Nixon Tapes: Abortion Necessary "When You Have A Black And A White"

The New York Times:

On Jan. 23, 1973, when the Supreme Court struck down state criminal abortion laws in Roe v. Wade, President Richard M. Nixon made no public statement. But privately, newly released tapes reveal, he expressed ambivalence.

Nixon worried that greater access to abortions would foster "permissiveness," and said that "it breaks the family." But he also saw a need for abortion in some cases, such as interracial pregnancies.

"There are times when an abortion is necessary. I know that. When you have a black and a white," he told an aide, before adding: "Or a rape.

Read the whole story: The New York Times

Comments

[realitybites2]

I'm glad we don't have tapes from ALL of our presidents behind the scenes. Sometimes its better to be ignorant of what goes on behind closed doors.

[SansArc]

I wish we did have more tapes. Come to think of it I would like to hear a few tapes of the Bush admin. It is not better to be ignorant. I understand that "realitybites2" but you will be bitten even harder by ignoring the things that can destroy you.

[THE JEDI 69]

If ole Richard "ADOLF" Nixon had gottten his way, we would not have had Obama....wow..remember he almost beat Kennedy..what a horrible person this guy was.....yeck

[Craig Doucette]

We need to consider national opinion at the time. Even black people frowned upon inter-racial relationships in the day. We are not hearing about that, however. Just look at some of Malcolm X's speech's and writings at the time.

This is news because the lunatic liberals are using it to further their agenda that conservatives are racist bigots that can't be trusted. The left are a group that still refer to people by race. Along with the KKK, liberals keep racism alive today. Anyone with half a brain knows conservatives are closer to constitutional, self-reliance, and individualism than their liberal counterparts. Pro business and low taxes are what keep the economy. The polar opposite of what is happening right now.

To me liberals make good friends. Fun to go out and have a few laughs and drinks with. The reality is they need to stay out of government. They shouldn't be allowed to run anything more important than a pet store. Their ideals play out to higher unemployment, racial divide, higher taxes, social exercises that advance irresponsibility, rewarding mistakes, penilizing hard work, discouraging growth, and more government control in our lives. One has to look no further than the recent anti-smoking legislation in congress. Liberals are bad for America, bad for business, bad for national security, bad for family, and bad for freedom.

[robXdion]

Trying to turn this on blacks might relieve your conscience but it doesn't address the issue. Throughout US history children of interracial relationships were ALWAYS identified as black and were summarily absorbed into that culture. And Malcolm X evolved from his popularized militancy as well. So that doesn't help you either.

[TallyLass]

I voted for the first time as an 18 yr. old AGAINST that a ss hole, even though I hadn't heard him say this, I was pretty sure he flet that way. I danced a jig when he boarded that helicopter, never to return again. Watergate was in the era when the people and the press worked together. Not anymore.

[tallcoolone47]

woooo hooooooo 40 year old news that fuels racial tension c'mon media we can do better, let's find some 150 year old stuff with more punch!!!!!

NYUK NYUK NYUK

[CrzyRussell]

All this is is hisyoory and has nothing to add to the political discourse in today's world.

[Pammy2]

All this is what?

[Aesthete]

History is valuable in today's world because of all the teachable moments it contains, in order that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.

[SansArc]

Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. The last I checked abortion is still a talked about issue today as well as racial discrimination. What world do you live in exactly?

[Aesthete]

If Nixon's ideas regarding the abortion of bi-racial babies had been allowed to become law, two-thirds of the next generation of my beautiful, highly intelligent and productive family would not have been allowed to exist.

[slash77]

Seriously.....Richard Nixon is dead............... history has already judged him............. we don't need to hear or know anything else about his Presidency...... Get over it aready...... gee

[LiberalBuzz]

Those who refuse to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

We need to hear about ALL transgressions from Nixon, to any former president in the recent past. ESPECIALLY the Bush administration.

[slash77]

I agree..... so let's move on and get to the last administration..... I think their transgressions are far worse!!!

[Aesthete]

Ivan the Terrible was crazy, too.

