The newest Nixon tapes: Tricky to Poppy: "Find attractive women"

[WI_DEM]

In February of 1973, President Nixon called future president and then-Republican National Committee chairman George H.W. Bush, and recounted a recent visit to the South Carolina state legislature.

"I noticed a couple of very attractive women, both of them Republicans, in the legislature," Nixon told Bush. "I want you to be sure to emphasize to our people, God, let's look for some… Understand, I don't do it because I'm for women, but I'm doing it because I think maybe a woman might win someplace where a man might not… So have you got that in mind?"

Bush replies, "I'll certainly keep it in mind."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/23/nixon-to-bush-41-find-attractive-women/

More:

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 — like interracial pregnancies, he said.

“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, Nixon forced the firing of the special prosecutor looking into the Watergate affair, Archibald Cox, and prompted the resignations of Attorney General Elliot L. Richardson and Deputy Attorney General William D. Ruckelshaus. The next day, Ronald Reagan, who was then governor of California and would later be president, told the White House that he approved.

Reagan said the action, which would become known as the “Saturday Night Massacre,” was “probably the best thing that ever happened — none of them belong where they were,” according to a Nixon aide’s notes of the private conversation.

The tapes also include a phone call from February 1973 between Nixon and the evangelist Billy Graham, during which Mr. Graham complained that Jewish-American leaders were opposing efforts to promote evangelical Christianity, like Campus Crusade. The two men agreed that the Jewish leaders risked setting off anti-Semitic sentiment.

“What I really think is deep down in this country, there is a lot of anti-Semitism, and all this is going to do is stir it up,” Nixon said.

At another point he said: “It may be they have a death wish. You know that’s been the problem with our Jewish friends for centuries.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/us/politics/24nixon.html

[SharonRB]

1. So we learn that Nixon was both a racist and an anti-Semite

Neither of which is a big surprise.

[WI_DEM]

3. Nope that has been abundantly clear on other tapes as well.

[get the red out]

4. And he said he's not for women

He wanted to make that pretty clear, that he wasn't supporting women running for office in general, just in cases where they were more likely to beat the Democratic opponent (and they were nice to look at). And choice only if a baby were interracial or in case of rape - racist and misogynist two for one!

The opposition to evangelicals is going to make people kill you idea is interesting, in light of the recent atrocities committed by right-wing extremists against liberals. Nothing changed there.

[Annces]

5. you left out the sexism

I guess that is not as politically incorrect as the other two.

[SharonRB]

8. It wasn't intentional

Of course it's politically incorrect. Forgive me for leaving it out. He hit the trifecta.

[Jokerman]

2. Republican scumbags on parade.

Nothing but hatred and self-interest. No redeeming qualities whatsoever.

[Jim Sagle]

6. Nothing I haven't read in our I/P forums.

[BlooInBloo]

7. Good thing it's not race, it's class - I'd be worried otherwise.