- Memo To: Mortimer Zuckerman, publisher, New York Daily
- News, US News & World Report, former publisher, The
- Atlantic Monthly, Chairman of the Conference of
- Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
-
- From: Jude Wanniski
- Re: The Rev. Billy Graham's 1972 comment
-
- Now don't get me wrong, Mort. I'm not saying just because
you own a
- significant slice of the American news media and that
you are a prominent
- Jewish leader means that Rev. Billy Graham was right
in 1972,
- when he complained to President Richard Nixon that Jews
control the media.
- I actually do think Jews dominate the news media when
it comes to issues
- related to Israel, and I think that fact was what Nixon
had in mind when he
- concurred. He mentioned the dominance of Jews in the
mind, anti-Semitism
- requires one to want to do harm to Jews in some way -
at a low level
- barring Jews from country club membership, for example,
a practice that
- still exists in some clubs at least "unofficially."
-
- For the Nixon-Graham conversation story:
-
-
- When it comes to Israel, though, the Jewish political
establishment that you officially represent will not tolerate a breaking
of the ranks. There may be fierce debate inside Israel on government policies
toward the Arab/Palestinian world, but once decisions are made, there is
no further debate permitted here. In order to ensure this support of Israel,
the Jewish Establishment has bought both political parties with campaign
funds and with its Enforcer, the Anti-Defamation League. There is not a
single member of the government, either executive or legislative branches,
who has the nerve to speak out for the Palestinian point of view when it
conflicts with the point of view of the presidents of your organization.
It just does not happen. Why do you think I spend so much time and energy
t have that happen. When I told you that Seth was too small, but you were
big, you replied "I'm not that big," and you reminded me that
your name began with a "Z" and I should come back when I went
through the rest of the alphabet of Jewish political leaders.
-
- How sad it is. Can't you see that if one of the most
powerful and influential media figures in both the news media and the Jewish
political establishment is afraid to meet with Min. Farrakhan -- because
the word is to avoid doing so at all costs - how do lesser men and women
in the press corps break ranks, whether Jewish or not?
-
- My old boss at The Wall Street Journal told me at the
time I discussed Min. Farrakhan with you that he cleared all issues involving
Jewish matters with Seth Lipsky of the Forward. I offered to have Min.
Farrakhan meet with the editorial board of The New York Times, or to have
him pen an op-ed, but there was no interest. Twice in 1998, I wrote warnings
in this space that unless we tried - to me he said he would apologize for
anything he said that was not true, if they would wish to discuss it with
him man-to-man, but that he could not grant blanket apologies as if he
were a child and thus could not comply. He said he told the rabbis that
he could also take a list of demands from his pocket, if they were willing
to sit and listen. He said he acknowledged the Jewish community had done
more for the black man over the past century than any other ethnic or religious
group. It was always in a parent/child relationship, and it was time for
equal footing at an adult level. No deal.
-
- No deal, Mort, because I believe the fear of losing Israel
to the Arabs is so great that your group will not take any risks of the
only kind that might actually produce peace in the Holy Land. And you are
not big enough, you say. Your name starts with the end of the alphabet.
Too bad.
-
- * * * * *
-
- Three or four years ago, Time invited all the men and
women who had made the "Man of the Year" covers over the previous
70 years and were still around. Min. Farrakhan told me how nervous he was
in accepting the invitation, worried nobody would talk to him. He said
he looked around in the reception area and was awed by the famous people
assembled, and saw one man cutting through the crowd to come to greet him.
It was Rev. Billy Graham, he said, opening his arms to another man of the
cloth. How thrilled Farrakhan was at the gesture, which broke the ice for
the rest of the assemblage. The two men exchanged telephone numbers and
said they would stay in contact. Farrakhan thought he might hear from the
other preacher, but after some months went by, I decided to call Billy
Graham's office to facilitate a meeting. I was told politely by a secretary
that it would not be possible at that time.
-
- http://www.supplysideinvestor.com/showarticle.asp?articleid=1887
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