Kissinger called Jews 8216;self-serving bastards8217;: documents

White House sought to assure US Jews that Nixon was very concerned about the plight of Soviet Jews.

American Jewish groups lobbying the Nixon White House on behalf of their Soviet brethren got under Henry Kissinger8217;s skin in demanding intense pressure on Moscow to the point that he denounced them to a White House colleague as self-serving 8220;bastards,8221; newly released documents indicate.

Among appeals flooding the White House was one from the Israeli prime minister,Golda Meir,to President Richard M Nixon in August 1972 asking him to protest to the Kremlin its levying of fees for exit permits.

The White House,defending its strategy of quiet diplomacy,sought to assure the American Jews that Nixon was very concerned about the plight of Soviet Jews,had taken up the issue with Soviet leaders directly and remained convinced that quiet diplomacy was the best approach,the documents related.

A White House official,Leonard Garment,saying he was flooded with letters and phone calls with Jewish appeals,asked Kissinger for help and guidance. The late Alexander Haig,then Nixon8217;s national security adviser,sent him Mrs Meir8217;s letter and said,8221;We will have to consider the best means by which to proceed.8221;

According to transcripts released by the State Department,Kissinger,who was Haig8217;s deputy,said to Garment: 8220;Is there a more self-serving group of people than the Jewish community?8221; Kissinger is Jewish.

Garment,also Jewish,replied: 8220;None in the world.8221; At this point,Kissinger was quoted as saying 8220;What the hell do they think they are accomplishing?8221;

Kissinger went on: 8220;You can8217;t even tell bastards anything in confidence because they8217;ll leak it.8221; But Kissinger said he would take up the issue with Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin and also meet again with Jewish leaders. 8220;They ought to remember what this administration has done,8221; he said.