Freethought & Rationalism Archive

03-01-2002, 08:56 PM

EXCERPT:

Rev. Billy Graham openly voiced a belief that Jews control the American media, calling it a "stranglehold" during a 1972 conversation with President Richard Nixon, according to a tape of the Oval Office meeting released Thursday by the National Archives.

"This stranglehold has got to be broken or the country's going down the drain," the nation's best-known preacher declared as he agreed with a stream of bigoted Nixon comments about Jews and their perceived influence in American life.

<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0203010267mar01.story?coll=chi%2Dnewsnationworld%2 Dhed" target="_blank">Full article</a>

[ March 01, 2002: Message edited by: atheist_in_foxhole ]</p>

Triple Six · 03-02-2002, 01:51 AM

Interesting.

Nixon already has his place in history and this isn't going to cause any major revisions from any viewpoint. Billy Graham is a different matter, I hope these tapes get widespread publicity to show the world what a bigot the phony bastard really is. So much the better as well that they have come out before his (hopefully soon) death so that his obituaries might get less of the sugar treatment.

sullster · 03-02-2002, 06:32 AM

Dear Proud Ahteist, Nixon's anti-semitism is old news indeed. Billy Graham's comments should come as no shock to anyone. Every fundamentalist I have ever known is very comfortable with anti-semitism and the ideas that Graham expressed. Christian fundies never see any contradiction between their moral superiority and their anti-Jewish views. Being prejudiced is not a sin to them, after all they are warriors for their saviour.

As to your comments about a future obituary for Graham, you can just forget such criticism will be shown. He is a national superstar and his passing will be a media event complete with many VIPs singing his praises.

Graham makes me want to vomit, but I am in a minority of Americans. He will be extolled as a great American and high schools throughout the Bible Belt will be named for him. Mark my words.

butswana · 03-02-2002, 06:46 AM

Bah....he was just agreeing with the prez!
Billy really loves jews. He has a bagel every morning.

edit:bagel not bagle

[ March 02, 2002: Message edited by: butswana ]</p>

hezekiah jones · 03-02-2002, 08:00 AM

<a href="http://webcenter.newssearch.netscape.com/aolns_display.adp?key=200203012023000159488_aolns. src" target="_blank">Billy Graham Apologizes For Comments</a>

Quote:

In the conversation with Nixon, the Southern Baptist evangelist expressed disdain for what he saw as Jewish domination of the media.

"This stranglehold has got to be broken or this country's going down the drain," Graham said, agreeing with Nixon's own comments earlier in the conversation.

"You believe that?" Nixon says in response.

"Yes, sir," says Graham.

"Oh boy. So do I," Nixon agrees, then says: "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 says, reassuring the president.

Asshole.

Berenger Sauniere · 03-02-2002, 06:31 PM

This may come as a shock to Billy Graham and his xenophobic-racist Christian brethren but it was the JEWISH PRESS that created and authored every single page of the "holier than hell" book more commonly known as the HOLY BIBLE! Billy Graham is a worthless nobody, just like Nixon was.

Billy, I'm LMAO at you

dwp666 · 03-03-2002, 08:30 AM

Here is an e-mail I just sent to Bill Graham Ministries:

According to the Chicago Tribune:

<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0203010267mar01.story?coll=chi%2Dnewsnationworld%2 Dhed" target="_blank">http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0203010267mar01.story?coll=chi%2Dnewsnationworld%2 Dhed</a>

"Rev. Billy Graham openly voiced a belief that Jews control the American media, calling it a 'stranglehold' during a 1972 conversation with President Richard Nixon, according to a tape of the Oval Office meeting released Thursday by the National Archives."

I find this exchange shocking in its tone and content:

Spiritual Advisor as he agreed with a stream of bigoted Nixon comments about Jews and their perceived influence in American life: "This stranglehold has got to be broken or the country's going down the drain,"

Dick: "You believe that?"

Spiritual Advisor: "Yes, sir,"

Dick: "Oh, boy, So do I. I can't ever say that but I believe it."

Spiritual Advisor: "No, but if you get elected a second time, then we might be able to do something,"

As a spiritual advisor to Presidents, Billy failed to measure up to the job by missing a big opportunity to call Dick on his prejudiced views. On the contrary Billy only encourages them:

"Later, Graham mentions that he has friends in the media who are Jewish, saying they 'swarm around me and are friendly to me.' But, he confides to Nixon, "'They don't know how I really feel about what they're doing to this country.'"
And what does Billy have to say for himself? Apparently nothing. Again, according to the Tribune, Billy's spokesman Larry Ross, says that he could not respond because he did not recall the conversation.

How convenient but I would think that at least a condemnation of the sentiments would be in order. Perhaps Billy still holds these views. Perhaps we will learn the answer after Billy has a chance to listen to the tapes and refresh his memory.

I can't recall, did Billy help console Bubba in the wake of MonicaGate? Those tapes might be very interesting to hear:

Bubba: She tempted me Reverend. I felt a power over come me that I tried to resist but in the end it was futile.

