July 11, 2024 • 39 mins
In the early 1970s, two powerful men, President Richard Nixon and evangelist Billy Graham, held secret Oval Office conversations about Jews. “America’s Pastor” and the 37th President of the United States didn’t consider themselves antisemites, but they dredged up stereotypes and traded in conspiracy theories shared by many Americans about the “good Jews”: Jews who were too smart, too powerful, and all too willing to corrupt the nation’s morals.
Featuring: Yaakov Ariel, Daniel Hummel, and Jonathan Greenblatt
Narrated by Mark Oppenheimer
Written by John Turner and Lincoln Mullen
This series is made possible with support from the Henry Luce Foundation and the David Bruce Smith Foundation.
Antisemitism, U.S.A. is a production of R2 Studios at the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media at George Mason University.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Mark Oppenheimer (00:00):
Support for Antisemitism, U.S.A. comes from
the Henry Luce Foundation andthe David Bruce Smith Foundation.
In 1972, two men had aconversation about Jews. Their
Billy Graham (00:06):
They have, they have a strange brilliance about them.
ideas weren't new or all thatunusual. But the setting was. It
(00:26):
was the White House. AndPresident Richard Nixon was
meeting with the Reverend BillyGraham. And because the
President of the United Stateshad installed a sound activated
recording system in the OvalOffice, we can eavesdrop on
Richard Nixon (00:42):
Oh!
these two men.
Billy Graham (00:44):
They have a, they have a
Richard Nixon (00:49):
I'll tell you what it is, they're smart
Billy Graham (00:50):
They're smart, and they and they are energized, in
my judgment, by a supernaturalpower
Richard Nixon (00:54):
But also they do something else. They're not only
smart (
Billy Graham (00:59):
And you see, and of course Hitler didn't uh. They
had a stranglehold on Germany,on the banking of Germany, on
everything,
Richard Nixon (01:07):
That they did
Billy Graham (01:08):
And they had the whole thing you see.
Mark Oppenheimer (01:24):
I'm Mark Oppenheimer, and this is
Antisemitism, U.S.A., a podcaston the history of anti semitism
in the United States, EpisodeEight, The Synagogue of Satan.
In the decades after World WarTwo, Billy Graham was by far the
most popular religious leader inthe country. He grew up in North
(01:48):
Carolina and went to Bob JonesCollege, the Florida Bible
Institute, and then WheatonCollege. Along the way, he was
ordained as a Baptist minister,but he never pastored a church
of his own. Instead, he becameAmerica's pastor. Billy Graham's
message was very simple. Hebelieved that human beings are
sinners. The wages of sin aredeath and damnation. But men and
(02:13):
women could have their sinsforgiven if they accepted Jesus
Christ as their Lord and Savior.At the end of every one of his
revivals, Graham would urgepeople to come forward to
dedicate their lives to JesusChrist. And without fail
hundreds, sometimes thousands ofpeople would respond.
(02:36):
Graham was a phenomenon. It'shard to overstate just how
popular he was. He wasn'texactly Elvis, or the Beatles,
or Taylor Swift. It wasn't thatlevel of adoration. But Graham
could fill tents and thenstadiums night after night, for
weeks and sometimes for monthson end. Nobody in the world
preached to more people inperson in the second half of the
(02:58):
20th century than Billy Graham.
Here's Yaakov Ariel, author ofAn Unusual Relationship:
Evangelical Christians and Jews.
Yaakov Ariel (03:08):
He was the Queen Elizabeth of evangelical
Christianity. For the most part,he never took a wrong step. So
he was kind of middle of theroad. He never endorsed
extremism, or rather rarely.
Mark Oppenheimer (03:26):
Graham tried hard to get along with everyone.
His own roots were NorthCarolina fundamentalism. But
Graham didn't want to lead anarrow remnant of ultra
conservative Protestants.Instead, in the 1950s, Graham
sided with a group ofProtestants who call themselves
the new evangelicals, men whowanted to update fundamentalism,
sand off its rougher edges andgain bigger audiences. His
(03:49):
crusades featured star athletes,celebrity singers, and a strong
dose of American patriotism.Graham also built bridges with
non Christians, especially Jews.
Interest in Jews and the Stateof Israel was not unusual among
American evangelicals. For theseChristians, decoding the end
(04:10):
times required careful attentionto the movements and actions of
Jews. In terms of theology,Protestants like Billy Graham
were pre millennialdispensationalists which
basically means that theybelieved that in the final stage
of human existence, trueChristians would be removed from
the earth prior to massivetribulations. Then Jesus would
(04:33):
return and he would reign onearth for a thousand years
before the resurrection of thedead, and the final judgment.
For centuries, many prophecyminded Protestants had predicted
that Jews would return to theirancient homeland as a precursor
to these events. So the Zionistmovement had sparked a lot of
excitement. As the 20th centuryprogressed, Christian Zionists
(04:58):
found more and more reason topresume that Jesus was about to
return. Here's historian DanielHummel, author of Covenant
Brothers (05:06):
Evangelicals, Jews and US Israeli Relations.
Daniel Hummel (05:11):
For most dispensationalists, there's
really three things that shouldhappen, either right after the
rapture or before the rapture.One of them is the establishment
of a state of Israel. So thathappens in 1948. It's seen
widely as a fulfillment of 2000years of prophecy. 1967 becomes
just as big of a deal or more,because Israel is seen to have
(05:36):
retaken a lot of its homeland.And then the third thing that
Christian Zionists are lookingfor, is the rebuilding of the
Temple that would ultimatelyallow a reintroduction of Jewish
animal sacrifice and other sortof Old Testament practices that
Christian Zionists, because oftheir reading of prophecy and
stuff think needs to happen forall of prophecy to be fulfilled.
Mark Oppenheimer (06:01):
Billy Graham wasn't only interested in Jews
in Israel because of the end ofthe world. As with many
Christians, there was anattraction to the land where
Jesus had lived. And in the wakeof the Holocaust, Graham also
recognized the need for betterrelations between Christians and
Jews. In the 1950s, Graham heldlarge crusades in cities like
(06:22):
London and Frankfurt. Whereverhe went, he was invited to meet
heads of state, kings andqueens. And in 1960, Graham went
to Israel for the first time.
Daniel Hummel (06:34):
They were very curious, when Graham entered
Israel, if he would try to holdrallies to convert Jews to
Christianity, and he decided notto do that. He did hold rallies,
and he did do his traditionalmessage. But he did no sort of
specific targeting of Jews orspecific appeals to Jewish
language to argue for conversionand that was seen as a really
(06:55):
deft PR move by Graham. AndGraham also use that visit as an
opportunity to really emphasizehis understanding of the
relationship between Judaism andChristianity.
Mark Oppenheimer (07:10):
Since the early 1800s, many Protestant
ministries had spent a lot oftime and money trying to convert
Jews, usually with very littleto show for it. Graham didn't do
this. He understood that manyJews were offended by Christian
attempts to convert them. As theyears passed, Graham built on
the goodwill he established onthat first trip to Israel. In
(07:33):
1967, Graham met with around 100Jewish theologians, and again,
he was very deft. He noted thatat least nearly every book of
the New Testament was written byan early Jewish follower of
Jesus. He talked about wantingbetter relations between
Christians and Jews. And helistened when Jewish leaders
complained about otherevangelical ministries.
Daniel Hummel (07:55):
Publicly through this period, Graham was seen as
a strong friend of the Jewishpeople, and really a
representative of a communitythat had a much more complicated
relationship with American Jews,that is fundamentalists and
evangelicals. And Graham wasseen as someone who had been
moderating his views and wasmuch more palatable.
Mark Oppenheimer (08:10):
Every year beginning in 1948, the Gallup
poll has asked Americans to namethe man and woman they most
admire, and Billy Graham placedin the top 10 61 times. In 1972,
Graham was number two onGallup's list. The only man
ahead of him was his goodfriend, President Richard Nixon.
Graham loved politics and heloved presidents he befriended
(08:34):
and counseled Democrats andRepublicans alike. But he wasn't
nonpartisan and he wasn't abovethe fray. Graham was anti
communist, anti union, and probusiness. And although he built
bridges with Catholics and Jews,he had a vision of Protestant
(08:55):
America under siege fromsinister forces. He liked Dwight
Eisenhower, he worried aboutJohn F. Kennedy, and he was
friendly with Lyndon Johnson.
But Richard Nixon was the idealpolitician. There's no question
that Graham loved Jesus, but heoften acted like Nixon was a
close second in his heart. As itturned out, his personal
(09:18):
relationship with Richard Nixonwas one of the biggest mistakes
of Graham's career.
Daniel Hummel (09:24):
Graham knew Nixon for decades before Nixon became
president in 1969. Graham tendedto view Nixon as an overall
Christian person, and positiveforce in American politics,
which can be hard to reconcilewith a lot of the public memory
of someone like Nixon. But Nixonstood for conservative values,
(09:46):
family values, anti communism,things that Graham really
resonated with.
Mark Oppenheimer (09:51):
Nixon had been present at one of Graham's high
points, his 1957 New York Citycrusade. Graham packed Madison
Square Garden for 16 weeks. Heheld a special night at Yankee
Stadium. And Nixon sat on theplatform. Graham introduced the
vice president as "an ambassadorof goodwill, a young man with
vision, integrity, and courage."
