A Jew could be elected President of the United States in this generation, 31 leaders of the Republican and Democratic Parties believe. Their views are expressed in replies to a symposium conducted by the Jewish Digest, monthly pocket-size magazine, published here.
President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, Adlai E. Stevenson, Alfred M. Landon, most of the leading 1960 Presidential contenders, prominent members of the Senate and House, key governors, and the chairmen of the Republican and Democratic National committees were among those who answered the question posed to them by the Jewish publication. The question read: “Now that most Americans seem agreed that a Catholic could be nominated and elected President by either of the two major political parties, we would be grateful for your opinion on whether you believe that in our generation a Jew could also be nominated and elected to the highest office in the land.”
Fifty-eight percent of those who replied, out of 47 who were queried, said they definitely believed a Jew could be elected President in this generation. The other 42 percent said, in one way or another, that they hoped that before too long the electorate would do away with the tacit religious test traditionally barring all but white Protestants from the Presidency and the Vice Presidency.
Of those who replied to the inquiry, 20 are Protestants, seven are Catholics and four are Jews. Eight of them are potential nominees for the Presidency in 1960. Three of the respondents raised some question as to the accuracy of The Jewish Digest’s premise that the voters are agreed that a Catholic could win the Presidency.
STEVENSON, LONDON, KENNEDY, HUMPHREY OTHERS GIVE THEIR VIEWS
Answering for President Eisenhower, his press secretary James C. Hagerty wrote: “The answer to your question is one which greatly concerns the President. He believes with all his heart that selection of a candidate for public office, including the highest in the land, should be based entirely on integrity and ability–not on how that candidate chooses to worship Almighty God.”
Vice-President Nixon replied: “It is a sign of developing political maturity that within one generation there is serious consideration being given to the nomination of Catholics for the offices of President and Vice-President. I feel certain we will see further progress in this important national aspect of our national life, so that within another generation the so-called ‘Religious test’ will be a thing of the past.”
Adlai E. Stevenson stated: “I hope and pray that we have reached the point in this country where a man’s character and ability and not his race, creed or color are the qualifications we look for in a candidate for the Presidency.”
Alfred M. Landon declared: “There have been great Jewish statesmen in every age and in every country since the first scrolls of history. Therefore, why should one not be elected President of the United States–assuming he measures up on other qualifications.”
Senator John F. Kennedy said: “The practical question whether a majority of American citizens would vote for a member of a minority religious group is being answered in every election year. Apparently the voters who have elected Catholics and Jews to statewide office have based their decisions upon the qualifications of the candidates. I do not believe it is too much to hope that this can be transmitted to a national election.”
Senator Hubert H. Humphrey replied: “I do not see why this would not be possible. I am personally for the best qualified man under all circumstances, regardless of his race, creed, or color. I feel that the time will shortly come, and I pray it will be in our generation, when a man’s religious faith will be of no particular consequence insofar as his ability to win the Presidential nomination and election are concerned.
Senator Estes Kefauver wrote: “I am not certain your premise is correct. For the same reason I don’t feel that I am in a position to give you an informed opinion on your question. I do know this–freedom to worship is a clearly defined constitutional principle in our nation. Americans and the people of the world should always aim at applying this principle to everything they do.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
