Chastened by the fecklessness of the Jimmy Carter administration, the original neocons -- both Jewish and Christian -- made considerable contributions toward the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 and the formulation of his policies in office. They then supported Reagan in his massive reelection victory in 1984.
Having had a Hollywood career, two terms as California Governor, and many Jewish friends, Reagan understood and was sympathetic to the Jewish community and their concerns. More than that, behind Reagan's disarming and sunny manner was a keen and disciplined political sense and a full grasp of conservative ideas and American political history.
After the 1988 election, George H. W. Bush and his Secretary of State, James Baker, tilted toward the Arabs and against Israel. Bush, a former oil man, and Baker, a prominent lawyer for the Texas oil industry, naturally aligned with Arab concerns and looked for a deal that would lead to Mid East peace. Most notably, in spite of terrorism by Palestinians, Bush and Baker opened negotiations with them and pressed Israel to make concessions.
In response to criticism from Israel and American Jews, Baker banned Israel's then deputy foreign minister -- Bibi Netanyahu -- from entering the US State Department. Baker was reputed to have even said in a 1992 Oval Office meeting "F*ck the Jews. They didn't vote for us." Even decades later, hostility to Baker by American Jewish leaders was one of the marks against Jeb Bush's failed campaign for President in 2016.
Going forward, in spite of the opening that current events offer, it will not be enough for Republicans to passively wait for American Jews to support them. Republican leaders and candidates have to respect and work hard to understand Jews and address their issues. Trump, as a New Yorker with a Jewish son-in-law and grandchildren being raised as Jews get that. His rivals in the GOP much less so.
“In response to criticism from Israel and American Jews, Baker banned Israel’s then deputy foreign minister — Bibi Netanyahu — from entering the US State Department.”
That story I didn’t know about.
Also shows how long some of these people have been around, in various different jobs.