Daniel Hummel (10:14):
Nixon is very interested in cultivating a
relationship with Graham becausehe sees Graham as sort of the
vessel to a lot of votes in alot of key states that if you
know, Graham is pro Nixon, thenthose evangelical voters might
be pro Nixon as well justbecause of Graham's endorsement.
And so Graham meets with Nixon alot, either over phone or
(10:35):
sometimes in person. And thenGraham actually appears with
Nixon a number of times, he'sstill doing these revivals
around the country. And oftenGraham would have politicians
either onstage or in theaudience. And Nixon becomes
someone who appears at some ofthese revivals, which is seen by
many as sort of a tacit, ormaybe not so tacit endorsement
(10:56):
of Nixon, that that sort of he'saligning himself publicly with
him. They talk a lot, and theysee each other as very valuable
to each of their own projects ofaccruing influence and getting
what they want done in theworld.
Mark Oppenheimer (11:10):
Before he announced his 1968 bid for the
presidency, Nixon invited Grahamto his vacation home in Florida.
Nixon had already decided torun, but he acted as if he
wanted Graham's advice on thematter. And Graham told Nixon,
"Dick, I think you should run.You are the best prepared man in
the United States to bepresident."
(11:31):
Graham didn't keep his supportprivate. He let it come out that
he had cast his absentee ballotfor Nixon. And Nixon knew that
strong support from conservativeProtestants was central to his
Sunbelt strategy of building anew durable Republican majority.
Nixon wasn't part of the postWorld War Two evangelical boom.
(11:53):
He'd grown up in a Quakerfamily, and he was a pretty
regular churchgoer for most ofhis adult life. He was intensely
private. He was enigmatic. Andit was hard to pinpoint his
exact religious beliefs. Itseems, however, that Nixon was
more comfortable with a kind ofstoic liberal Protestantism,
rather than the fervent emotionof evangelicalism. But Nixon
(12:17):
knew how to flatter politicalallies. And Graham became
convinced that the Lord was withthe President. The evangelist
was thrilled to be Nixon'sevangelical political operative.
And Graham invited the presidentto sit on the platform at his
crusades. On the phone, and inthe Oval Office, the two men
chatted often. One of thoseWhite House conversations took
(12:39):
place on February 1 1972, asthat year's campaign was heating
up. Nixon was cruising toreelection, but he was unhappy
with the media's coverage ofhim. The President started
rattling off newspapers andnetworks that he regarded as
enemies. The New York Times, TheWashington Post, The Los Angeles
(12:59):
Times, ABC, NBC, CBS. And Nixongrowled that 95% of journalists
were Jews. And at that time, hethought that Time and Life
magazine were, quote, "totallydominated by the Jews." Nixon
was upset because these Jewishjournalists had, as he saw it,
(13:22):
the wrong politics. Aware thatcriticism of Jews might sound
bad, Nixon insisted that hiscomplaints had
Richard Nixon (13:29):
Nothing to do with antisemitism
Mark Oppenheimer (13:33):
It was politics, not bigotry. He didn't
dislike all Jews. In particular,Nixon liked Israeli Jews. But
the President loathed mostAmerican Jews, whom he
understood as his politicalenemies. Nixon's political
calculus wasn't wrong. In mostnational elections, American
Jews overwhelmingly voted forDemocratic candidates. Jews
(13:56):
weren't only using the media forradical political ends, they
were also spreading moral filth.
Richard Nixon (14:02):
Insofar as media is concerned, the power over
media
Billy Graham (14:07):
They've got it.
Richard Nixon (14:07):
They've got it right by putting up
Billy Graham (14:09):
And they're the ones putting out pornographic
stuff.
Mark Oppenheimer (14:13):
Graham did not hesitate to wade into the topic.
Billy Graham (14:15):
You see the Bible makes a distinction Mr.
President, between two groups ofJews. In the latter days. It's
called the remnant of God'speople, which will be Jewish
people. And then there's thesynagogue of Satan and nearly
all of your religious deceptionsand the latter days, like the
Bible speaks latter days to be1000 years, what they call the
(14:37):
synagogue of Satan, in otherwords, they are energized by a
supernatural power called theDevil. This is what the Bible
teaches whether you believe itor don't believe it. This is the
biblical teacher.
Richard Nixon (14:46):
Alright
Billy Graham (14:47):
This is what I believe. And I believe that you
have the they have a, they havea strange brilliance about them.
Richard Nixon (14:52):
Oh!
Billy Graham (14:53):
They have a, they have a
Richard Nixon (14:54):
I'll tell you what it is, they're smart.
Billy Graham (14:55):
They're smart, and they and they are energized in
my judgment by a supernaturalpower.
Richard Nixon (15:01):
Also they do something else. They're not only
smart (speaking inaudibly)
Billy Graham (15:04):
And you see, and of course Hitler didn't uh. They
had a stranglehold on Germany,on the banking of Germany, on
everything
Richard Nixon (15:12):
That they did.
Billy Graham (15:13):
And and they had the whole thing you see and he
but he went around it wrong. Butthis stranglehold has got to be
broken or this country's gonnago down the drain.
Richard Nixon (15:22):
Do you believe that?
Billy Graham (15:23):
Yes sir
Richard Nixon (15:24):
Oh boy I can't ever say it. But I believe it.
Billy Graham (15:27):
No but if you get elected a second time we might
be able to do something.
Mark Oppenheimer (15:34):
Two of the most influential and powerful
men in the United States,exchanging vicious antisemitic
tropes (15:39):
a Jewish conspiracy, Jewish control of the media,
Jews spearheading radicalpolitics, Jews peddling sexual
smut. Nixon didn't think he wasan antisemite. In fact, he knew
antisemitism was a problem inthe US and other countries.
Nixon had a simple explanationfor anti Jewish hatred. It was
(16:01):
the bad behavior of Jews. InNixon's mind, Jews brought
antisemitism on themselves,through their own shiftiness,
disloyalty and mistakes. We'llhave more after the break.
Billy Graham wasn't the onlyperson with whom President Nixon
(16:24):
had conversations that includedantisemitic language. During a
1971 conversation between Nixonand his chief of staff Bob
Haldeman, and press secretaryRon Ziegler, there was a
discussion about a trove ofgovernment documents. These
documents, known as the PentagonPapers, were leaked to the press
by military analyst DanielEllsberg. Ellsberg's parents
(16:47):
were Jewish converts toChristian Science, and Ellsberg
himself was thoroughly secular.But as far as Nixon was
concerned, Ellsberg was a Jew.This conversation is a bit hard
to hear because of a fan in theroom.
Richard Nixon (17:04):
Just like the Rosenbergs and all that. That
just has to kill him. And youfeel horrible about it.
Ronald Ziegler (17:09):
Couldn't be by a guy by the name of Smith.
Richard Nixon (17:13):
There ain't none.
Bob Haldeman (17:14):
(laughing) Could have been a Rosenstein that
changed his name.
Ronald Ziegler (17:17):
It is, right. It's always an Ellsberg or
Richard Nixon (17:26):
They're all Jews. Every one's a Jew. Gelb's a Jew.
(speaking inaudibly)
That's a very interesting thing.So a few of those who engage in
Halperin's a Jew.
espionage are Negroes. Verylucky that way. And good. As a
matter of fact, very few of thembecome Communists. If they do,
Bob Haldeman (17:39):
They're not intellectual enough. Not smart enough.
they either, like, they get intoAngela Davis, they're more of an
activist type, and they throwbombs and this and that. But
the, but the Negroes, have youever noticed? There are damn few
Negro spies.
Richard Nixon (17:56):
It may be
Bob Haldeman (17:56):
They're not smart enough to be spies for the
The Jews are intellectual, theJews are, are born spies. If you
Germans
didn't get it, you notice howmany of them are? They're just
in it up to their necks.
Well, got a basic devious abil-deviousness, that-
Richard Nixon (18:11):
Well, also an arrogance.
Mark Oppenheimer (18:16):
Again, old tropes with anti black racism
mixed in. Jews are disloyal.They are especially dangerous
because they're smart andshifty. And you never know who's
Jewish because Jews sometimeschange their names. In another
conversation with his aides,Nixon had this to say
Richard Nixon (18:33):
The Jews are an irreligious, atheistic, amoral
bunch of bastards!
Mark Oppenheimer (18:40):
Now, Richard Nixon had a lot of people and
people's whom he didn't like. Soit's not surprising he didn't
like Jews. But what about BillyGraham? How did he come to
believe that some Jews, perhapsmany Jews, were the synagogue of
Satan? The evangelist wasquoting the New Testament's Book
(19:00):
of Revelation which reads, "Iknow the blasphemy of them which
say they are Jews and are not,but are the synagogue of Satan."
