Correspondence between David A. Brody (Washington, D.C.) and Chic Hecht, and Burton S. Levinson and Albert Charnin (New York), September 26, 1986

Fromthe desk of DAVID A. BRODY 10/6/86 Dear Chic: Here, for your information, is a copy of the letter I mentioned to you on Friday. As I told you, no other Jewish group went along with our position. 1640 RHODE ISLAND AVE., N.W. WASHINGTON. D C. 20036 202 - 857 6663 Z l |TTTilI ? i, . H C M ' " " " K T ' t h I. ?'*t , < i N r MA.WIll I GREENBERG ?U?TON M. IOSEPH Honorary Vice Chairmen LiONARD I ABESS RUDY BOSCHWITZ EDGAR M BRONFMAN MAXWELL DANE LAWRENCE A. HARVEY BRUCE I. HOCHMAN CERI M. lOSEPH MAX M. KAMPELMAN PHILIP M KLUTZNICK CARL LEVIN HOWARD M. METZENBAUM SAMUEL H. MILLER BERNARD D MINTZ MILTON MOLLEN BERNARD NATH ROBERT R. NATHAN ABRAHAM A. RIBICOFE WILLIAM SACHS S.O. SHAPIRO THEODORE H. SILBERT SIDNEY R. YATES Vice Chairmen DOROTHY BINSTOCK BEVERLY DAVIS NAT KAMENY SAM KANE STEPHEN B. KAY IRVING SHAPIRO Vice Chairman. National Executive Committee HOWARD P. BERKOWITZ Honorary Chairman, National Executive Committee DAVID A. ROSE Honorary Treasurers CHARLES GOLDRING BEN|AMI\ GREENBERG MOE KUDLER Treasurer ROBERT NAFTALY Assistant Treasurer PETER M. ALTER Secretary LARRY M. LAVINSKY Assistant Secretary MELVIN FRAIMAN 'Anti Defamation League of Bnai Brith President, B'nai B'rith GERALD KKAH Executive Vice President DANIEL THURSZ President, B'nai B'rith Women IRMA GERTLER Executive Director ELAINE ?B INDER DIVISION DIRECTORS Administration HAR' LD ADLER Civi Rights | TIN |. FINGER Communications LYNNE IANNIELLO Community Service THOMAS NEUMANN Development SHELDON FLIEGELMAN Intergroup Relations THEODORE FREEDMAN Leadership Assistant to the National Director MARVIN? S . RAPPAPORT General Counsel ARNOLD FORSTER September 26, 1986 Mr. Albert Chernin Executive Vice President NJCRAC 443 Park Avenue South New York, NY 10016 Dear A1: With reference to the intention of the NJCRAC to send a letter to Congress urging an override of President Reagan's proposed veto of sanctions legislation, ADL hereby exercises its veto power against the issuance of the letter and its public dissemination. Numerous members of the South African Jewish community have been in touch with ADL. Uniformly, they have reminded us that South African Jews have been in the forefront of opposition to Apartheid. Moreover, voting analyses have revealed that the Jewish community has not been supportive of the National Party. Rather, it has been one of the most progressive-minded communities in South Africa. Still, they have urged upon us that American Jews not take a front and center role in supporting the divestiture movement. It seems to us, given the sense of vulnerability that this suggests as well as the high profile activities in behalf of freedom of the Jewish community, that we ought show respect for the wishes of our South African brethren. Indeed, no less than Helen Suzman has eloquently opposed disinvestment. Surely, the Suzmans and the Alan Patons merit our consideration. If the South African Jewish community had a less forthright position against Apartheid than it does, we could understand concern about their motivations. But they have in fact been quite vocal and visible on the issue. It's our view that as an American Jewish organization we ought not turn a deaf ear to our co-religionists. This is not to in any way suggest that ADL is for or against an override of the President's proposed veto of sanctions legislation. We feel strongly, however, that the wishes of the South African Jewish community should be respected. Of course, individual Jewish organiza-tions remain free to take whatever position they want on the issue. Sincerely, Burton S. Levinson National Chairman cc: Nathan Perlmutter (over) 823 United Nations Plaza, New York, NV 10017 (212)490-2525/Cable: ANTIDEFAME/Telex: 649278