Presidential Elections Show Change In Views on Ethnicity, Says Scholar (12/26/76)

Presidential Elections Show Change In Views on Ethnicity, Says Scholar

NEW YORK, N.Y. - In spite of dramatic gaffes by both Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford on ethnic issues in the recent campaign, both candidates were especially strong in their support of the concept of ethnic pluralism in America, reflecting a dramatic change in the presidential view of ethnicity over the past half-century.

This observation was made by Irving M. Levine, Director of the American Jewish Committee's Institute on Pluralism and Group Identity, while participating in the annual meeting of the Committee's National Executive Council, held recently in Dallas, Tex., Mr. Levine is widely regarded as one of the nation's leading experts on group life.

Valid Gauge

Mr. Levine pointed out that presidential rhetoric is often an extremely valid gauge of change in public attitudes. He noted that as recently as 1915, President Woodrow Wilson declared that "a man who thinks of himself as belonging to a particular national group has not yet become an American." Earlier, President Theodore Roosevelt was quoted as saying "Either a man is an American and nothing else or he is not an American at all."

By contrast, Mr. Levine declared, both candidates this year applauded the strengthening of ethnic identity. He quoted Mr. Carter's statement that "Our ethnic diversity is the living fiber that holds America together," and Mr. Ford with having spoken of "the strength we have derived from the ethnic and cultural diversity of our people."

Mr. Levine strongly suggested that although Mr. Carter blundered by his reference to neighborhood ethnic purity and that Mr. Ford erred badly by his reference to the status of Eastern Europe, "both men demonstrated an impressive skill in discussing American pluralism. In speech after speech, words like diversity, ethnicity and pluralism were heard."

For example, Mr. Ford declared that "I see a growing danger in this country to conformity of thought and taste and behavior. The wealth we have of culture, ethnic and religious and racial traditions, are valuable counter-balances. 'Black is beautiful' was a motto of genius which uplifted us far above its intention. Once Americans had thought about it and perceived its truth, we began to realize that so are brown, white, red and yellow beautiful."

Mr. Carter stated that "We can have an America that encourages and takes pride in our ethnic diversity, our religious diversity our cultural diversity, knowing that out of our pluralistic heritage has come the strength and vitality and creativity that has made us great and will keep us great."

Strongest Ever

Mr. Levine said he believes these statements are among the strongest on American pluralism ever made by a President or a presidential aspirant.

Tracing the growth of the concept of ethnic legitimacy in American history, Mr. Levine asserted that American Presidents from George Washington to Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson rejected such legitimacy.

As recently as eight years ago, he indicated, a National Consultation on Ethnic America, sponsored by the American Jewish Committee and a number of other groups, generated only minimal interest outside of the academic community. Now that consultation is credited with having sparked the "new pluralism" movement.

In recent years, Mr. Levine said, "the myth of the American melting pot was exposed as people of diverse background publicly reclaimed their ethnic identity. The 1976 Presidential campaign represented a high point in the political rhetoric of pluralism. In numerous addresses, both candidates asserted this new reality in positive terms; this was one interpretation of America they shared. As the United States celebrated its 200th birthday, the vision of our society as one of clearly definable groups working for their legitimate group interests as well as for the common good was gaining new acceptance in the national culture."

The Institute on Pluralism and Group Identity is a Ford and Rockefeller Foundation funded project which was organized by the American Jewish Committee in 1968. The Institute works to bring the social sciences and humanities into closer contact with the needs and life styles of America's diverse groups in order to make American pluralism work. The American Jewish Committee, a pioneer agency in the inter-group relations field, undertook to apply its specialized understanding of pluralism and group life to help develop more positive approaches and responses to the needs of all Americans and to foster depolarization in white-black relations.

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