Spiritual Advisor: It's ok Mr. President. She's a Jew and as such she's a child of Satan. It would have taken Christ himself to withstand such a temptation.

Shame on Billy Graham.

MortalWombat · 03-04-2002, 06:42 AM

I love the title of that one article:
Billy Graham Apologizes For Comments

Why is it they always apologize only after getting caught?

repoman · 03-05-2002, 09:36 AM

Well, you guys probably think I am a redneck already, so here goes...

do you seriously think that liberal Jewish intellectual writers, reporters and columnists were not giving Nixon hell all the time back then? Given his intrinsic paranoia it is easy to see how he would extend it to almost all jews.
Have you guys forgotten how many of the first communists were jewish (this of course having to do with political disenfranchisement in Europe and Russia)? Of all people, I would expect fellow atheists to be able to look at the truth about large portions of the jewish society without thinking it is antisemitism.

The question is at that time (1972) were Nixon and Graham totally off base about Jews or just exaggerating the effect of Jewish intellectuals.
Though I don't have stats, if assuming that 2% of the general pop was Jewish, while if say 15-20%(or even higher) of the press (esp. columnists) were Jewish and most anti Nixon I can see how Nixon would see them as a force for ill.

So does anyone out there have a good source on whether Jews have way too much control over media or conversely a good rebuttal of this?
Because, I for one will not dismiss the possbility of the exaggerated importance of Jews in the American media now or in the past just out of hand for the sake getting along or to dodge antisemitism charges.

sullster · 03-07-2002, 02:00 PM

Repoman,

You must be young enough to have not been around back in 1972. For you to make the statement that all opposition to Nixon and the Vietnam War was based on the writings of a few Jewish newspaper people shows you just weren't around back then. That is preposterous idiocy. The fact is that opposition to Nixon was widespread and for you to sympathise with Nixon's and Graham's knee-jerk Jew bashing shows a lot about your attitudes.

The idea that Jews control the US media is gospel among segments of American society. I don't have rational percentages to give to you to disprove this idea, maybe someone else does. It is intuitively incorrect as the dominant groups in power in America are still mostly white anglo-saxon protestants and white catholics.

I am sorry Repoman, I just expect more from the leaders of my country than you do. I can go to any barroom in America and hear the crap said by Nixon and Graham. The cheap gin joints everywhere have guys sitting on stools saying that the Jews run the media and are taking over the country. Sad to say, but the country is full of two-bit ignorant bigots who blame all their troubles on the eternal scape-goat- the Jews. I just don't want to hear such ignorant trash talk from our leaders. Call, me a dreamer, but I feel that way.

03-01-2002, 08:56 PM	#1
atheist_in_foxhole Guest Posts: n/a	Billy Graham and Nixon bash Jews on newly released tape EXCERPT: Rev. Billy Graham openly voiced a belief that Jews control the American media, calling it a "stranglehold" during a 1972 conversation with President Richard Nixon, according to a tape of the Oval Office meeting released Thursday by the National Archives. "This stranglehold has got to be broken or the country's going down the drain," the nation's best-known preacher declared as he agreed with a stream of bigoted Nixon comments about Jews and their perceived influence in American life. <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0203010267mar01.story?coll=chi%2Dnewsnationworld%2 Dhed" target="_blank">Full article</a> [ March 01, 2002: Message edited by: atheist_in_foxhole ]</p>

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03-02-2002, 01:51 AM	#2
Triple Six Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: formerly Lae, Papua New Guinea Posts: 1,867	Interesting. Nixon already has his place in history and this isn't going to cause any major revisions from any viewpoint. Billy Graham is a different matter, I hope these tapes get widespread publicity to show the world what a bigot the phony bastard really is. So much the better as well that they have come out before his (hopefully soon) death so that his obituaries might get less of the sugar treatment.

03-02-2002, 06:32 AM	#3
sullster Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: North of Boston Posts: 1,392	Dear Proud Ahteist, Nixon's anti-semitism is old news indeed. Billy Graham's comments should come as no shock to anyone. Every fundamentalist I have ever known is very comfortable with anti-semitism and the ideas that Graham expressed. Christian fundies never see any contradiction between their moral superiority and their anti-Jewish views. Being prejudiced is not a sin to them, after all they are warriors for their saviour. As to your comments about a future obituary for Graham, you can just forget such criticism will be shown. He is a national superstar and his passing will be a media event complete with many VIPs singing his praises. Graham makes me want to vomit, but I am in a minority of Americans. He will be extolled as a great American and high schools throughout the Bible Belt will be named for him. Mark my words.

