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

[StillAmused]

Quite a WWF wrestling match... and only one guy in the ring.

Interesting man. Tormented, but interesting.

[whitemerlot]

Look, it's no surprise that pretty much every non-black that came of age before the civil-rights era was racist (or at least what we would classify as racist by today's standards) against blacks. What's amazing is that as he said that, a "black and a white" kid somewhere in America at the time would one day grow up to be our president.

[weatherwaxx]

Does anyone actually care what Nixon thought about abortion, at this point?

[clearthinker2008]

To have a better future you have to know your past. Yes it is important.

[LemonMeringue]

Their "culture of life" is eclipsed by their bigotry. Republicans have learned nothing in 40 years.

[sarahmp]

agreed.

[ScaryBob]

Wow, I liked Nixon until now. NOT.

[LemonMeringue]

The South has not changed, not in 40 years.

[NoblesseOblige]

In many ways, it hasn't changed one iota in the 300-400 years since it was just a mere colonial outpost. Sad but true.

[krewdi]

I would have to guess you've never been there. But that aside, what does Nixon's idiotic opinion have to do with the South? He was a Californian.

[clearthinker2008]

Thank you.

[Lorianne]

Nixon was Southern?

[biglimes]

Conservatives and by extension Republicans used to be pro choice. It wasn't until they realized they could win elections easier by splitting the primarily Democratic Catholic vote and the Dixiecrat Protestant vote that they suddenly exploited the issue. They figured there would be less poor people, less of a burden on the state, or for any other reprehensible reason such as "A Black and a White." None of this is shocking.

[green108]

Astute comment.

[beerguy]

Please provide some evidence that conservatives used to be pro choice. Most conservatives are pro life and always have been. It's one of the main principles. Your statement is pure BS

[Aesthete]

Pro-life and anti-abortion aren't necessarily the same thing. Some are against aborting babies of a "favored" racial category of humans, but are definitely NOT pro-life in their attitudes toward the lives of blacks and other non-whites.

[biglimes]

"A woman's decision to get an abortion is between her and her doctor, period. A bunch of do-gooders don't have anything to say about it." - Barry Goldwater, 1964 Republican presidential nominee. Nicknamed "Mr. Conservative"

[KLordsha]

Tie affair? Seriously though..who knew Nixon was like that..... sad.

[nycwerewolf]

As a mixed race person who for years was able to see at least some good in much of what Nixon did this is very troubling and sad.

[henrypapillon]

Or a man and a woman.

[publanski]

Racism, the heart of the "silent majority." The fact that they are now the minority, and shrinking fast, gives one hope.

[phylliscooper1]

I moved from the north to the Jim Crow south at the age of 12 with my family. It was a sad reality for me to witness as a teenager and was like being in an alternate universe. I hope I live long enough to see that racists are in the clear minority, but sadly believe that my generation will pass before that happens.

[cal5000]

The GOP Legacy folks, big round of applause...

[VanillaCreme]

To all the femenist: In addition to supporting the ERA and signing into law landmark feminist laws such as Title IX, Nixon, facing opposition from many men in his administration, increased the number of female appointees to administration positions.

Tricky Dicky also forced the Supreme Court decision Alexander vs Holmes Board of Education and forced states around the country to abide by the desegragation law.

NOTE: How about that fist pump in the photo; look familiar?

[progressivepam]

Today's republicans would have nothing to do with Tricky Dicky. He'd be way too liberal.

[scottymac11]

And he was always hugging Sammy Davis Jr. He must have been a good guy huh?

[DKLabRat]

Did he actually mean black and white people? Or could he possibly have meant when you have a situation that is black and white - such as rape? I wonder which it was.

[weatherwaxx]

People, I'm afraid.

[1logicalthinker]

I don't wonder at all. He meant a black person and a white person.

[sarahmp]

oh. sad. he meant interracial baby. he meant what he said.

[MRb1000]

Republicans still fill this way!