Here historian Daniel Hummelexplains,
Daniel Hummel (19:13):
There's a whole historical context of what's
being referenced there, which isnot really what Graham's
referencing, it has to do withChristians and Jews in the first
century relating to the Romanstate and, and sort of who's
giving up whom and in a taxationissue, and it's very, very
distant from anything in the20th century. But there's a long
Christian tradition of using theterm synagogue of Satan to
(19:35):
basically imply, or not evenjust imply, but, but claim that
Jews themselves as a group, areSatanic or demonic, or are
somehow entirely out of favorand at odds with God's plans in
the world. Graham is invokingthat version of that antisemitic
trope to try to explain to Nixonthe biblical dimension to what
(19:58):
Nixon is experiencing
Mark Oppenheimer (20:01):
Graham had grown up with these ideas. As
we've seen, the idea of a Jewishconspiracy to use either banking
or media to subvert democracywas commonplace in the 1930s.
Here's Yaakov Ariel again,
Yaakov Ariel (20:14):
He held cultural stereotypes of Jews and
political stereotypes of Jews,as those people who are
politically radical, who are atthe forehand of anti middle
class capitalist, anti elitecapitalist society, people are
(20:39):
there to undermine Christianvalues. Big time. He is not the
only one.
Mark Oppenheimer (20:47):
One of Graham's early influences was a
Minnesota minister, revivalist,and college president named
William Bell Riley. Riley'santisemitism was very public,
and very pronounced.
Daniel Hummel (20:59):
He was someone who had nice things to say about
Hitler, I guess that's another,you know, continuation with the
way Graham frames things in1972. He was someone who
supported the silver shirts inAmerica, which was a pro Nazi
grassroots group. And Riley wasin Minnesota, where there was a
lot of this activity, a historyof the KKK in that area as well.
(21:20):
Riley also trafficked inpromoting the Protocols of the
Elders of Zion, which is thewidely discredited antisemitic
fever dream of Jews sort ofcontrolling global politics. And
so Riley was someone who heldall those views, and, and
specifically talked about aconspiracy of Jews, Bolsheviks,
and Darwinists. Those were histhree big, bad groups in a
(21:42):
conspiracy together to basicallyenact an anti Christian agenda,
both in the United States andglobally.
Mark Oppenheimer (21:50):
Graham was never as extreme as Riley. And
he never would have saidpublicly what he said privately
to Nixon. In fact, Graham saidas much to President Nixon,
Billy Graham (21:59):
so a lot of the Jews are great friends of mine,
they, they swarm around me.
Richard Nixon (22:04):
(speaking inaudibly)
Billy Graham (22:04):
They're friendly to me. Because they know that
I'm friendly to Israel. But theydon't know how I really feel
Richard Nixon (22:13):
Right
Billy Graham (22:13):
about what they're doing to this country, and I
have no power and,
Richard Nixon (22:16):
(speaking inaudibly)
Billy Graham (22:16):
and no way to handle them.
Richard Nixon (22:18):
You must let 'em know
Billy Graham (22:19):
But I would stand up if it, if, you know, under
proper circumstances.
Mark Oppenheimer (22:23):
So you might be wondering, was Graham's
conversation with Nixon just aone off, a one time effusion of
antisemitism? It wasn't.
About a year later, in February1973. Graham spoke with Nixon
over the phone. The conversationcame shortly after the Israeli
(22:43):
Air Force shot down an Egyptianpassenger plane that had entered
Israeli airspace, which happenedto be a week before Israeli
Prime Minister Golda Meir wouldvisit the White House. The
conversation sheds more light onthe way that both Nixon and
Graham thought about antisemitism. They both thought it
was a real problem. But it was aproblem Jews had brought upon
themselves, for instance, byshooting down an airplane, or,
(23:07):
in Graham's mind, by criticizingChristian evangelists to sought
to convert Jews. Graham himselfhad chosen not to target Jews in
his evangelism work, but hebristled when American Jews
criticized other Christianministries. In particular, Jews
were expressing concern aboutsomething called Key '73, an
attempt by a coalition ofchurches and ministries to
(23:28):
evangelize the whole Americanpopulation in a single year.
Here's Graham complaining aboutJewish criticism of Key '73
Richard Nixon (23:37):
You're their friend.
Billy Graham (23:37):
I've been there friend, and they know that but
at the same time, they are goingright after the church and, and,
and there's a great deal offeeling beginning to rise in
areas where they've had greatfriendships.
Richard Nixon (23:50):
What'll happen out of this if they don't you
know. What I really think isdeep down in this country there
is a lot of antisemitism, andall this is going to do is stir
it up
Billy Graham (24:00):
It's right under the surface,
Richard Nixon (24:02):
Oh boy
Billy Graham (24:02):
and it's right to the top.
Richard Nixon (24:03):
That's right
Mark Oppenheimer (24:05):
Later in the conversation, Nixon returned to
the subject of antisemitism.
Richard Nixon (24:09):
Antisemitism is more, is stronger than we think,
you know. They just it's it'sunfortunate, but this has
happened to Jews. Happened inSpain, it's happened in Germany,
it's happening. And now it'sgoing to happen in America if
these people don't startbehaving.
Billy Graham (24:22):
But you know, I told you one time that the Bible
talks about two kinds of Jews.One is called the synagogue of
Satan. They are the ones puttingout the pornographic literature.
They are the ones putting outthese obscene films
Richard Nixon (24:34):
like the thing in Time magazine. And then Newsweek
Billy Graham (24:37):
Ruth canceled both of 'em
Richard Nixon (24:39):
Well good for her
Billy Graham (24:39):
Time or Newsweek
Richard Nixon (24:41):
I'll tell you what this group, and I think, I
think really they don't deserveto live.
Mark Oppenheimer (24:46):
Graham and Nixon saw American Jews as
integrates. These Jews, theydidn't appreciate what well
meaning evangelicals, likeGraham had done for them. They
didn't appreciate Nixon'ssupport for Israel, and through
their carping and complaining,they were fomenting
antisemitism. Graham told Nixonthat he intended to speak with
Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum of theAmerican Jewish Committee. And
(25:08):
Nixon urged Graham to be firmwith his Jewish friends.
Richard Nixon (25:12):
There's nothing that I want to do than, more
than to be made not only afriend of Israel but a friend of
the Jews in this country, butthat I'm gonna have to turn back
a terrible tide here if theydon't get a hold of it
themselves. And uh, it's up tothem
Billy Graham (25:27):
And they better understand it and understand it
quick
Richard Nixon (25:29):
because there are, there are elements in this
country, you know, not just theBirchers, but a lot of
reasonable people are nowgettin' awful sick of it.
Billy Graham (25:36):
They really are
In the in the church to be- I think what has
Richard Nixon (25:37):
Don't you think so?
happened in the church in thelast two months is almost uh,
they have, they have almost uh,these denominational leaders I'm
amazed that they have shaken byall this, because they've been
so pro Jewish. And the peoplethat have been the most pro
Israel are the ones that arebeing attacked now by the Jews.
(26:00):
And then they're gonna
Can't figure it out
Billy Graham (26:03):
They're gonna kick all Christians out of Israel it
is unbelievable.
Richard Nixon (26:07):
Can't figure it out, can't figure it out. Well,
it may be they have a deathwish, you know that's been the
problem with our Jewish friendsfor centuries.
Billy Graham (26:17):
Well, they've always been through the Bible,
at least to God's timepiece. Hehas judged them from generation
to generation
Richard Nixon (26:25):
Yeah
Billy Graham (26:26):
and yet use them and they've kept their identity.
Richard Nixon (26:29):
Right
Billy Graham (26:29):
And one of the things they're terribly afraid
of is so many of these Jewishyoung people are turning away
from Judaism
Richard Nixon (26:35):
Yeah
Billy Graham (26:35):
turning away from Jewishness, they say they're
remaining Jews, but they'rebecoming followers of Jesus.
Well, that's just scaring 'em todeath. You see
Richard Nixon (26:44):
(laughing) I see
Billy Graham (26:44):
they have they've set up all over the country,
these Jews for Jesus at thevarious universities.
They've said they're remaining Jews, but they
Richard Nixon (26:50):
(laughing)
believe that Jesus was treatedwrongly. And uh they're, and
this is frightening Jewishleaders and they're overreacting
in this countr- I'm talkingabout the rabbis
Oh I know, sure, sure theprofessionals. But they're,
they're like the Episcopalians,they're losing any appeal over
their own people.
Mark Oppenheimer (27:11):
At the end, you get a surprising bit of anti
Episcopalian shade, moreimportant for our discussion. In
this conversation, Grahamrepeats his earlier Bible
lesson. Many Jews, such as themedia moguls who oppose Nixon,
belong to the synagogue ofSatan. And while there are also
some good Jews, through theirunwise actions, they are causing
(27:32):
other Americans to becomeantisemites. And while Graham
was sensitive when discussingChristian proselytizing with
Jewish leaders, here, he andNixon are mocking Jews'
discomfort with evangelicalgroups who proselytize them.
Billy Graham had conversationswith countless people, and no
(27:55):
one else has come forward withother instances of antisemitism.
Graham said things to Nixon thathe apparently otherwise kept to
himself. And Graham's reputationas a friend of the Jewish people
only grew with time. Here's MarcTanenbaum of the American Jewish
Committee, introducing Graham atan event in the early 1980s.
Marc Tanenbaum (28:17):
I've said it before. I'll say it again today,
because I think the recordwarrants it. Billy Graham, based
on the privilege I've had ofknowing him and what I have seen
him do since the mid 1960s, whenI first had the meeting and is,
(28:37):
next to Pope John the 23rd of usin memory, the greatest friend
of the Jewish people in the 20thcentury.
