Richard Nixon Supported Abortion New Tapes Reveal

LifeSiteNews ^ | 6/23/09 | Peter J. Smith

[wagglebee]

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 23, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Although US President Richard Nixon remained silent on the landmark 1973 Supreme Court rulings that legalized abortion on demand, newly released tapes show the disgraced President actually believed legal abortion was “necessary” in certain cases, such as when the baby was of mixed-race or conceived through rape.

The information has come to light thanks to the Nixon Presidential Library releasing today over 154 hours of tape recordings from the Nixon White House that were recorded in January and February 1973.

Although the quality of the recordings are poor, Nixon and an aide held a conversation recorded on January 23, 1973, discussing that day’s Supreme Court’s decisions in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton.

“This in effect shows the Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional state laws” on abortion restrictions, Nixon says, adding that any 14-year-old girl who “gets knocked up” would be able to get an abortion for “five dollars.”

“I know that there are times when abortions are necessary. I know that,” Nixon tells an aide, then adding, “When you have a black and a white.”

The aide interrupts, “or for rape,” to which Nixon quickly responds, “or rape." 

However, Nixon and the aide express their reservations for allowing abortion on demand. The aide says it promotes “permissiveness” and “promiscuousness.” Nixon replies that “it breaks the family.”

A chronology of the conversation can be found here

The audio recording containing the Nixon discussion of abortion can be found here

[Dr. Sivana]

Everyone knows Nixon was a RINO on many issues.

At the time of his election, the Republican party meant something else. The Margaret Sanger-types and the the then closeted homosexuals were also often Republican. Conservative in Name Only, yes. And definitely in demeanor, which means so much to the voting populace, which is why Perot received so many votes from conservatives.

But just as Democrat meant something else then, so did Republican. Since then a dual realignment occurred, and the rules are different.

[Richard Kimball]

I actually voted for McGovern, and did not ever like Nixon. I could not bring myself to vote for him. If I had thought McGovern would have had a chance at winning, I might have been able to force myself to vote for Nixon.

I agree with you. Nixon also took us off the gold standard, and did wage and price freezes. Can you imagine the screaming if a Dim tried to do that?

[Big_Monkey]

"I am not sure if this is true, but Nixon reportedly said that he wasn’t really sure if he was a Democrat or a Republican when he decided to run for office (California congressman, IIRC)."

This makes sense. If Eisenhower were alive today, he'd most certainly be a Democrat. I believe that the top marginal rate was the highest it's ever been under the Eisenhower/Nixon regime, at just over 93%. I think it dropped a point or two during their tenure, but that's it.

It was Kennedy who wanted to cut taxes - Oh, how times have changed.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

I would question these tapes....sounds like the left trying to get some mileage out of the recent abortion news. The mixed race comment will be fodder for the current administration

[wagglebee]

I would question these tapes....sounds like the left trying to get some mileage out of the recent abortion news. The mixed race comment will be fodder for the current administration

That would all make sense, EXCEPT for the fact that it was the Nixon Library that released the tapes.

[Lou Budvis]

Nixon was a vindictive opporunist just like 0bama. He was an anti-communist b/c that’s what could get him elected. When in office, however, he pined for detente with the USSR and jumped into the arms of the PRC. No wonder he and Ronald Reagan hated each other.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"...the disgraced President actually believed legal abortion was “necessary” in certain cases, such as when the baby was of mixed-race or conceived through rape..."

And now we have a president who is not only mixed-race but was conceived through an act of statutory rape (his mom was only 17 when she conceived). I guess that's progress.

[joejm65]

Hear THAT, pro-choicers? You and Nixon have something very special in common. Head for the nearest window or rooftop, and flap your arms wildly on the way down. Good luck.

[Romulus]

Nixon was a RINO

You're kidding, right? Abortion was a Republican policy. Read about Kissinger's National Security Memorandum, authored according to Nixon's instructions, in which he declared that Abortion is "vital" to US interests. Then do yourself a favor and get up to speed on the Rockefellers and Bushes who backed Planned Parenthood.

It's one of the sleaziest lies of our political culture that the GOP has any serious interest in human life issues.

[MARTIAL MONK]

If Eisenhower were alive today, he'd most certainly be a Democrat.

During Eisenhower's two terms, he had only a two year window (1953 - 1955) with a Republican majority in both Houses to make major reforms. For various reasons, including WWII debt and the Korean War revenue act, it didn't happen. Tax policy became, instead, a function of economic engineering with competing interests seeking and getting tax favors. In the 1960's tax policy would become a function of social engineering.

Regardless, during Eisenhower's two terms net tax to the Treasury amounted to less than 17% of GDP, a rate that we would drool over today. The nominal rates were high but no one paid them because there were so many deductions and exclusions available.

[Big_Monkey]

"The nominal rates were high but no one paid them because there were so many deductions and exclusions available"

To your point, I also believe that the top marginal threshold was MUCH higher then, than it is now. I believe, and this is from memory FWIW, was around $400K. Of course, now the top marginal threshold is around $300K, and adjusting for inflation, is MUCH MUCH lower than the $400K of Eisenhower's time.

[Don Corleone]

Nixon is DEAD! Deal with it!

[MBB1984]

Blackman was originally a conservative but changed similar to Kennedy and Souter. Nixon wasn't a conservative. But, his position on abortion is considerably more pro life than it is pro choice.

[MBB1984]

True. He also had to deal with large democrat majorities in Congress. For all of his flaws, I find some admiration that caused the liberals to despise him. I don’t think the left ever got over his attack on Alger Hiss.

[wagglebee]

For all of his flaws, I find some admiration that caused the liberals to despise him. I don’t think the left ever got over his attack on Alger Hiss.

Nixon was great in his early days in Congress, but he went steadily downhill from there. Don't forget, the 'Rat Congress did not give us the EPA, that was all Nixon.

[cripplecreek]

Lets not forget that back in the early days of the EPA we did have some real environmental issues that needed to be dealt with.

That’s the problem with these agencies, they last many years beyond their usefullness.

[wagglebee]

Lets not forget that back in the early days of the EPA we did have some real environmental issues that needed to be dealt with.

You're right. But they could have been dealt with under a temporary program within either Interior, Labor or Commerce Departments.

[cripplecreek]

Yeah things like that should be dealt with under existing programs or agencies and all new agencies should be up for review every 5 years or so to decide if they should be defunded and dumped.

Can’t wait to see what our new Great Lakes Czar has in store for me.

[TypeZoNegative]

Wow. I didn’t know Nixon was such a creep! I am so shocked..... </sarc>

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping.