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

[ObamAtomic]

Chicken eggs throwing at him on his political tour in South America in 1958.

[WilliamP]

His legacy just keeps getting better and better. No wonder why the GOP claims to be the party of Lincoln, but not the party of Nixon.

[laddieluv]

I'm going to be very ILL!

But why does it not suprise me.?!

After all, water is wet.

And Nixon was a dick!

[paulita]

In the article he also said the Jewish people have a death wish and hes glad there are no women in his cabinet because he doesnt want them anywhere.

We would like to think this kind of thinking was a relic of the past but unfortunately there still seem to be some who think like Mr. Nixon.

At least there seem to be more people of goodwill who are willing to speak out against this type of homophobia and isms.

[GrainOSand]

Much has changed. There is a tremendous amount to be hopeful about, though struggle continues.

[Fabulousyogi]

No wonder Pat Buchanon love this man.

[IDIOTA]

Pat loves all human beings regardless of color or nation of birth. Pat welcomes all to our shores. Pat is simply wonderful. (How's that, Huffpolice?)

[DemMD]

HAAHA

[lmvd3]

And if it had gone Nixon's way, we'd have had one less magnificent president in Barack Obama.

[rinpochet]

And my beautiful children would not exist.

[ayisha]

i just turned to my very white boyfriend and said, "apparently our relationship is equivalent to rape." how incredibly sad that so many people today have not progressed from that way of thinking.

[BMS]

And my cousin's beautiful children would not exist.

[apoyo]

Pres Obama was already born by the time Nixon was president.

[SJBrown]

Huh? Roe v. Wade made abortion legal in 1973. Obama was born in 1961 when abortion was illegal. Unrelated historical events.

Roe v. Wade is the historic Supreme Court decision overturning a Texas interpretation of abortion law and making abortion legal in the United States. The Roe v. Wade decision held that a woman, with her doctor, could choose abortion in earlier months of pregnancy without restriction, and with restrictions in later months, based on the right to privacy.

[KillBillV2]

Yeah Nixon and Bush will always be in contest as being the worst Presidents in History.

[mikefina]

FIghting for second place--Jimmy Carter got the gold medal.

[RustyGranite]

Pbth, hell no.

[HC4BO]

In your wet dreams ...

[WorldGoneWild]

For good or bad, Nixon and Carter were intellectuals and could put a foreign policy together. Dubya was just a cowboy told to carry out a very bad mission.

[nolocontendre]

Yeah because Carter resigned his office in disgrace AND left his antecedent with a ruined economy and THREE unfinished wars...

[barackobama4prez]

I have never seen Jimmy Carter ranked below any recent repubs...but dream on anyway.

[ladyvader]

There are time where I feel we as a country are back in the early sixties. Different group of people, but the same problems.

Will America every learn from the mistakes of the past?

[Emlyn]

We still have the Republicans, you know.

[kellygrrrl]

always the charmer

[paulita]

off topic but I really like your logo

[MiddlePassage]

pregnancies from interracial relationships and those from rape are morally equivalent in Nixon's eyes. He was not a very good Quaker.

[brandnewstuff]

Shock and Awe- not really just facts that are confirmed for the Public- No telling what the HECK the BushCheney Torture Tapes will prove- since telecom's needed immunity-

[Nabipoursikami2]

We've only just begun to overcome racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. People were just different back then. I'm sure LBJ and Kennedy had despicable views on race as well. Sen. Al Gore Sr. voted against basic civil rights for African Americans.

I don't know about other states, but in Florida you can be fired for being gay. The equal opportunity laws cover race and gender, but not sexual orientation. A friend of mine was recently fired for the stated reason that his homosexuality made coworkers uncomfortable. People are bigoted. Still a long way to go.

[dteg]

LBJ got the most civil rights legislation passed so I can't fault him on domestic civil rights. Kennedy talked a good game but LBJ got it done.

[Emlyn]

How true.

[IDIOTA]

During the Reagan era, when I was in High School, a lot of the kids told me that racism was over, and that I would get into college because I was a minority. My best friend told me this. I don't where he is today. Perhaps he wonders if he should stay in the G-No-P.

[forebode]

My own boss is a lesbian. I don't hold that against her. It is my belief that God intends for there to be homosexuality. Their brains are different, and while it is not a disability, it is not a choice either. More often than not, I have noticed that gay people tend to be very smart, capable people in their professions.

If a gay person does not come out of the closet, how can an employer fire a person he or she thinks is gay? I live in Topeka, and we have the scourge on humanity that is Fred Phelps and his totally brainwashed humanity haters. I think maybe Phelps lives in the wrong state. Even the conservatives here despise him and his people. Florida, would you please invite Mr. Phelps to move to Florida? I am tired of seeing four year old kids holding up "God hates you" signs. Maybe Phelps will do what Jim Jones did in the end. Good riddance!

[Shelby596]

Repubs haven't changed all that much, have they?

[ObamacratInCA]

No it does not.

[Emlyn]

And they never will.

[LemonMeringue]

The South is still exactly like this.

Why is this news? Not enough inflammatory stories taking place right now?