Reports are swirling that the U.S. Secret Service will now be
escorting the President of Iran to Ground Zero. Whatever happens, a
look back at a similar moment in New York City history might
suggest a way to handle one of the world's leading
anti-Semites.
When Theodore Roosevelt was the young Police Commissioner of New
York, a well-known German anti-Semitic preacher scheduled a visit
to New York City to give speeches "denouncing Jews." Smugly pleased
with his obvious notoriety and the controversy he brought with him,
the preacher requested police protection. Many Jews were infuriated
and demanded of TR that the preacher be prevented from appearing.
TR later described his response: "Of course I told them (New York
Jewish leaders) I could not -- that the right of free speech must
be maintained unless he incited them (the crowds) to riot." Then
came the wonderfully TR solution: "On thinking it over, however, it
occurred to me that there was one way in which I could undo most of
the mischief he was trying to do."
What did TR do? He personally selected a Jewish police sergeant
as the head of the anti-Semitic preacher's protection detail. Then
he assigned 40 New York City cops -- every last one of them Jewish
as well -- to serve as the detail. The preacher was quickly made a
laughing stock as he made his way to his events surrounded by a
flying wedge of Jewish cops.
Whoever is making the decision on any protection for Mr.
Ahmadinejad while he is visiting New York, they would do well to
take a page from Teddy Roosevelt.
topics:
Iran
