Posted on 06/26/2002 10:39:27 AM PDT by GeneD
Filed at 12:59 p.m. ET
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Evangelist Billy Graham made his first face-to-face apology for anti-Jewish comments he made at the White House that were recorded 30 years ago, an aide said Wednesday.
The apology came Sunday at Graham's first meeting with Jewish leaders since tapes were released in March revealing a 1972 conversation with President Nixon in which the Southern Baptist evangelist expressed disdain for what he saw as Jewish domination of the media, aide Melany Ethridge said.
``This stranglehold has got to be broken or this country's going down the drain,'' Graham said to Nixon.
Rabbi George Barnard, president of the Cincinnati Board of Rabbis, said Graham told the small private group that his remarks were unforgivable. The group also included Michael Rapp, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Federation of Cincinnati, and Neil Bortz, president of the Jewish Federation.
``He doesn't remember them, and we accept that as fact,'' Rapp said. ``He apologized, he repudiated the anti-Jewish sentiments that were attributed to him, and he hoped his actions on behalf of the Jewish people over the years contradicts the words he spoke.''
In a statement in March, the frail, 83-year-old evangelist had said he had no memory of the meeting with Nixon, but deeply regretted the comments.
``They do not reflect my views and I sincerely apologize for any offense caused by the remarks,'' Graham said in the statement.
They should pick on somebody else though. Graham's been through it. Too bad Mother Teresa has passed away. She would be ideal.
You are crazy in the head.
And I bet you think the Jews made me say that.
Someone, no doubt, has a transcript they'll post. But it needs to be the whole thing. Of course, I could have been dreaming, like I usually do, about Nixon.
More profiles in courage.
What was her motivation?
They got Agnew and they were trolling for something on Nixon.
Graham said that later she regretted it. yeah, right. Of course she was on LKL to sell her autobiography and then die.
I don't think so. He apologized because he is a Christian and they are always rolling over and trying to make people feel good.Graham knew that standing his ground and explaining what he said would cause endless debate and bad feelings. So he apologized. That behavior is one of the things I find so frustrating about Christians of deep faith. I admire those who can do it but turning the other cheek never resonated with me.
Too many people take kindness as a sign of weakness.
Like a salmon returning to home waters to spawn.
You are out of your mind. I suppose you think Christ went to the Cross to keep from making a fuss.
It is not surprising that Graham said it because it was very common in that time. A relative once told me there was no such thing as a poor Jew. There were Jews that showed their money and those that didn't. Jews were the national scapegoat.
Billy Graham is at the end of his life. He doesn't need nor want endless debate about this. Many have been changed spiritually by his sermons. Billy Graham does not want them nor anyone else to use his life to score political points. Reverend Graham is showing great patience and good will. Those who are badgering him have no class.
Everyone knows that if we had private conservatives made today, much less 30 years ago,by those attacking Reverend Graham, we would hear far, far worse. Heck, we don't even need private conservatives. The ugly things liberals say about Christians we can read in the papers everyday.
Your relative has never met Alouette.
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