you may see as anti-semitism from the left is really opposition to many of the Israeli government's policies.

[fascisthunter]

7. antisemitism on the left... how so?

because we don't like what the Israeli government does? Here's a fucking clue for you: not like a government has nothing to do with a religion.

[twitomy]

10. I dunno, but some of these signs seem to be a bit more

than about simple politcal disagreements..

<http://www.adl.org/anti_semitism/arab/as_rallies.asp>

[Indenturedebtor]

12. For starters - the complete inability to consider both sides

It's the same reason that I think pukes who want to turn Iran into a "glass parking lot" are bigots.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. You are correct.

Much of it is couched in other terminology and because of that it creates real problems in discussions. Also, hate crimes against Jews are higher than all crimes against all other religious and atheists combined. Anti-Smeitism has strong ties in this country and no group, not one is immune.

[Indenturedebtor]

11. Yep I actually lost a friend over this on Sunday

He didn't know I was Jewish until Sunday night. Made a couple of your typical anti-semitic har hars which I let slide. Then he moved right on to the Israel discussion. He couldn't refute my points so he actually "changed" the subject and asked me "Is it something in your religion that makes Jews so cheap?"

I explained to him that there was nothing of the sort and the only reason that he thinks that is because negative stereotypes are reinforced more readily than positive ones, etc... then he tells me "Well my other Jewish friend says that's why everybody hates you." Hah. From the Israel political discussion in which he just cannot believe that Arafat walked away from the deal in 2000, saying that it must have been the Jews I mean the Israelis who fucked it up.. then straight onto "everyone hates you because you're cheap."

And of course through our discussion he asked me "Are you an American or an Israeli?". Ah the blessed loyalty oath... gotta love that one.

Jackass didn't even notice that I brought about 25 bucks worth of alcohol over to his house.

So typical lol. If people couldn't edit themselves on the net, this board would be full of that shit.

[The Second Stone]

13. Yes, not one group is immune.

Including Jews and Israelis. What protects everyone is a uniform rule of law. If the Israelis and their Jewish allies want international law to protect them and Israel, then they too must abide by those laws. People like me on the "left" feel that Israel has betrayed the rule of law with respect to the Palestinians and has done so for over 40 years. That settlements are still going up in the West Bank even as we speak, that resources and travel are restricted for Palestinians shows people like me that the Israelis want all the land and all the resources and will continue to try to wait out future generations of Palestinians. I'm not interested in supporting Israel anymore, nor would I be interested in going back to supporting Israel beyond their 1967 borders. Until Israel either makes a peace that the Palestinians are agreed to, or they unilaterally go back to the 1967 borders, whichever may come first, I think Israel is in the wrong to the point that I am willing to utterly turn my back.

To receive justice people must be prepared to do justice. If a UN resolution and force of arms is sufficient justification to kick a whole people out of their immediate ancestors' lands, it can be done again. That is no protection for anybody.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. No group is immune, as I said.

That also means there is a fair amount of bigotry, lies and propaganda and bullshit thrown at Israel and Jews. I love how you intertwined the two. I was just discussing this with a friend.

[The Second Stone]

17. Yes, not one group is immune.

nor is Israel immune from also propagandizing, lying and bullshitting. Only when Israel and its interested Jewish supporters demand justice for everyone will progress be made. Was hope assassinated with Rabin?

[cali]

19. conflating Jews and Israel as you do is ignorant shit

and holding all Jews responsible for Israel as you do is as bigoted and ugly and stupid as holding all Muslims responsible for 9/11.

[Bonhomme Richard]

4. The way I read it is that it's the "Jews" fault.

Really sick.

[sabra]

5. "and now it’s going to happen in America if these people don’t start behaving."

says it all :crazy:

[Critters2]

8. Classic scapegoating. That's how it's always done...

"they brought this on themselves". Disgusting.

[surrealAmerican]

14. That's Nixon for you.

It was pretty well known before, how antisemitic he was.

[janx]

15. He wasn't. Read again. n/t

[truthisfreedom]

18. Move this thread, mods.

[IndianaGreen]

20. Why? So that people don't get to read how sick Nixon and Billy Graham were?

Or are you an Iranian censor that lost his way?

[IndianaGreen]

21. In Nixon tapes, Billy Graham refers to 'synagogue of Satan'

Evangelical Christianity's true intolerant nature is revealed!

In Nixon tapes, Billy Graham refers to 'synagogue of Satan'

By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY

A 1973 conversation between President Nixon and evangelist Billy Graham about Jews, laden with critical references including a Biblical verse on the "synagogue of Satan," has put the aging, frail Graham back in unwelcome headlines.

The conversation is part of newly-released secretly recorded tapes from the Nixon presidency, from the U.S. National Archives in College Park, Md., and the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, Calif. A sampling of more than 150 hours of tape recordings and 30,000 pages of documents from two months in 1973 were made public Tuesday (download at Nixon.archives.gov/National Archives), culled from 4,000 hours of taped meetings and phone calls in a two-year period.

An earlier release of tapes in 2002 shocked fans of Graham, who is heard agreeing with Nixon as the president rails against liberal Jews' political activism and media clout. Graham tells Nixon how Jews befriend him but adds, "They don't know how I really feel about what they're doing to this country."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-06-24-graham-tapes_N.htm?csp=34