Nixon

I never understood exactly why my folks loved Richard Nixon.  To the day she died, my Mother kept this color picture of the man under the glass on her dresser. But after watching a couple of movies on the History of Israel - a little activity I planned in honor of Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel Independence Day (it's today) - I understand.

On Yom Kippur 1973, the Holiest Day in the Jewish calendar, Israel was attacked. 180 Israeli tanks faced over 1400 Syrian tanks and a mere 436 Israeli infantry were poised to fight over 80,000 Egyptian soldiers. The attacks by Egypt and Syria were backed by nine Arab states and the Soviet Union. 

This part I got from the movie: Things were not going well. Prime Minister Golda Meir was desperate and called Nixon at 3 am asking for help.  He responded by immediately sending Israel everything Golda asked for - weapons, supplies and munitions. 

Nixon later related this story: when he was a little boy his mother read  Bible stories from the Old Testament to him. She told him that the Jews were a special people and that someday he would be called upon to help them. When that day came he must do everything in his power to assure they survive.

From the Nixon Foundation: To this day Richard Nixon is very highly regarded in Israel. Prime Minister Golda Meir said “For generations to come, all will be told of the miracle of the immense planes from the United States bringing in the material that meant life to our people.”  Golda remembered Nixon fondly for the rest of her life. 

Mom did too...