Nixon tapes: abortion ok "when you have a black and a white"

[greggh]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/us/po ... .html?_r=1

WASHINGTON — On Jan. 23, 1973, when the Supreme Court struck down state criminal abortion laws in Roe v. Wade, President Richard M. Nixon made no public statement. But privately, newly released tapes reveal, he expressed ambivalence.

Nixon worried that greater access to abortions would foster “permissiveness,” and said that “it breaks the family.” But he also saw a need for abortion in some cases, such as interracial pregnancies.

“There are times when an abortion is necessary. I know that. When you have a black and a white,” he told an aide, before adding: “Or a rape.”

I never knew he was that racist.

[eddie]

The world was a lot different back then, so it is unfair to judge based on sentiment of today. I am not say the comment was valid, only that you have to take the environment the words were said in into consideration. Personally I am against abortion, but I also do not feel that I have a right the force that attitude on someone else.