Mark Oppenheimer (28:46):
Tanenbaum had lots of reasons for this praise.
He appreciated that Grahamleaned on evangelical
organizations not to target Jewsas prospective converts. He also
noted Graham's meetings withJewish leaders in Soviet bloc
countries. And probably withsome hyperbole, Tanenbaum
credited Graham for Nixon'sdecision to provide Israel with
(29:07):
missiles during the 1973 YomKippur War, in which Israel
defeated a joint Egyptian Syrianinvasion, a war that
nevertheless demonstrated thenation's existential insecurity.
Graham had a great deal ofinfluence. And he deployed it on
behalf of Jews in the US andIsrael.
(29:31):
Then, in 1994, news broke ofGraham's 1972 conversation with
Nixon. It came out because ofthe publication of the diaries
of Bob Haldeman, Nixon's Chiefof Staff. Haldeman noted that
Graham quote, "has the strongfeeling that the Bible says
there are Satanic Jews."
In a public statement, Grahamsaid "Those are not my words."
(29:54):
And he also said, "I have nevertalked publicly or privately
about the Jewish people,including conversations with
President Nixon, except in themost positive terms."
Graham's denial was dishonest,but it quashed the controversy
for the time being. After all,why would a friend of the Jews
make such an odious slur? Ifthere was antisemitism in the
(30:15):
White House, it was probablyNixon's, not Billy Graham's.
But then, almost 20 years later,the National Archives released
the tape of the conversation. Inkeeping with their policy of
protecting the privacy of livingindividuals recorded without
their consent. The Archivesredacted some portions of the
tape. But even with theredactions, the tape included
(30:39):
some of the offensive statementswe heard earlier in this
episode. Graham is recordedsaying "this stranglehold has
got to be broken or this countryis going to go down the drain."
The tape also contained Graham'scomplaint that Jews swarm around
him. When the tape was released,83 year old Graham claimed to
have no memory of the occasion.But he expressed a deep regret
(31:04):
and for good reason. The tapemade it clear that Graham hadn't
just been in the White Houselistening to Nixon's anti
semitism. These were his ideas,and he was eager to share them
with the President.
Did Graham really have no memoryof the occasion? It is
impossible to know. But Grahamstill had his wits about him. He
must have had some sense of theantisemitic tropes with which he
(31:28):
had grown up. He could hardlyhave forgotten Nixon's distrust
of Jewish media figures. AbrahamFoxman, then the National
Director of the Anti DefamationLeague, was appalled by both the
tapes and Graham's non apology.The New York Times quoted Foxman
saying, "here we have anAmerican icon, the closest we
have to a spiritual leader ofAmerica, who has been playing a
(31:50):
charade for all these years.What's frightening is that he
has been so close to so manypresidents and who knows what
else he has been saying privately."
Out of a recognition that hisinitial statement didn't rise to
the occasion, Graham issued afuller apology. He said "my
remarks did not reflect my lovefor the Jewish people. I humbly
(32:11):
asked the Jewish community toreflect on my actions on behalf
of Jews over the years thatcontradict my words in the Oval
Office that day." Foxman issuedanother statement, accepting
Graham's apology.
It was a measure ofaccountability. But it wasn't
full accountability, because theredacted tape omitted some of
(32:33):
the most offensive parts of theconversation. A researcher named
Mike Hertenstein had noticed theredactions and he had requested
the full tapes release. But thetapes wouldn't be released until
after Graham's death in 2018.The full tape reveals not only
Graham's synagogue of Satancomment, but also his assertion
(32:55):
that Hitler had correctlyidentified Jewish domination of
the media. If Jewish leaders hadheard the whole tape, if they'd
heard everything Graham said,they would have been pretty hard
pressed to accept an apology.
So what should one think aboutBilly Graham in light of his
Oval Office diatribes aboutJews? Tough to say. Should
(33:17):
Graham's worst moments definehis life? Probably not. But part
of the difficulty is that Grahamnever really reckoned with those
worst moments. It would havebeen far better if he'd said
that, as a younger man, he hadabsorbed antisemitic ideas from
other conservative Protestants,and that he was still spouting
them even as an older man whoshould have known better. Also,
(33:41):
he should have apologized forhis hypocrisy. In the story of
American antisemitism, where doBilly Graham and Richard Nixon
fit in? Well, their politicaland economic conspiracy theories
flow straight out of Protocolsof the Elders of Zion. And
Graham wasn't the only prominentAmerican religious leader to
call Jews the synagogue of Satan.
(34:02):
Does this private conversationdo any harm? Throughout the
show, we've talked aboutinstances of antisemitism that
have tangible consequences. Apeddler who was murdered, about
a family turned away from ahotel. We've talked about
hundreds of thousands of peopletrying to seek refuge in the
United States being turned awayand sent back to Europe. Now
(34:25):
we're talking about a privateconversation between two men,
albeit, two very powerful men.But the conversation came at
what we now think of as a goldenage for American Jews. The 1964
Civil Rights Act made it clearthat employers could not
discriminate against Jews, thathotels and resorts could not
exclude them. Antisemitism hadbecome unfashionable in a way
(34:49):
that we never could havepredicted in the 1920s and 30s.
When Charles Lindbergh publishedhis diaries in 1970, he edited
out comments about Jews that henow regarded as embarrassing. So
many American Jews in the 70sfelt that conspiracy theories
and other anti Jewish tropeswere fading away, the country
(35:09):
was moving into a less hatefulfuture. They thought that at
worst antisemitism would lingeron the margins. But in fact,
anti Jewish ideas hadn'tdisappeared. In 1972, Nixon and
Graham were the two most admiredmen in America. And in the span
of a few minutes, they expressedmany of the key building blocks
(35:30):
of American anti semitism,religious bigotry, conspiracy
theories, and insistence thatJews themselves were to blame
for anti semitism. Today, mostmainstream evangelicals would
not say publicly the things thatGraham and Nixon discussed in
the Oval Office. Here's JonathanGreenblatt, the CEO of the Anti
(35:50):
Defamation League.
Jonathan Greenblatt (35:52):
And many of their leaders have taken a much
different view toward theirJewish brothers and sisters, see
them as their older brothers andsisters, if you will. And their
church doctrine professes a kindof reverence for the Jewish
people, not necessarily ananimus against them. There
certainly are those proponentsof an Evangelical Church
(36:16):
doctrine that do think that Jewsneed to assemble in the land of
ancient Israel in order for, youknow, Armageddon to take place
and then for the rapture tooccur. But while some believe
that, definitely some prominentpublic figures believe that, the
vast majority of Evangelicalstoday I would say, based on my
conversations with them, believethat the Jewish people are they
(36:39):
again, they read theirscripture, and it leads them to
conclusions that the Jewishpeople are their older brothers
and sisters, that the Jewishpeople are blessed, that they
have a kind of, a kind offidelity to them.
Mark Oppenheimer (36:52):
I think Greenblatt's right, there's been
progress. There's far lessevangelical anti semitism today
than there was 100 years ago, oreven 50 years ago, at least in
public. But antisemites oftendon't think they're anti
Semites. Graham and Nixon didnot think they were anti
Semites. They thought they onlydisliked some Jews, the Jews
(37:13):
that they perceived as theirpolitical enemies. There's a
similar danger today.Conservative evangelicals,
mostly allied with certainstrands of the Republican Party,
are quick to denounce antisemitism on the left. But they
sometimes make common cause withelements on the far right, where
there's no shortage ofantisemitism. Will evangelicals
(37:35):
critique anti semitism on bothsides of the political aisle? Or
will they tolerate it when it'scoming from their political
allies? And how do evangelicalsrespond in private when they
hear their friends or favoritepoliticians talking about
disloyal Jews or spouting otheranti semitic ideas? And there
is, of course, a parallelproblem on the political left.
(37:58):
We might take a cautionarylesson from Billy Graham's
behavior. Certainly, it can takecourage to denounce hatred in
public. But it also takes moralfiber to denounce or renounce
hatred in private, especiallywhen we're talking with people
we like, or people we want toimpress. And that's where Billy
Graham, America's pastor, fellshort. And it matters because
(38:21):
the ugly ideas that Graham andNixon expressed didn't stay
behind closed doors.
Thank you for listening toAntisemitism, U.S.A. it's a
production of R2 Studios, partof the Roy Rosenzweig Center for
History and New Media at GeorgeMason University. Visit
(38:44):
R2studios.org for a completetranscript of today's episode,
and for suggestions for furtherreading. I'm your host Mark
Oppenheimer. Antisemitism,U.S.A. is written by John Turner
and Lincoln Mullen. Britt Tevisis our lead scholar Jim Ambuske
is our producer, JeanettePatrick is our executive
producer. We'd like to thank ZevEleff for being our lead advisor
and we'd like to thank ouradvisory board members, Laura
(39:05):
Shaw Frank, Riv-Ellen Prell, andJonathan Sarna. Our graduate
assistants are Rachel Birch,Alexandra Miller, and Amber
Pelham. Our thanks to YaakovAriel, Daniel Hummel, and
Jonathan Greenblatt for sharingtheir expertise with this
episode. Archival audio materialcourtesy of the Richard Nixon
Presidential Library Museum andthe National Archives and
Records Administration. We'reable to bring you this show
(39:26):
through the generosity of theHenry Luce Foundation, the David
Bruce Smith Foundation, and manyindividual donors like you.
