Fisher Announces Support of Nixon’s Policy to Mine N. Vietnam Harbors

Max M. Fisher, Detroit industrialist and Jewish philanthropist, declared today his support of President Nixon’s policy of seeking to interdict war supplies to North Vietnam by blockading the Haiphong harbor and bombing rail lines bringing in such supplies overland from the People’s Republic of China. Fisher, president of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, apparently was the first major Jewish leader to endorse the President’s policy.

Fisher’s endorsement declared that the President “has demonstrated great courage” and had taken “the soundest approach to both a fulfillment of America’s obligations and a quest for peace which we all so fervently hope for.” He added the hope that “all Americans would support the President at this time.”

The endorsement statement was issued by the Committee for the Re-election of the President. Fisher is neither an officer nor a member of that committee, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency was told by Arthur Amolsch of the committee’s press staff. The committee is headed by former Attorney General John Mitchell. While Fisher is not identified personally with the committee, he has close ties to Nixon and has long been prominent in the Republican Party. The committee statement made no reference to Fisher’s leadership in the Jewish community.

The text of the statement read: “I join with many other Americans to express my support for the President’s position on Vietnam as described in his speech Monday night. The President has demonstrated great courage in facing a situation in which he took a direction which represents the soundest approach to both a fulfillment of America’s obligations and a quest for peace which we all so fervently hope for.

“In this regard, I call particular attention to the peace proposals contained within the President’s talk and state that his offer of a withdrawal of all troops within four months after a cease-fire and return of all prisoners of war is a reasonable and generous offer to North Vietnam. I would hope that all Americans would support the President at this time.”