Evangelist Billy Graham apologized March 1 for remarks about Jews he made 30 years ago in the Oval Office. Speaking with then-President Richard Nixon about Jewish influence in the media, Graham said that Jews are “the ones putting out the pornographic stuff” and noted, “This stranglehold has got to be broken or this country’s going down the drain.” Graham’s tape-recorded remarks were made public recently as part of the continuing release of material from Nixon’s presidency.
“Although I have no memory of the occasion, I deeply regret comments I apparently made in an Oval Office conversation with President Nixon — some 30 years ago,” Graham said in a statement. “They do not reflect my views and I sincerely apologize for any offense caused by the remarks.”
In the Feb. 1, 1972 discussion with Nixon, which took place after the two attended a prayer breakfast, Graham expressed concern about what he perceived as Jewish domination of the media.
“You believe that?” Nixon asked.
“Yes, sir,” Graham said.
“Oh boy. So do I,” Nixon said, and added, “I can’t ever say that, but I believe it.”
“No, but if you get elected a second time, then we might be able to do something,” Graham replied.
Later in the conversation, when Nixon returned to the topic of Jewish influence in the mass media, Graham said, “A lot of Jews are great friends of mine. They swarm around me and are friendly to me. Because they know that I am friendly to Israel and so forth. But they don’t know how I really feel about what they’re doing to this country, and I have no power and no way to handle them.”
Nixon replied, “You must not let them know.”
Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Jewish Anti-Defamation League, said, “We were shocked to learn that a man of the cloth and stature of the Rev. Billy Graham held anti-Semitic views and freely shared them with President Richard Nixon, as revealed on the just-
released Nixon tapes. Rev. Graham’s assertion that Jews had a ‘stranglehold’ on the country and that a second Nixon Administration ‘might be able to do something,’ is chilling and frightening, even today, 30 years after the statements were made. It is shameful that one of America’s most respected religious leaders and a spiritual advisor to Presidents believed and espoused age-old classical anti-Semitic canards.”
A Boston Globe editorial noted that Graham had missed an opportunity to correct his friend’s anti-Semitism. “Given a chance to speak truth to power, Graham spoke garbage,” it said. Columnist Cal Thomas agreed that Graham had compromised his principles “in order to please Nixon,” and added, “Graham is no bigot, although he sounds like one on the tape.”
Graham, 83, began his friendship with Nixon during the Eisenhower Administration, when Nixon served as vice president. While apologizing for his past remarks, Graham said, “Throughout my ministry, I have sought to build bridges between Jews and Christians. I will continue to strongly support all future efforts to advance understanding and mutual respect between our communities.”
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