The House has unanimously approved a joint resolution that would have President Ford present to the people of Israel on behalf of the people of the United States a bronzed, larger than life-size statue of Abraham. Lincoln. The Senate is expected to approve the resolution when it reconvenes after the year-end recess.
The resolution, introduced by Rep. Richard L. Ottinger (D.NY), would accept the statue by sculpt or Sidney Loebe and acquired by Leon Gildesgame, of Mount Kisco, N.Y., a manufacturer and philanthropist, who has been seeking for 15 years to obtain a suitable likeness of Lincoln to be given to Israel. Ottinger noted that Gildesgame was told by David Ben Gurion in 1960 that Lincoln was the greatest American who ever lived. Ben Gurion pointed out that much of what Lincoln favored in regard to human freedom and dignity was based on principles of the Old Testament–the same principles cherished by Israel today, Ottinger said.
The gift to Israel would be without any cost whatever to the U.S. government. The statue is a gift from Gildesgame who also will join the Israeli government in paying for the costs of transport, an aide to Ottinger told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
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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.
