This one is less about a factual error than an unwarranted inference. On page 602, Nixonland discusses RN’s speech to the nation on economic policy: “He then named the desperado they would slay together, with a hint of anti-Semitic code: ‘We must protect the dollar from the attacks of international money speculators.'”
Though Nixon mounted the airlift that helped save Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War — an episode that the book overlooks — it is true that he did make anti-Semitic comments in private. But should we automatically regard the word speculator as anti-Semitic code? If so, Senator Obama is in trouble:
- “But we must not allow government intervention to protect investors and speculators who relied on the government to reap massive profits.” (September 6, 2008)
- “We do need to bring down gas prices, and as President, I will. It’s time to crack down on speculators who manipulate the market.” (July 31, 2008).
- “For the past years, our energy policy in this country has been simply to let the special interests have their way—opening up loopholes for the oil companies and speculators so that they could reap record profits while the rest of us pay $4.00 a gallon.” (June 22, 2008).