Thank you for listening. And wehope you'll join us for the next
episode.
Support for Antisemitism, U.S.A. comes from
the Henry Luce Foundation andthe David Bruce Smith Foundation.
In 1972, two men had aconversation about Jews. Their
Billy Graham (00:06):
They have, they have a strange brilliance about them.
ideas weren't new or all thatunusual. But the setting was. It
(00:26):
was the White House. AndPresident Richard Nixon was
meeting with the Reverend BillyGraham. And because the
President of the United Stateshad installed a sound activated
recording system in the OvalOffice, we can eavesdrop on
Richard Nixon (00:42):
Oh!
these two men.
Billy Graham (00:44):
They have a, they have a
Richard Nixon (00:49):
I'll tell you what it is, they're smart
Billy Graham (00:50):
They're smart, and they and they are energized, in
my judgment, by a supernaturalpower
Richard Nixon (00:54):
But also they do something else. They're not only
smart (
Billy Graham (00:59):
And you see, and of course Hitler didn't uh. They
had a stranglehold on Germany,on the banking of Germany, on
everything,
Richard Nixon (01:07):
That they did
Billy Graham (01:08):
And they had the whole thing you see.
Mark Oppenheimer (01:24):
I'm Mark Oppenheimer, and this is
Antisemitism, U.S.A., a podcaston the history of anti semitism
in the United States, EpisodeEight, The Synagogue of Satan.
In the decades after World WarTwo, Billy Graham was by far the
most popular religious leader inthe country. He grew up in North
(01:48):
Carolina and went to Bob JonesCollege, the Florida Bible
Institute, and then WheatonCollege. Along the way, he was
ordained as a Baptist minister,but he never pastored a church
of his own. Instead, he becameAmerica's pastor. Billy Graham's
message was very simple. Hebelieved that human beings are
sinners. The wages of sin aredeath and damnation. But men and
(02:13):
women could have their sinsforgiven if they accepted Jesus
Christ as their Lord and Savior.At the end of every one of his
revivals, Graham would urgepeople to come forward to
dedicate their lives to JesusChrist. And without fail
hundreds, sometimes thousands ofpeople would respond.
(02:36):
Graham was a phenomenon. It'shard to overstate just how
popular he was. He wasn'texactly Elvis, or the Beatles,
or Taylor Swift. It wasn't thatlevel of adoration. But Graham
could fill tents and thenstadiums night after night, for
weeks and sometimes for monthson end. Nobody in the world
preached to more people inperson in the second half of the
(02:58):
20th century than Billy Graham.
Here's Yaakov Ariel, author ofAn Unusual Relationship:
Evangelical Christians and Jews.
Yaakov Ariel (03:08):
He was the Queen Elizabeth of evangelical
Christianity. For the most part,he never took a wrong step. So
he was kind of middle of theroad. He never endorsed
extremism, or rather rarely.
Mark Oppenheimer (03:26):
Graham tried hard to get along with everyone.
His own roots were NorthCarolina fundamentalism. But
Graham didn't want to lead anarrow remnant of ultra
conservative Protestants.Instead, in the 1950s, Graham
sided with a group ofProtestants who call themselves
the new evangelicals, men whowanted to update fundamentalism,
sand off its rougher edges andgain bigger audiences. His
(03:49):
crusades featured star athletes,celebrity singers, and a strong
dose of American patriotism.Graham also built bridges with
non Christians, especially Jews.
Interest in Jews and the Stateof Israel was not unusual among
American evangelicals. For theseChristians, decoding the end
(04:10):
times required careful attentionto the movements and actions of
Jews. In terms of theology,Protestants like Billy Graham
were pre millennialdispensationalists which
basically means that theybelieved that in the final stage
of human existence, trueChristians would be removed from
the earth prior to massivetribulations. Then Jesus would
(04:33):
return and he would reign onearth for a thousand years
before the resurrection of thedead, and the final judgment.
For centuries, many prophecyminded Protestants had predicted
that Jews would return to theirancient homeland as a precursor
to these events. So the Zionistmovement had sparked a lot of
excitement. As the 20th centuryprogressed, Christian Zionists
(04:58):
found more and more reason topresume that Jesus was about to
return. Here's historian DanielHummel, author of Covenant
Brothers (05:06):
Evangelicals, Jews and US Israeli Relations.
Daniel Hummel (05:11):
For most dispensationalists, there's
really three things that shouldhappen, either right after the
rapture or before the rapture.One of them is the establishment
of a state of Israel. So thathappens in 1948. It's seen
widely as a fulfillment of 2000years of prophecy. 1967 becomes
just as big of a deal or more,because Israel is seen to have
(05:36):
retaken a lot of its homeland.And then the third thing that
Christian Zionists are lookingfor, is the rebuilding of the
Temple that would ultimatelyallow a reintroduction of Jewish
animal sacrifice and other sortof Old Testament practices that
Christian Zionists, because oftheir reading of prophecy and
stuff think needs to happen forall of prophecy to be fulfilled.
Mark Oppenheimer (06:01):
Billy Graham wasn't only interested in Jews
in Israel because of the end ofthe world. As with many
Christians, there was anattraction to the land where
Jesus had lived. And in the wakeof the Holocaust, Graham also
recognized the need for betterrelations between Christians and
Jews. In the 1950s, Graham heldlarge crusades in cities like
(06:22):
London and Frankfurt. Whereverhe went, he was invited to meet
heads of state, kings andqueens. And in 1960, Graham went
to Israel for the first time.
Daniel Hummel (06:34):
They were very curious, when Graham entered
Israel, if he would try to holdrallies to convert Jews to
Christianity, and he decided notto do that. He did hold rallies,
and he did do his traditionalmessage. But he did no sort of
specific targeting of Jews orspecific appeals to Jewish
language to argue for conversionand that was seen as a really
(06:55):
deft PR move by Graham. AndGraham also use that visit as an
opportunity to really emphasizehis understanding of the
relationship between Judaism andChristianity.
Mark Oppenheimer (07:10):
Since the early 1800s, many Protestant
ministries had spent a lot oftime and money trying to convert
Jews, usually with very littleto show for it. Graham didn't do
this. He understood that manyJews were offended by Christian
attempts to convert them. As theyears passed, Graham built on
the goodwill he established onthat first trip to Israel. In
(07:33):
1967, Graham met with around 100Jewish theologians, and again,
he was very deft. He noted thatat least nearly every book of
the New Testament was written byan early Jewish follower of
Jesus. He talked about wantingbetter relations between
Christians and Jews. And helistened when Jewish leaders
complained about otherevangelical ministries.
Daniel Hummel (07:55):
Publicly through this period, Graham was seen as
a strong friend of the Jewishpeople, and really a
representative of a communitythat had a much more complicated
relationship with American Jews,that is fundamentalists and
evangelicals. And Graham wasseen as someone who had been
moderating his views and wasmuch more palatable.
Mark Oppenheimer (08:10):
Every year beginning in 1948, the Gallup
poll has asked Americans to namethe man and woman they most
admire, and Billy Graham placedin the top 10 61 times. In 1972,
Graham was number two onGallup's list. The only man
ahead of him was his goodfriend, President Richard Nixon.
Graham loved politics and heloved presidents he befriended
(08:34):
and counseled Democrats andRepublicans alike. But he wasn't
nonpartisan and he wasn't abovethe fray. Graham was anti
communist, anti union, and probusiness. And although he built
bridges with Catholics and Jews,he had a vision of Protestant
(08:55):
America under siege fromsinister forces. He liked Dwight
Eisenhower, he worried aboutJohn F. Kennedy, and he was
friendly with Lyndon Johnson.
But Richard Nixon was the idealpolitician. There's no question
that Graham loved Jesus, but heoften acted like Nixon was a
close second in his heart. As itturned out, his personal
(09:18):
relationship with Richard Nixonwas one of the biggest mistakes
of Graham's career.
Daniel Hummel (09:24):
Graham knew Nixon for decades before Nixon became
president in 1969. Graham tendedto view Nixon as an overall
Christian person, and positiveforce in American politics,
which can be hard to reconcilewith a lot of the public memory
of someone like Nixon. But Nixonstood for conservative values,
(09:46):
family values, anti communism,things that Graham really
resonated with.
Mark Oppenheimer (09:51):
Nixon had been present at one of Graham's high
points, his 1957 New York Citycrusade. Graham packed Madison
Square Garden for 16 weeks. Heheld a special night at Yankee
Stadium. And Nixon sat on theplatform. Graham introduced the
vice president as "an ambassadorof goodwill, a young man with
vision, integrity, and courage."
Daniel Hummel (10:14):
Nixon is very interested in cultivating a
relationship with Graham becausehe sees Graham as sort of the
vessel to a lot of votes in alot of key states that if you
know, Graham is pro Nixon, thenthose evangelical voters might
be pro Nixon as well justbecause of Graham's endorsement.
