Ezra Taft Benson and the State of Israel - Brandeis Institutional ...

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Chapter 2: Benson's Religious Leadership and IsraelWritings by and about Ezra Taft Benson reveal his attitudes concerning Israel tobe both a product of his Mormon heritage, as well as broader American-Christian and1950s political sentiment. Yet they also reveal subtle evidences of a uniquely passionateattitude toward the Jewish State, and its place in world history and global politics.Politically, Benson is best remembered as United States Secretary of Agriculture underPresident Dwight D. Eisenhower throughout most the 1950s. In this capacity, and evendecades later, he is usually noted for his fervent dislike of what he saw as socialistpolicies in farming and government – a fervor that was likewise reflected in a deepmistrust and dislike for Communism. He, like much of America in the 1950s, wasacutely wary of ideologies and people who might spread what he regarded as the greatthreat of Communism. 53Benson was indeed a crusader for the principles of freedom, as he saw them. Yetwithin his writings is also ample attestation of the importance of what he regarded as awondrous fulfillment of ancient and modern prophecy: the gathering of the Jews to theirancient homeland. His political views in both respects are intertwined with his Latter-daySaint background and personal religious beliefs. In examining his attitudes on the newlyformedJewish State, I have necessarily attempted to divide his writings and activitiesinto chapters devoted separately to his religious and political work. Yet, while thisdivision is necessary, it is also inherently problematic and not a division Benson himself53Sheri L. Dew, Biography of Ezra Taft Benson, (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1987), 387-8820
would have made. As is true of many religious public figures, attempts at disentanglingthe complexity of religious beliefs and political action are at best tenuous, and at worstrisk misrepresenting the individual's legacy. Yet, I found this division to be the best wayto organize Benson's work. Because of the difficulties in making this separation, certaincross-overs are unavoidable in order to be as complete and accurate as possible in therepresentation.Since much of Benson's political views grew out of his religious ones, I begin byexamining Benson's relationship with Israel from a religious perspective. It should benoted that at the time that Eisenhower requested that Benson serve as the Secretary ofAgriculture, Benson had already served as an Apostle in the Church for nearly 10 years.This is a highly public, important, and sacred calling, seen as directly given from God,and one which designated him as one of 15 leaders of the Church worldwide, and a“Special Witness” of Jesus Christ to the nations. Due to his commitment to his work inthe Church, Benson initially intended to decline President Eisenhower's request, but wasadvised by the Prophet, David O. McKay, to serve his country if he felt it right, asBenson could do much good. 54 Thus, Ezra Taft Benson brought his family and his deeplyheld,and often controversial, political and religious beliefs to Washington.While newspaper and other public accounts of Benson's activities as Secretary ofAgriculture abound, access to his personal writings was not granted me by the Church,and thus my analysis is somewhat limited. Because of this, I have organized his religiousviews around three addresses on Jews and Israel that Benson gave to large public54Dew, Biography, 54.21
Page 2 and 3: AcknowledgementsI am indebted to Pr
Page 4 and 5: Table of ContentsIntroduction - 1Ch
Page 6 and 7: elationship in any depth.In researc
Page 8 and 9: friendships with various Israeli le
Page 10 and 11: Joseph Smith taught that Latter-day
Page 12 and 13: Gentiles, and it will be again inha
Page 14 and 15: for their long suffering. Yet, he,
Page 16 and 17: focus on both the fulfillment of pr
Page 18 and 19: Smith and Brigham Young, as previou
Page 20 and 21: Smith, the members of the group “
Page 22 and 23: Jews.'” 46Benjamin further descri
Page 26 and 27: audiences. The first, called, “Je
Page 28 and 29: Benson's sense of kinship for the J
Page 30 and 31: eturn of the Jews to the land of Pa
Page 32 and 33: general mention of his efforts at s
Page 34 and 35: Or perhaps it did not aid in his ap
Page 36 and 37: about Jews and Israel, throughout t
Page 38 and 39: and Peter Grose describe the frustr
Page 40 and 41: Israel's victory in the Six Day War
Page 42 and 43: the Messiah. Indeed, both Benson an
Page 44 and 45: those visits, as opposed to those o
Page 46 and 47: U.S. agricultural products on credi
Page 48 and 49: The American public, though divided
Page 50 and 51: States.” 133Indeed, a Gallup poll
Page 52 and 53: with Britain and France, for their
Page 54 and 55: many Americans that Israel was now,
Page 56 and 57: those experiences to give validity
Page 58 and 59: Benson, “I want you to pray to Go
Page 60 and 61: gathering. Some of those themes inc
Page 62 and 63: Ben Gurion and Levi Eshkol, both of
Page 64 and 65: sending “two Mormon Books,” and
Page 66 and 67: Yet Ben Gurion's next letter, dated
Page 68 and 69: on this occasion with Shimon Peres
Page 70 and 71: cultivate land for crops in the 194
Page 72 and 73: attitude in the Synagogue Light art
Page 74 and 75:
United States, his views on Israel
Page 76 and 77:
eminded the host that he had not be
Page 78 and 79:
Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and
Page 80 and 81:
"Though Thy servant is now far from
Page 82 and 83:
BibliographyAlteras, Isaac. Eisenho
Page 84 and 85:
Madsen, Truman G. “Mormon Attitud
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