1972 Oval Office Conversation Between Richard Nixon And Billy Graham Contains Anti-Jewish Remarks
On February 1, 1972, President Richard Nixon met with evangelist Billy Graham in the Oval Office. The meeting was recorded under the White House taping system. During the conversation, Graham stated that Jewish individuals had a “stranglehold” on the media and said that this influence “has got to be broken or the country’s going down the drain.” He also referred to what he described as a “synagogue of Satan,” a phrase he used while discussing Jewish influence in media and public life.
Nixon responded by expressing agreement with Graham’s assessment. In the recorded exchange, Nixon stated that “the Jews are just a very aggressive and abrasive and obnoxious personality.” He further discussed what he described as Jewish control or dominance in major news organizations and political institutions. The discussion included references to media ownership, campaign financing, and perceived political alignment.
The tape of the conversation remained sealed for decades and was publicly released in 2002 as part of archival disclosures related to the Nixon presidency. After the transcript became public, Graham issued a statement apologizing for the remarks and said the comments did not reflect his views. The recording became part of the broader historical record of the Nixon White House tapes.
