President Nixon favored abortion in some cases, rape and... "When you have a black and a white."

[usregimechange]

WASHINGTON — On Jan. 23, 1973, when the Supreme Court struck down state criminal abortion laws in Roe v. Wade, President Richard M. Nixon made no public statement. But privately, newly released tapes reveal, he expressed ambivalence.

Nixon worried that greater access to abortions would foster “permissiveness,” and said that “it breaks the family.” But he also saw a need for abortion in some cases, such as interracial pregnancies.

“There are times when an abortion is necessary. I know that. When you have a black and a white,” he told an aide, before adding: “Or a rape.”

Nine months later, after Nixon precipitated the resignations of two top Justice Department officials and forced the firing of the special prosecutor looking into the Watergate affair, Ronald Reagan, who was then the governor of California and would later be president, told the White House that he heartily approved.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/us/politics/24nixon.html?_r=3


:wtf:

Could the Republican legacy be anymore screwed up?

[Dennis Donovan]

1. Nixon was a goon...

:thumbsdown:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. Wow, I had no idea Nixon was a racist.

:eyes:

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Not Surprised Though, Are You

He had few redeeming qualities, so this isn't really that much a surprise. He was a major tool in nearly every way. That he would be a racist doesn't shock me.
GAC

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. The father of the Southern Strategy?

I had nary a clue.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. I Knew That

I was being facetious.
GAC

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

6. Really?

Color me flabbergasted.

[dorkulon]

9. Wow, you can even be a dick while agreeing with someone.

That's actually kind of impressive.

[lib2DaBone]

7. Republicans are Proud of Nixon.

[dorkulon]

8. Not surprising, but still... what a Dick. nt

[usregimechange]

10. It highlights the true nature of the southern strategy.