And so Graham meets with Nixon alot, either over phone or
(10:35):
sometimes in person. And thenGraham actually appears with
Nixon a number of times, he'sstill doing these revivals
around the country. And oftenGraham would have politicians
either onstage or in theaudience. And Nixon becomes
someone who appears at some ofthese revivals, which is seen by
many as sort of a tacit, ormaybe not so tacit endorsement
(10:56):
of Nixon, that that sort of he'saligning himself publicly with
him. They talk a lot, and theysee each other as very valuable
to each of their own projects ofaccruing influence and getting
what they want done in theworld.
Mark Oppenheimer (11:10):
Before he announced his 1968 bid for the
presidency, Nixon invited Grahamto his vacation home in Florida.
Nixon had already decided torun, but he acted as if he
wanted Graham's advice on thematter. And Graham told Nixon,
"Dick, I think you should run.You are the best prepared man in
the United States to bepresident."
(11:31):
Graham didn't keep his supportprivate. He let it come out that
he had cast his absentee ballotfor Nixon. And Nixon knew that
strong support from conservativeProtestants was central to his
Sunbelt strategy of building anew durable Republican majority.
Nixon wasn't part of the postWorld War Two evangelical boom.
(11:53):
He'd grown up in a Quakerfamily, and he was a pretty
regular churchgoer for most ofhis adult life. He was intensely
private. He was enigmatic. Andit was hard to pinpoint his
exact religious beliefs. Itseems, however, that Nixon was
more comfortable with a kind ofstoic liberal Protestantism,
rather than the fervent emotionof evangelicalism. But Nixon
(12:17):
knew how to flatter politicalallies. And Graham became
convinced that the Lord was withthe President. The evangelist
was thrilled to be Nixon'sevangelical political operative.
And Graham invited the presidentto sit on the platform at his
crusades. On the phone, and inthe Oval Office, the two men
chatted often. One of thoseWhite House conversations took
(12:39):
place on February 1 1972, asthat year's campaign was heating
up. Nixon was cruising toreelection, but he was unhappy
with the media's coverage ofhim. The President started
rattling off newspapers andnetworks that he regarded as
enemies. The New York Times, TheWashington Post, The Los Angeles
(12:59):
Times, ABC, NBC, CBS. And Nixongrowled that 95% of journalists
were Jews. And at that time, hethought that Time and Life
magazine were, quote, "totallydominated by the Jews." Nixon
was upset because these Jewishjournalists had, as he saw it,
(13:22):
the wrong politics. Aware thatcriticism of Jews might sound
bad, Nixon insisted that hiscomplaints had
Richard Nixon (13:29):
Nothing to do with antisemitism
Mark Oppenheimer (13:33):
It was politics, not bigotry. He didn't
dislike all Jews. In particular,Nixon liked Israeli Jews. But
the President loathed mostAmerican Jews, whom he
understood as his politicalenemies. Nixon's political
calculus wasn't wrong. In mostnational elections, American
Jews overwhelmingly voted forDemocratic candidates. Jews
(13:56):
weren't only using the media forradical political ends, they
were also spreading moral filth.
Richard Nixon (14:02):
Insofar as media is concerned, the power over
media
Billy Graham (14:07):
They've got it.
Richard Nixon (14:07):
They've got it right by putting up
Billy Graham (14:09):
And they're the ones putting out pornographic
stuff.
Mark Oppenheimer (14:13):
Graham did not hesitate to wade into the topic.
Billy Graham (14:15):
You see the Bible makes a distinction Mr.
President, between two groups ofJews. In the latter days. It's
called the remnant of God'speople, which will be Jewish
people. And then there's thesynagogue of Satan and nearly
all of your religious deceptionsand the latter days, like the
Bible speaks latter days to be1000 years, what they call the
(14:37):
synagogue of Satan, in otherwords, they are energized by a
supernatural power called theDevil. This is what the Bible
teaches whether you believe itor don't believe it. This is the
biblical teacher.
Richard Nixon (14:46):
Alright
Billy Graham (14:47):
This is what I believe. And I believe that you
have the they have a, they havea strange brilliance about them.
Richard Nixon (14:52):
Oh!
Billy Graham (14:53):
They have a, they have a
Richard Nixon (14:54):
I'll tell you what it is, they're smart.
Billy Graham (14:55):
They're smart, and they and they are energized in
my judgment by a supernaturalpower.
Richard Nixon (15:01):
Also they do something else. They're not only
smart (speaking inaudibly)
Billy Graham (15:04):
And you see, and of course Hitler didn't uh. They
had a stranglehold on Germany,on the banking of Germany, on
everything
Richard Nixon (15:12):
That they did.
Billy Graham (15:13):
And and they had the whole thing you see and he
but he went around it wrong. Butthis stranglehold has got to be
broken or this country's gonnago down the drain.
Richard Nixon (15:22):
Do you believe that?
Billy Graham (15:23):
Yes sir
Richard Nixon (15:24):
Oh boy I can't ever say it. But I believe it.
Billy Graham (15:27):
No but if you get elected a second time we might
be able to do something.
Mark Oppenheimer (15:34):
Two of the most influential and powerful
men in the United States,exchanging vicious antisemitic
tropes (15:39):
a Jewish conspiracy, Jewish control of the media,
Jews spearheading radicalpolitics, Jews peddling sexual
smut. Nixon didn't think he wasan antisemite. In fact, he knew
antisemitism was a problem inthe US and other countries.
Nixon had a simple explanationfor anti Jewish hatred. It was
(16:01):
the bad behavior of Jews. InNixon's mind, Jews brought
antisemitism on themselves,through their own shiftiness,
disloyalty and mistakes. We'llhave more after the break.
Billy Graham wasn't the onlyperson with whom President Nixon
(16:24):
had conversations that includedantisemitic language. During a
1971 conversation between Nixonand his chief of staff Bob
Haldeman, and press secretaryRon Ziegler, there was a
discussion about a trove ofgovernment documents. These
documents, known as the PentagonPapers, were leaked to the press
by military analyst DanielEllsberg. Ellsberg's parents
(16:47):
were Jewish converts toChristian Science, and Ellsberg
himself was thoroughly secular.But as far as Nixon was
concerned, Ellsberg was a Jew.This conversation is a bit hard
to hear because of a fan in theroom.
Richard Nixon (17:04):
Just like the Rosenbergs and all that. That
just has to kill him. And youfeel horrible about it.
Ronald Ziegler (17:09):
Couldn't be by a guy by the name of Smith.
Richard Nixon (17:13):
There ain't none.
Bob Haldeman (17:14):
(laughing) Could have been a Rosenstein that
changed his name.
Ronald Ziegler (17:17):
It is, right. It's always an Ellsberg or
Richard Nixon (17:26):
They're all Jews. Every one's a Jew. Gelb's a Jew.
(speaking inaudibly)
That's a very interesting thing.So a few of those who engage in
Halperin's a Jew.
espionage are Negroes. Verylucky that way. And good. As a
matter of fact, very few of thembecome Communists. If they do,
Bob Haldeman (17:39):
They're not intellectual enough. Not smart enough.
they either, like, they get intoAngela Davis, they're more of an
activist type, and they throwbombs and this and that. But
the, but the Negroes, have youever noticed? There are damn few
Negro spies.
Richard Nixon (17:56):
It may be
Bob Haldeman (17:56):
They're not smart enough to be spies for the
The Jews are intellectual, theJews are, are born spies. If you
Germans
didn't get it, you notice howmany of them are? They're just
in it up to their necks.
Well, got a basic devious abil-deviousness, that-
Richard Nixon (18:11):
Well, also an arrogance.
Mark Oppenheimer (18:16):
Again, old tropes with anti black racism
mixed in. Jews are disloyal.They are especially dangerous
because they're smart andshifty. And you never know who's
Jewish because Jews sometimeschange their names. In another
conversation with his aides,Nixon had this to say
Richard Nixon (18:33):
The Jews are an irreligious, atheistic, amoral
bunch of bastards!
Mark Oppenheimer (18:40):
Now, Richard Nixon had a lot of people and
people's whom he didn't like. Soit's not surprising he didn't
like Jews. But what about BillyGraham? How did he come to
believe that some Jews, perhapsmany Jews, were the synagogue of
Satan? The evangelist wasquoting the New Testament's Book
(19:00):
of Revelation which reads, "Iknow the blasphemy of them which
say they are Jews and are not,but are the synagogue of Satan."
Here historian Daniel Hummelexplains,
Daniel Hummel (19:13):
There's a whole historical context of what's
being referenced there, which isnot really what Graham's
referencing, it has to do withChristians and Jews in the first
century relating to the Romanstate and, and sort of who's
giving up whom and in a taxationissue, and it's very, very
distant from anything in the20th century. But there's a long
Christian tradition of using theterm synagogue of Satan to
(19:35):
basically imply, or not evenjust imply, but, but claim that
Jews themselves as a group, areSatanic or demonic, or are
somehow entirely out of favorand at odds with God's plans in
the world. Graham is invokingthat version of that antisemitic
trope to try to explain to Nixonthe biblical dimension to what
(19:58):
Nixon is experiencing
Mark Oppenheimer (20:01):
Graham had grown up with these ideas. As
we've seen, the idea of a Jewishconspiracy to use either banking
or media to subvert democracywas commonplace in the 1930s.
