Senator Richard Nixon, vice-presidential nominee, announced today the receipt of a statement from the Community Relations Committee of the Los Angeles Jewish Community Council, lashing at the attempted injection of bigotry into the current political campaign. The statement, signed by Judge Isaac Pacht, chairman of the Community Relations Committee, reads:
“We have been made aware that certain individuals and groups, acting without knowledge of the facts, have attempted to inject the issue of anti-Semitism into the current campaign to elect the President and Vice-President of the United States. We cannot permit this to occur without registering our deepest disapproval and disavowal. General Eisenhower, Governor Stevenson, Senator Sparkman and Senator Nixon may differ on many of the problems besetting the nation and the world. On these fundamental things, however, they are in agreement; their deep belief in religious liberty and their common, unalterable concern for all Americans.
“In the case of Senator Nixon, it is incumbent upon us, as citizens of California, to speak with candor and frankness. Against Senator Nixon the insinuations of anti-Semitism have been particularly vicious. There are many of us who support the senator for the vice-presidency. There are many of us who oppose him. Whatever our political differences, however, upon this one fact we have no difference. We resent and deplore this accusation. Democrats and Republicans alike, we want it placed squarely on public record that any charges of anti-Semitism against Senator Nixon are utterly and totally unfounded. We make this statement only after the most assiduous inquiry.
“The attempt to cloud the true issues in a political year by appeals to emotional and ignorant sectionalism, racism and sectarianism is one that must be fought by all Americans. In their wisdom the American people will make their decisions on the facts in our historical tradition of free men choosing free leaders in a free land.”
On receipt of Judge Pacht’s statement, Senator Nixon declared: “I have always recognized that those who would stir up race hatred and bigotry are violating every concept of Americanism. They are just as un-American and anti-American as the Communists, the Nazis and the Fascists. The spreading of bigotry and dissension among our people is a threat to American liberties. That is one of the principal reasons why I joined with Dwight Eisenhower in condemning appeals to prejudice, intolerance and bigotry.”
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.
