New York, NY, December 9, 1996...Recently released tapes of remarks made by the late President Richard M. Nixon to his aids indicate Mr. Nixon "absorbed the ugly stereotypes of a classic anti-Semite," and was "a great man flawed," according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The San Francisco Examiner reported the contents of the 1971 tapes in an article yesterday. In a statement released today, Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, said:

The anti-Semitism revealed in the White House conversations secretly taped by the late President Nixon is chilling. His call for Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audits of 'the big Jewish contributors to the Democrats,' his repeated references to 'rich Jews,' his accusations of a 'Jewish cabal,' and to Jews 'that are stealing in every direction' indicate he had absorbed the ugly stereotypes of a classic anti-Semite. Calling for IRS audits of his political enemies was one of the grounds the House Judiciary Committee cited in 1974 when it called for Mr. Nixon's impeachment.

These tapes show a great man flawed. What is also disturbing is that there was no rebuke or challenge of his bigotry by President Nixon's aids. Here is evidence that this sinister disease reached into the most powerful office in the world. No one is immune.

Mr. Nixon certainly supported and helped Israel during his presidency. It is indeed ironic to discover once again that this friend of Israel was, in fact, highly intolerant of Jews.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.