Nixon, Bolling & Trueblood on Quakers and Middle East

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That's the first thing we want to do.

I think the first thing we really wanted to say was that you ought to have some contact with some Quakers who are not... You have to get your heels out.

Sure, I understand.

I don't mind the ones that get out, because basically the Quakers, the real ones, not the new ones, but the real ones, like my mother, she was a developed person.

My mother and grandmother completely disapproved of my going into the war.

I know that completely.

Well, you don't tell us.

I've been all around the area.

Back in the times when I was a correspondent, I tried to go to Russia, and I couldn't go.

Did you see Bill Moyers, though?

Oh, yeah, I was reading, sir.

Bill Moyers?

No.

He made this trip around the country writing up his impressions about America and helped a lot of people he interviewed.

That's all true.

I was afraid you hadn't seen it.

It's just recently out.

It's quite amazing.

It's very much like it.

And her grandmother and mine.

Now...

This is great.

I thought this would be delightful to you.

I hope so.

Now... That's very nice.

Now, when I'm here, and you don't feel terribly hurt, I want to tell you all about Lincoln and Mrs. Grimes.

You know, she was with President in that prayer.

And then there was this wonderful correspondence.

And all of this bears very much upon your present life.

I wondered if you'd like to borrow that copy.

Now this is 1862, in the darkest period of the Civil War, when she came.

This letter is 1864.

Yes, that should use it.

Yeah, just in case.

They kept up the correspondence after.

They kept up the correspondence.

And you'll guess he did it all by hand.

Those were the days.

And you see, these are some of the most powerful things in the world.

And he speaks of this terrible war which no man could make and no man can destroy.

That's one of the most brilliant phrases he ever said.

What?

No man can what?

Which no man could make.

Surely he intends so great good to follow this mighty convulsion, which no mortal could make and no mortal could bear.

Well, I don't want to...

I'll borrow from the return to you.

How's that?

That's a long phrase, isn't it?

As a matter of fact, just coincidentally, it happened to be read to me

And I'm writing a book on Lincoln.

Of course, I told you that's a letter.

Now, here is a letter to you from the pastor of the First Friends Reading English, which you can read sometime.

Here are Landrum's beautiful letter of support.

Here are Landrum's two statements from Russia and Israel.

You see, just come back.

I was in Israel and in Cairo.

I've made many trips in the last three years to Israel and Cairo.

We've had very intense discussions and I've kept very close in touch with them.

representatives all around the circle yeah it's been for us most of them what we're trying to do is

the messengers of hope, but also, in this case, the bearers of bad news.

Sure.

I have to tell the Israeli readers, in some cases, you know, every time I go back and forth, they walk the other side of the edge.

Of course.

And I say, you know, if you insist on this particular point, I don't think you're going to get these.

You're never getting some of this.

I can't tell you what to do.

I'm not trying to be an intermediary.

I'm not trying to be a great editor.

I'm only trying to study this problem and communicate back and forth.

One of the biggest jobs we have now, frankly, is communicating with other Jewish women in this country.

a tremendous amount of time.

They're so unreasonable.

Oh, good Lord, you have no idea.

Oh, I do have an idea.

I know.

The point is that what they have to understand is that, and I've talked on cold turkey, I've talked on sport now,

You know, they always play American politics, and they think we're always watching them.

All of us are going to have to do what we want.

I won't.

I will not put the interests of the American Jewish community above the interests of this country.

I will not do it.

The other thing is that I tell them, I say, now look here, you fellas have a bargaining position now that you'll never have.

It's going to get worse.

Because Egyptians can learn to fight.

I said, ignore the Vietnamese and learn to fight Egyptians.

And eventually they'll elude you.

I said, you can live in this year, you can die a little bit now, but in the end, they'll beat you.

So make your peace while you're at it.

Great.

And they don't see it.

But it's a belief.

I talk to them.

You just keep telling that because I believe it thoroughly.

It's a narrative.

I am not.

Let me tell you.

If there's one thing, whatever happens in the next few weeks, there's some good news for you.

The next few weeks, I can assure you, on several fronts, but at least on one particular.

But let me tell you, whatever happens on the mid-East,

And I'm the first man who could say this is a possible exception of Eisenhower, who had said it was it.

But I will not allow the Jewish lobby in this country to have us create a policy that involves us in a war in the Middle East or

keeps us from having the peace to be.

We cannot do it.

I told you so.

That's wonderful.

And I'm a friend of these people.

Nobody can notice you without being impressed.

They're wonderful people.

But they've got to start being reasonable.

That's wonderful.

That's my idea.

My idea is where you're coming from.

I'll give you a letter of that.

Well, thank you.

I'll get it for you.

Oh, all right.

You've got the presidential conference.

Oh!

You do.

Well, I'm going to say we've got something else for you, too.

You all have an emotion.

You know, she told me I had to write a letter to the assembly service.

Right.

And I was in that room.

Right.

And I told the president, I told Senator Page, thank you.

Yeah, you'd like to do it another time, would you?

Yes, absolutely.

You said all that?

No.

You got a friend?

I've heard it earlier.

Yes, I do.

Give him the gold.

That's great.

Seal it.

Presidential signature.

Oh, what a party.

Somebody's just going to give $10,000 to the college.

I sent the gold.

Well, if he makes it $20,000.

Okay, now.

I know what it is to write money all night long, you guys.

What's your problem?

Put it right in the handbag.

I know the right way.

All right.

Now, when you do the same, you've got to make it a computer term.

All right.

Now, when I'm back...

I don't even... You've spoken a term before.

It's yours.

I heard your words say that you'd show me the thinking room when I come.

Yeah, well, I'm writing a book on thinking.

Well, good.

As a matter of fact, uh...

Whenever, whenever you want to go to the country deadline.

Oh, I've got an idea on that.

I'm going to go to the park.

When he comes.

And we want you because we've only had one quaker so far.

And I think we would like to have you.

Yeah, we'd like to have you at the fall.

Perhaps the summer's not a good time.

Just let me go get this crowd.

But we've got everything to fill it up this time.

If I can go on October 10th, we'll give you a tour.

October.

Tell the people.

There's a meeting with the president on October 13th.

Bye.

There's a meeting in October.

Bye.

Thank you.

And Senator Henry, Senator.

Nixon, Bolling & Trueblood on Quakers and Middle East

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Nixon Library Finding Aid

Also recorded on May 14, 1971

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