Former Gov. Ronald Reagan of California met privately yesterday with a group of Jews influential in business and community circles here. According to John Loeb, a New York investment banker, who was present, Reagan, a candidate for the Republican Presidential nomination, characterized the meeting as the “beginning” of a dialogue he intends to pursue with Jewish communities in the course of his campaign. The meeting was closed to the press.
Loeb told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today that the meeting, held at the New York Stock Exchange building on Wall Street, was attended by 25-30 people and lasted “15-20 minutes.” He said it was “not a definitive examination” of Reagan’s positions but a “way of receiving impressions” of his views by the Jewish community. He said Reagan responded to questions “primarily” about Israel and was “very favorable, very positive, in no case (responding) negatively.
Loeb said that Maxwell Roab, president of Temple Emanu-El, played a prominent part in arranging the meeting. Roab, who is active in the Reagan campaign, served during the Eisenhower Administration as Secretary to the Cabinet. Loeb told the JTA that among those present were Albert Spiegel, a Los Angeles attorney who is vice chairman of the Reagan campaign and the candidate’s advisor on Jewish affairs; Laurence Tisch, the New York realtor; Ivan Novick, president of the Zionist Organization of America; Eugene Gold, Brooklyn District Attorney; and Mordechai Hacohen, vice president of the Bank Leumi in New York. Gold told the JTA today that although he is a Democrat he participated in the meeting because he thought it was “important” to hear the view of the major GOP Presidential candidate.
REAGAN FAVORS UNITED JERUSALEM
Loeb said that Reagan made it clear that he strongly favored a united Jerusalem and “when pressed” said he supported a united Jerusalem under “Israeli sovereignty.”
Loeb said that the former Governor was “not as clear cut” as to whether he would, if he were President, move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem but indicated that he would consult with Jewish leaders on such a move He said Reagan was not questioned about the not statements issue or about U.S. economic and military aid to Israel under a Reagan Administration but was firm in the view that the U.S. should “help its friends.”
Loeb said that Reagan was unequivocally opposed to the United Nations Security Council’s anti-Israel resolution of March 1. He said Reagan supported the Camp David accords but maintained that they should be implemented by the two parties — Israel and Egypt — with “minimal interference” from the U.S.
On another matter of Jewish concern, Reagan said he was for “affirmative action” to help minorities but not the way it has been. “distorted.” He cited the record of his administration when he was Governor of California. He said he was opposed to quotas, Loeb told the JTA,
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.
