In new transcripts of tapes revealed in Vanity Fair, President Nixon proved to be modern in his views on homosexuality, claiming that gay people are “born that way.”
In new transcripts of tapes revealed in Vanity Fair, President Nixon proved to be modern in his views on homosexuality, claiming that gay people are “born that way.” The recordings come after earlier tapes that revealed homophobic views held by Nixon.
The transcripts are an adaptation from a forthcoming book by Douglas Brinkley and Luke A. Nichter. The authors used 3,700 hours of Nixon's White House tapes to convey the inner workings of the Oval Office.
Speaking with national-security adviser Henry Kissinger and Chief of Staff Bob Haldeman on April 28, 1971, Nixon claimed that he is “the most tolerant person” on the issue of homosexuality. He went on to say that gay people are “born that way…the tendency is there.”
However, while acknowledging that many important historical figures were gay, Nixon also claimed that “boy Scout leaders, YMCA leaders, and others bring them in that direction, and teachers.” Comparing the U.S. to ancient Rome, he also worried that tolerant attitudes to homosexuality could lead to the fall of civilizations.
Listen to Nixon's views on homosexuality, AFTER THE JUMP…