[CrzyRussell]

People are just using it to prejudge today's Republicans. Many seem to forget that we had racists in our party, too. All we have to look for is Sen Byrd.

[Aesthete]

I hope that this will remind today's politicians and other public figures to be more thoughtful in their words, actions, and legacies before they too fade into history.

[MJJM]

DON"T ever TELL Blacks THAT the GOP is not a RACIST POLITICAL GROUP!!

[Subversive]

Richard Nixon is the Republican gift that just keeps on giving. The more tapes the archives release, the more we can peer into the abyss of his mental delusions. Actually, there isn't much new here that we already didn't know. The real question is why those around Nixon didn't leave the room sometimes and mutter, "Jeez, this guy's friggin' crazy!"

[sjm55]

Who's to say they didn't? Unless they were just as crazy as he was!

[HHarvey]

He's dead and gone, do we care about what Nixon had to say?

[Tara James]

There is this thing called 'history' and some of us think recording and understanding history is important.

[MJJM]

Most of his understudies are still alive. Like CHENEY!!!!!

[Aesthete]

I am a history buff, recognizing that a lot of things in history are not pretty.

[bo245f]

Pat Buchannan on every channel spreading he and Nixons hatred.

[jalowe1957]

Given that Nixon's assertion that abortion is justified in terminating mixed-race babies (read: miscegenation), doesn't that remind you of Nazi Germany's infamous T-4 program, where physically and developmentally disabled individuals were euthanized as part of a hideous eugenic and social cleansing scheme?

Now imagine for a moment if such a practice existed in our country, given the birthers and other unhinged wingnuts in our universe?

Shockingly chilling, isn't it?

[Lorianne]

Why are more abortion clinics located in black and minority neighborhoods.

Sounds like their policies are working as intended.

[sjm55]

Excuse me, while I go put on a sweater...I just got a chill! This statement by him is truly scary and, I am deeply afraid, is one that is probably held by some Republicans to this day!

[zensistah]

And lest we forget, Cheney served in the Nixon White House. Every time he opens his mouth I hear Nixon's voice--paranoid, authoritarian, hateful and generally cut of from reality. Let's not forget history or we will be doomed to repeat it

[jelly450]

Let's not forget that the republications were the party of Lincoln and the abolitionist. The democrats were the party of the K l an until Nixon's "Southern Strategy"

[Aesthete]

So how do you explain the reversal of ideology?

[sarahmp]

it's pretty well know that the parties switched ideologies. do a little research on your Grand Old Party. this argument is embarrassingly thin.

[Lorianne]

"I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing
about in anyway the social and political equality of the white and black
races - that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or
jurors of ne groes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry
with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical
difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever
forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality.

And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there
must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other
man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.
I say upon this occasion I do not perceive that because the white man is
to have the superior position the ne gro should be denied everything."

Abraham Lincoln
Source: September 18, 1858 - Fourth Debate with Stephen A. Douglas
at Charleston, Illinois

President Obama admired Lincoln and was sworn in on Lincoln's bible.
I'd say President Obama understands the inexorable march of history better than most.

[Lorianne]

And Lincoln did not belive blacks and whites were 'equal' and argued for their social and legal separation

I've tried to post a Lincoln quote oulining his beliefs ... but the moderators won't let it through, even though it is part of our history.

President Obama admires Lincoln and chose to use Lincoln's bible for the Inauguration.
He seems to understand the inexorable march of history and the importance of context.

Unlike this site and most posters on it.

[mmgbizgirl]

This mind-set is still alive and well with some Republicans. They represent our past and are the ball and chain weighing down our future.

[cheisdead]

And what a glorius future the Party will provide. All you have to do is look at my workers paridise in mother Cuba.

[Greg2000]

Jon Stewart played one clip where Nixon said :"Black people have no heritage, they're like animals" .
And it's not the first time. That guy was obsessed with Jews, Italians, Hispanics and Roger Ailes (Fox CEO) was his communication strategist and Lee Atwater (Jazzman wannabe by the way)his political strategist.