Here's Yaakov Ariel again,
Yaakov Ariel (20:14):
He held cultural stereotypes of Jews and
political stereotypes of Jews,as those people who are
politically radical, who are atthe forehand of anti middle
class capitalist, anti elitecapitalist society, people are
(20:39):
there to undermine Christianvalues. Big time. He is not the
only one.
Mark Oppenheimer (20:47):
One of Graham's early influences was a
Minnesota minister, revivalist,and college president named
William Bell Riley. Riley'santisemitism was very public,
and very pronounced.
Daniel Hummel (20:59):
He was someone who had nice things to say about
Hitler, I guess that's another,you know, continuation with the
way Graham frames things in1972. He was someone who
supported the silver shirts inAmerica, which was a pro Nazi
grassroots group. And Riley wasin Minnesota, where there was a
lot of this activity, a historyof the KKK in that area as well.
(21:20):
Riley also trafficked inpromoting the Protocols of the
Elders of Zion, which is thewidely discredited antisemitic
fever dream of Jews sort ofcontrolling global politics. And
so Riley was someone who heldall those views, and, and
specifically talked about aconspiracy of Jews, Bolsheviks,
and Darwinists. Those were histhree big, bad groups in a
(21:42):
conspiracy together to basicallyenact an anti Christian agenda,
both in the United States andglobally.
Mark Oppenheimer (21:50):
Graham was never as extreme as Riley. And
he never would have saidpublicly what he said privately
to Nixon. In fact, Graham saidas much to President Nixon,
Billy Graham (21:59):
so a lot of the Jews are great friends of mine,
they, they swarm around me.
Richard Nixon (22:04):
(speaking inaudibly)
Billy Graham (22:04):
They're friendly to me. Because they know that
I'm friendly to Israel. But theydon't know how I really feel
Richard Nixon (22:13):
Right
Billy Graham (22:13):
about what they're doing to this country, and I
have no power and,
Richard Nixon (22:16):
(speaking inaudibly)
Billy Graham (22:16):
and no way to handle them.
Richard Nixon (22:18):
You must let 'em know
Billy Graham (22:19):
But I would stand up if it, if, you know, under
proper circumstances.
Mark Oppenheimer (22:23):
So you might be wondering, was Graham's
conversation with Nixon just aone off, a one time effusion of
antisemitism? It wasn't.
About a year later, in February1973. Graham spoke with Nixon
over the phone. The conversationcame shortly after the Israeli
(22:43):
Air Force shot down an Egyptianpassenger plane that had entered
Israeli airspace, which happenedto be a week before Israeli
Prime Minister Golda Meir wouldvisit the White House. The
conversation sheds more light onthe way that both Nixon and
Graham thought about antisemitism. They both thought it
was a real problem. But it was aproblem Jews had brought upon
themselves, for instance, byshooting down an airplane, or,
(23:07):
in Graham's mind, by criticizingChristian evangelists to sought
to convert Jews. Graham himselfhad chosen not to target Jews in
his evangelism work, but hebristled when American Jews
criticized other Christianministries. In particular, Jews
were expressing concern aboutsomething called Key '73, an
attempt by a coalition ofchurches and ministries to
(23:28):
evangelize the whole Americanpopulation in a single year.
Here's Graham complaining aboutJewish criticism of Key '73
Richard Nixon (23:37):
You're their friend.
Billy Graham (23:37):
I've been there friend, and they know that but
at the same time, they are goingright after the church and, and,
and there's a great deal offeeling beginning to rise in
areas where they've had greatfriendships.
Richard Nixon (23:50):
What'll happen out of this if they don't you
know. What I really think isdeep down in this country there
is a lot of antisemitism, andall this is going to do is stir
it up
Billy Graham (24:00):
It's right under the surface,
Richard Nixon (24:02):
Oh boy
Billy Graham (24:02):
and it's right to the top.
Richard Nixon (24:03):
That's right
Mark Oppenheimer (24:05):
Later in the conversation, Nixon returned to
the subject of antisemitism.
Richard Nixon (24:09):
Antisemitism is more, is stronger than we think,
you know. They just it's it'sunfortunate, but this has
happened to Jews. Happened inSpain, it's happened in Germany,
it's happening. And now it'sgoing to happen in America if
these people don't startbehaving.
Billy Graham (24:22):
But you know, I told you one time that the Bible
talks about two kinds of Jews.One is called the synagogue of
Satan. They are the ones puttingout the pornographic literature.
They are the ones putting outthese obscene films
Richard Nixon (24:34):
like the thing in Time magazine. And then Newsweek
Billy Graham (24:37):
Ruth canceled both of 'em
Richard Nixon (24:39):
Well good for her
Billy Graham (24:39):
Time or Newsweek
Richard Nixon (24:41):
I'll tell you what this group, and I think, I
think really they don't deserveto live.
Mark Oppenheimer (24:46):
Graham and Nixon saw American Jews as
integrates. These Jews, theydidn't appreciate what well
meaning evangelicals, likeGraham had done for them. They
didn't appreciate Nixon'ssupport for Israel, and through
their carping and complaining,they were fomenting
antisemitism. Graham told Nixonthat he intended to speak with
Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum of theAmerican Jewish Committee. And
(25:08):
Nixon urged Graham to be firmwith his Jewish friends.
Richard Nixon (25:12):
There's nothing that I want to do than, more
than to be made not only afriend of Israel but a friend of
the Jews in this country, butthat I'm gonna have to turn back
a terrible tide here if theydon't get a hold of it
themselves. And uh, it's up tothem
Billy Graham (25:27):
And they better understand it and understand it
quick
Richard Nixon (25:29):
because there are, there are elements in this
country, you know, not just theBirchers, but a lot of
reasonable people are nowgettin' awful sick of it.
Billy Graham (25:36):
They really are
In the in the church to be- I think what has
Richard Nixon (25:37):
Don't you think so?
happened in the church in thelast two months is almost uh,
they have, they have almost uh,these denominational leaders I'm
amazed that they have shaken byall this, because they've been
so pro Jewish. And the peoplethat have been the most pro
Israel are the ones that arebeing attacked now by the Jews.
(26:00):
And then they're gonna
Can't figure it out
Billy Graham (26:03):
They're gonna kick all Christians out of Israel it
is unbelievable.
Richard Nixon (26:07):
Can't figure it out, can't figure it out. Well,
it may be they have a deathwish, you know that's been the
problem with our Jewish friendsfor centuries.
Billy Graham (26:17):
Well, they've always been through the Bible,
at least to God's timepiece. Hehas judged them from generation
to generation
Richard Nixon (26:25):
Yeah
Billy Graham (26:26):
and yet use them and they've kept their identity.
Richard Nixon (26:29):
Right
Billy Graham (26:29):
And one of the things they're terribly afraid
of is so many of these Jewishyoung people are turning away
from Judaism
Richard Nixon (26:35):
Yeah
Billy Graham (26:35):
turning away from Jewishness, they say they're
remaining Jews, but they'rebecoming followers of Jesus.
Well, that's just scaring 'em todeath. You see
Richard Nixon (26:44):
(laughing) I see
Billy Graham (26:44):
they have they've set up all over the country,
these Jews for Jesus at thevarious universities.
They've said they're remaining Jews, but they
Richard Nixon (26:50):
(laughing)
believe that Jesus was treatedwrongly. And uh they're, and
this is frightening Jewishleaders and they're overreacting
in this countr- I'm talkingabout the rabbis
Oh I know, sure, sure theprofessionals. But they're,
they're like the Episcopalians,they're losing any appeal over
their own people.
Mark Oppenheimer (27:11):
At the end, you get a surprising bit of anti
Episcopalian shade, moreimportant for our discussion. In
this conversation, Grahamrepeats his earlier Bible
lesson. Many Jews, such as themedia moguls who oppose Nixon,
belong to the synagogue ofSatan. And while there are also
some good Jews, through theirunwise actions, they are causing
(27:32):
other Americans to becomeantisemites. And while Graham
was sensitive when discussingChristian proselytizing with
Jewish leaders, here, he andNixon are mocking Jews'
discomfort with evangelicalgroups who proselytize them.
Billy Graham had conversationswith countless people, and no
(27:55):
one else has come forward withother instances of antisemitism.
Graham said things to Nixon thathe apparently otherwise kept to
himself. And Graham's reputationas a friend of the Jewish people
only grew with time. Here's MarcTanenbaum of the American Jewish
Committee, introducing Graham atan event in the early 1980s.
Marc Tanenbaum (28:17):
I've said it before. I'll say it again today,
because I think the recordwarrants it. Billy Graham, based
on the privilege I've had ofknowing him and what I have seen
him do since the mid 1960s, whenI first had the meeting and is,
(28:37):
next to Pope John the 23rd of usin memory, the greatest friend
of the Jewish people in the 20thcentury.
Mark Oppenheimer (28:46):
Tanenbaum had lots of reasons for this praise.