03-02-2002, 06:46 AM	#4
butswana Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,804	Bah....he was just agreeing with the prez! Billy really loves jews. He has a bagel every morning. edit:bagel not bagle [ March 02, 2002: Message edited by: butswana ]</p>

03-02-2002, 06:31 PM	#6
Berenger Sauniere Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: et in Arcadia ego... Posts: 406	This may come as a shock to Billy Graham and his xenophobic-racist Christian brethren but it was the JEWISH PRESS that created and authored every single page of the "holier than hell" book more commonly known as the HOLY BIBLE! Billy Graham is a worthless nobody, just like Nixon was. Billy, I'm LMAO at you

03-03-2002, 08:30 AM	#7
dwp666 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: North Bay, Ontario, Canada Posts: 59	Here is an e-mail I just sent to Bill Graham Ministries: According to the Chicago Tribune: <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0203010267mar01.story?coll=chi%2Dnewsnationworld%2 Dhed" target="_blank">http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0203010267mar01.story?coll=chi%2Dnewsnationworld%2 Dhed</a> "Rev. Billy Graham openly voiced a belief that Jews control the American media, calling it a 'stranglehold' during a 1972 conversation with President Richard Nixon, according to a tape of the Oval Office meeting released Thursday by the National Archives." I find this exchange shocking in its tone and content: Spiritual Advisor as he agreed with a stream of bigoted Nixon comments about Jews and their perceived influence in American life: "This stranglehold has got to be broken or the country's going down the drain," Dick: "You believe that?" Spiritual Advisor: "Yes, sir," Dick: "Oh, boy, So do I. I can't ever say that but I believe it." Spiritual Advisor: "No, but if you get elected a second time, then we might be able to do something," As a spiritual advisor to Presidents, Billy failed to measure up to the job by missing a big opportunity to call Dick on his prejudiced views. On the contrary Billy only encourages them: "Later, Graham mentions that he has friends in the media who are Jewish, saying they 'swarm around me and are friendly to me.' But, he confides to Nixon, "'They don't know how I really feel about what they're doing to this country.'" And what does Billy have to say for himself? Apparently nothing. Again, according to the Tribune, Billy's spokesman Larry Ross, says that he could not respond because he did not recall the conversation. How convenient but I would think that at least a condemnation of the sentiments would be in order. Perhaps Billy still holds these views. Perhaps we will learn the answer after Billy has a chance to listen to the tapes and refresh his memory. I can't recall, did Billy help console Bubba in the wake of MonicaGate? Those tapes might be very interesting to hear: Bubba: She tempted me Reverend. I felt a power over come me that I tried to resist but in the end it was futile. Spiritual Advisor: It's ok Mr. President. She's a Jew and as such she's a child of Satan. It would have taken Christ himself to withstand such a temptation. Shame on Billy Graham.

03-04-2002, 06:42 AM	#8
MortalWombat Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: St Louis area Posts: 3,458	I love the title of that one article: Billy Graham Apologizes For Comments Why is it they always apologize only after getting caught?

03-05-2002, 09:36 AM	#9
repoman Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,280	Well, you guys probably think I am a redneck already, so here goes... do you seriously think that liberal Jewish intellectual writers, reporters and columnists were not giving Nixon hell all the time back then? Given his intrinsic paranoia it is easy to see how he would extend it to almost all jews. Have you guys forgotten how many of the first communists were jewish (this of course having to do with political disenfranchisement in Europe and Russia)? Of all people, I would expect fellow atheists to be able to look at the truth about large portions of the jewish society without thinking it is antisemitism. The question is at that time (1972) were Nixon and Graham totally off base about Jews or just exaggerating the effect of Jewish intellectuals. Though I don't have stats, if assuming that 2% of the general pop was Jewish, while if say 15-20%(or even higher) of the press (esp. columnists) were Jewish and most anti Nixon I can see how Nixon would see them as a force for ill. So does anyone out there have a good source on whether Jews have way too much control over media or conversely a good rebuttal of this? Because, I for one will not dismiss the possbility of the exaggerated importance of Jews in the American media now or in the past just out of hand for the sake getting along or to dodge antisemitism charges.

03-07-2002, 02:00 PM	#10
sullster Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: North of Boston Posts: 1,392	Repoman, You must be young enough to have not been around back in 1972. For you to make the statement that all opposition to Nixon and the Vietnam War was based on the writings of a few Jewish newspaper people shows you just weren't around back then. That is preposterous idiocy. The fact is that opposition to Nixon was widespread and for you to sympathise with Nixon's and Graham's knee-jerk Jew bashing shows a lot about your attitudes. The idea that Jews control the US media is gospel among segments of American society. I don't have rational percentages to give to you to disprove this idea, maybe someone else does. It is intuitively incorrect as the dominant groups in power in America are still mostly white anglo-saxon protestants and white catholics. I am sorry Repoman, I just expect more from the leaders of my country than you do. I can go to any barroom in America and hear the crap said by Nixon and Graham. The cheap gin joints everywhere have guys sitting on stools saying that the Jews run the media and are taking over the country. Sad to say, but the country is full of two-bit ignorant bigots who blame all their troubles on the eternal scape-goat- the Jews. I just don't want to hear such ignorant trash talk from our leaders. Call, me a dreamer, but I feel that way.

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