Sir, – Fintan O’Toole’s accusation (“Henry Kissinger’s 100th birthday allows us to reflect on a dark century”, Opinion & Analysis, Weekend, May 27th) that Richard Nixon was a “vicious anti-Semite” is very wide of the mark.
True, in private, like on his recorded presidential tapes, Nixon sometimes made disparaging remarks about Jews (as he did about many other groups), but if he was somewhat prejudiced it is hardly surprising considering his background as a rural Wasp (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) born in early 20th-century America.
Nixon’s dislike of Jews in general was political more than anything else; American Jews were overwhelmingly Democrat and powerful in liberal circles that had hated Nixon since almost the beginning of his career.
However, quite apart from Kissinger, Nixon had many Jewish associates, such as Murray Chotiner, the brilliant, ruthless operative who helped launch his political career, and various White House aides and advisers, such as Len Garment and Bill Safire.
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In 1973, Nixon bypassed the sluggish bureaucracy and launched a massive arms lift to Israel, possible saving that country from extinction during the Yom Kippur War.
Scarcely the actions of a vicious anti-Semite. – Yours, etc,
Dr FRANK GILES,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4.