He appreciated that Grahamleaned on evangelical
organizations not to target Jewsas prospective converts. He also
noted Graham's meetings withJewish leaders in Soviet bloc
countries. And probably withsome hyperbole, Tanenbaum
credited Graham for Nixon'sdecision to provide Israel with
(29:07):
missiles during the 1973 YomKippur War, in which Israel
defeated a joint Egyptian Syrianinvasion, a war that
nevertheless demonstrated thenation's existential insecurity.
Graham had a great deal ofinfluence. And he deployed it on
behalf of Jews in the US andIsrael.
(29:31):
Then, in 1994, news broke ofGraham's 1972 conversation with
Nixon. It came out because ofthe publication of the diaries
of Bob Haldeman, Nixon's Chiefof Staff. Haldeman noted that
Graham quote, "has the strongfeeling that the Bible says
there are Satanic Jews."
In a public statement, Grahamsaid "Those are not my words."
(29:54):
And he also said, "I have nevertalked publicly or privately
about the Jewish people,including conversations with
President Nixon, except in themost positive terms."
Graham's denial was dishonest,but it quashed the controversy
for the time being. After all,why would a friend of the Jews
make such an odious slur? Ifthere was antisemitism in the
(30:15):
White House, it was probablyNixon's, not Billy Graham's.
But then, almost 20 years later,the National Archives released
the tape of the conversation. Inkeeping with their policy of
protecting the privacy of livingindividuals recorded without
their consent. The Archivesredacted some portions of the
tape. But even with theredactions, the tape included
(30:39):
some of the offensive statementswe heard earlier in this
episode. Graham is recordedsaying "this stranglehold has
got to be broken or this countryis going to go down the drain."
The tape also contained Graham'scomplaint that Jews swarm around
him. When the tape was released,83 year old Graham claimed to
have no memory of the occasion.But he expressed a deep regret
(31:04):
and for good reason. The tapemade it clear that Graham hadn't
just been in the White Houselistening to Nixon's anti
semitism. These were his ideas,and he was eager to share them
with the President.
Did Graham really have no memoryof the occasion? It is
impossible to know. But Grahamstill had his wits about him. He
must have had some sense of theantisemitic tropes with which he
(31:28):
had grown up. He could hardlyhave forgotten Nixon's distrust
of Jewish media figures. AbrahamFoxman, then the National
Director of the Anti DefamationLeague, was appalled by both the
tapes and Graham's non apology.The New York Times quoted Foxman
saying, "here we have anAmerican icon, the closest we
have to a spiritual leader ofAmerica, who has been playing a
(31:50):
charade for all these years.What's frightening is that he
has been so close to so manypresidents and who knows what
else he has been saying privately."
Out of a recognition that hisinitial statement didn't rise to
the occasion, Graham issued afuller apology. He said "my
remarks did not reflect my lovefor the Jewish people. I humbly
(32:11):
asked the Jewish community toreflect on my actions on behalf
of Jews over the years thatcontradict my words in the Oval
Office that day." Foxman issuedanother statement, accepting
Graham's apology.
It was a measure ofaccountability. But it wasn't
full accountability, because theredacted tape omitted some of
(32:33):
the most offensive parts of theconversation. A researcher named
Mike Hertenstein had noticed theredactions and he had requested
the full tapes release. But thetapes wouldn't be released until
after Graham's death in 2018.The full tape reveals not only
Graham's synagogue of Satancomment, but also his assertion
(32:55):
that Hitler had correctlyidentified Jewish domination of
the media. If Jewish leaders hadheard the whole tape, if they'd
heard everything Graham said,they would have been pretty hard
pressed to accept an apology.
So what should one think aboutBilly Graham in light of his
Oval Office diatribes aboutJews? Tough to say. Should
(33:17):
Graham's worst moments definehis life? Probably not. But part
of the difficulty is that Grahamnever really reckoned with those
worst moments. It would havebeen far better if he'd said
that, as a younger man, he hadabsorbed antisemitic ideas from
other conservative Protestants,and that he was still spouting
them even as an older man whoshould have known better. Also,
(33:41):
he should have apologized forhis hypocrisy. In the story of
American antisemitism, where doBilly Graham and Richard Nixon
fit in? Well, their politicaland economic conspiracy theories
flow straight out of Protocolsof the Elders of Zion. And
Graham wasn't the only prominentAmerican religious leader to
call Jews the synagogue of Satan.
(34:02):
Does this private conversationdo any harm? Throughout the
show, we've talked aboutinstances of antisemitism that
have tangible consequences. Apeddler who was murdered, about
a family turned away from ahotel. We've talked about
hundreds of thousands of peopletrying to seek refuge in the
United States being turned awayand sent back to Europe. Now
(34:25):
we're talking about a privateconversation between two men,
albeit, two very powerful men.But the conversation came at
what we now think of as a goldenage for American Jews. The 1964
Civil Rights Act made it clearthat employers could not
discriminate against Jews, thathotels and resorts could not
exclude them. Antisemitism hadbecome unfashionable in a way
(34:49):
that we never could havepredicted in the 1920s and 30s.
When Charles Lindbergh publishedhis diaries in 1970, he edited
out comments about Jews that henow regarded as embarrassing. So
many American Jews in the 70sfelt that conspiracy theories
and other anti Jewish tropeswere fading away, the country
(35:09):
was moving into a less hatefulfuture. They thought that at
worst antisemitism would lingeron the margins. But in fact,
anti Jewish ideas hadn'tdisappeared. In 1972, Nixon and
Graham were the two most admiredmen in America. And in the span
of a few minutes, they expressedmany of the key building blocks
(35:30):
of American anti semitism,religious bigotry, conspiracy
theories, and insistence thatJews themselves were to blame
for anti semitism. Today, mostmainstream evangelicals would
not say publicly the things thatGraham and Nixon discussed in
the Oval Office. Here's JonathanGreenblatt, the CEO of the Anti
(35:50):
Defamation League.
Jonathan Greenblatt (35:52):
And many of their leaders have taken a much
different view toward theirJewish brothers and sisters, see
them as their older brothers andsisters, if you will. And their
church doctrine professes a kindof reverence for the Jewish
people, not necessarily ananimus against them. There
certainly are those proponentsof an Evangelical Church
(36:16):
doctrine that do think that Jewsneed to assemble in the land of
ancient Israel in order for, youknow, Armageddon to take place
and then for the rapture tooccur. But while some believe
that, definitely some prominentpublic figures believe that, the
vast majority of Evangelicalstoday I would say, based on my
conversations with them, believethat the Jewish people are they
(36:39):
again, they read theirscripture, and it leads them to
conclusions that the Jewishpeople are their older brothers
and sisters, that the Jewishpeople are blessed, that they
have a kind of, a kind offidelity to them.
Mark Oppenheimer (36:52):
I think Greenblatt's right, there's been
progress. There's far lessevangelical anti semitism today
than there was 100 years ago, oreven 50 years ago, at least in
public. But antisemites oftendon't think they're anti
Semites. Graham and Nixon didnot think they were anti
Semites. They thought they onlydisliked some Jews, the Jews
(37:13):
that they perceived as theirpolitical enemies. There's a
similar danger today.Conservative evangelicals,
mostly allied with certainstrands of the Republican Party,
are quick to denounce antisemitism on the left. But they
sometimes make common cause withelements on the far right, where
there's no shortage ofantisemitism. Will evangelicals
(37:35):
critique anti semitism on bothsides of the political aisle? Or
will they tolerate it when it'scoming from their political
allies? And how do evangelicalsrespond in private when they
hear their friends or favoritepoliticians talking about
disloyal Jews or spouting otheranti semitic ideas? And there
is, of course, a parallelproblem on the political left.
(37:58):
We might take a cautionarylesson from Billy Graham's
behavior. Certainly, it can takecourage to denounce hatred in
public. But it also takes moralfiber to denounce or renounce
hatred in private, especiallywhen we're talking with people
we like, or people we want toimpress. And that's where Billy
Graham, America's pastor, fellshort. And it matters because
(38:21):
the ugly ideas that Graham andNixon expressed didn't stay
behind closed doors.
Thank you for listening toAntisemitism, U.S.A. it's a
production of R2 Studios, partof the Roy Rosenzweig Center for
History and New Media at GeorgeMason University. Visit
(38:44):
R2studios.org for a completetranscript of today's episode,
and for suggestions for furtherreading. I'm your host Mark
Oppenheimer. Antisemitism,U.S.A. is written by John Turner
and Lincoln Mullen. Britt Tevisis our lead scholar Jim Ambuske
is our producer, JeanettePatrick is our executive
producer. We'd like to thank ZevEleff for being our lead advisor
and we'd like to thank ouradvisory board members, Laura
(39:05):
Shaw Frank, Riv-Ellen Prell, andJonathan Sarna. Our graduate
assistants are Rachel Birch,Alexandra Miller, and Amber
Pelham. Our thanks to YaakovAriel, Daniel Hummel, and
Jonathan Greenblatt for sharingtheir expertise with this
episode. Archival audio materialcourtesy of the Richard Nixon
Presidential Library Museum andthe National Archives and
Records Administration. We'reable to bring you this show
(39:26):
through the generosity of theHenry Luce Foundation, the David
Bruce Smith Foundation, and manyindividual donors like you.
Thank you for listening. And wehope you'll join us for the next
episode.
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