Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Middle East Policy and US-Israel Relations

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A few days ago, on the mid-east.

Not only my views as to the current situation, but also, uh, but also covered, uh, some, uh, episodes of the past.

Period.

Paragon.

supported the State of Israel.

Mr.

Senator, as during the years I was out of office as President, my support, however, didn't

by the Jewish lobby, the Jewish political lobby in the United States.

I have made it clear time and time again to

Jewish community, that under no circumstances would I take a position on aid to Israel, which I thought would be in conflict with the national security interests of the United States of America.

Correct.

I think as a result of the enormous influence of the Jewish lobby in the United States,

not only through its financial contributions to senators, even more because of its enormous influence through the media, but also its coordinated U.S. security interests to

There is one glaring exception.

Bear in mind, there is one glaring exception.

We have to take responsibility in the Eisenhower administration.

In 1956, the rest of the Israeli British French

and to have a Conqueror War period.

Very apart from what effect it may have had on the... what effect the zoning may have had on the...

It had a devastating effect on Britain and France.

Time on, they seem to be major powers in the world.

and have simply lost their strength for... playing a major role in world affairs.

It's a glaring error... to have to admit publicly that the little part that I... played in supporting it during the campaign wasn't safe for you.

No, I had no other choice.

through it.

With no policy, uh, place closed, in parentheses.

He asked one day in the city, by dollars from the state, here again, didn't answer.

And, uh, to a certain extent, may have contributed to

tragic events in 1956.

However, the United States policy has gone overboard in support of the State of Israel against the Arabs.

They're against their neighbors, period.

Those decisions perhaps have been justified.

I'm not carrying it around.

After all, Jews were horribly persecuted during World War II.

It is the responsibility of all decent people to make a mile to rectify

a lot on the conscience of mankind, period.

In humanitarian terms, we have totally, we have almost totally closed our eyes to the terrible condition of Arab refugees.

When I was on a brief African trip in 1957,

have been to this problem without knowing what a sensitive nerve I would be getting.

I did not visit Israel or Egypt on that occasion, but I did.

But I reported when I returned that leaders from Morocco and Canada, the most pro-West of the Arab countries, had expressed concern about the plight of the refugees.

The whole Jewish community in this country jumped on my throat.

They have never forgiven me for not to pray for any issue, period.

references will put my present policy into perspective.

I, quite bluntly, as follows, quote, one, subparagraph one, use of the United States must be our only consideration in the decisions we make regarding the Mid-East.

Subparagraph 2.

For absolutely no circumstances are political considerations in this country to affect any decisions I make.

That's not only because, not for the very obvious, for what many think is the very obvious reason that I get at most 80 to 10 percent of Jewish votes.

but because the states for this nation's peace in the future are too great for us to make decisions based on, make decisions abroad based on the political power of a small but very, very powerful and influential minority at home.

That's paragraph three.

There are times when the political, when the national security interests of the United States will be served by siting with Israel.

Where the Soviet Union is obviously Israel's neighbors.

It serves our interests too.

Israel is

to defend itself, but to deter further Soviet encroachments in the area.

In coming down hard on the side of Israel and maintaining the balance of power in the area at a time when Soviet influence in Egypt and in other countries surrounding Israel has been particularly strong.

and Soviet influence.

On the other hand, where modern analysis becomes primarily one of Israel, of the interests of Israel and the interests of Israel's neighbors, Egypt, Jordan, et al., then we have a totally even-handed policy.

the interests of the United States will be served, in this case, by tilting the policy, if it is to be tilted at all, on the side of 100 million Arabs, rather than on the side of 2 million Israelis.

However, I

believe that an even-handed policy can do of Israel's enormous superiority over its neighbors.

I believe that an even-handed policy is, on balance, the best one for us to pursue.

And as far as, uh, if it's your concern, great.

Thanks.

Brett?

This is being taken to the next.

Continuation of tape to Rogers.

Incidentally, that tape should be, when it is transcribed, should be done top secret, eyes on.

And in this case, don't make it to the Secretary of State.

This just means to

W-P-R. From.

And then I'll insert this.

I'll put it in our hand like so.

Proceeding with this.

And we're in.

The, uh, it's ready to use.

He did it with us along.

through the 1970 elections, and now are planning to follow the same tactics through the 1972 elections.

They're, uh...

The MRA from the Quaker group, that they were just waiting until after 72 when they got a Democratic administration, is right.

what their, what, how many, uh, patients are, period.

They will be expected to continue to say that they consider RN to be their best friend, that he is a great supporter, and we will have many well-intentioned Republicans

There's a Jewish entity like Max Vader, who will be coming in and telling us that we're going to get 35 or 40% of Jewish vote because of the compliments.

Because they're private.

I don't like the word private.

Conversations.

And getting an RN.

Of course, it's all hogwash.

that I will put the interests of the United States first, and they want somebody in the presidency who will put the interests of Israel first.

It is essential that our aid programs for Israel be approved until they agree to have inter-action.

Now, uh, given what recommendations you have in respect, it is vitally important that, uh, we all recognize the times of the essence.

Uh, in the month of June, or July in the latest,

leaders to vote as to whether they want more USAID as a being reasonable on an Interim Agreement.

Whether they want to go at all.

You put this question to them, this proposition to them very hard in your

Conversations.

But of course immediately assume that they can copy me and get me to overwrite it because of the political considerations that will be caught up in it.

In 1972, we all were already working very hard on John Mitchell in this respect.

Brandon is your assurance that, uh, on the merits, I might reach a different conclusion on a recommendation that comes from stating on this problem?

I will never be influenced, when I look, by political considerations.

I am convinced that unless we get some kind of a settlement now,

with the Israeli, that's some other issue.

We're going to get any kind of setup until that gets up to two elections.

Even though the Israeli don't think this can happen, it will have had no other choice but to build up the arm strength of Israel's neighbors

war will be inevitable.

As far as God is concerned, he obviously does not want to have a Soviet presence in Egypt.

On the other hand, if his policy of conciliation fails, he will have to go along with a new

I'm not accepting Soviet aid.

Or lose his head, politically.

Either politically, or politically.

I want you to report to me on the day-to-day operations.

Any negotiations you want to take.

Except when a major decision has to be made.

Cool.

Remember that you can also have in mind, by my being somewhat detached from the negotiating procedure, in a position where I may be able to, quote, persuade her, end quote, in relation to, quote,

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Middle East Policy and US-Israel Relations

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Nixon Library Finding Aid

Also recorded on May 26, 1971

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