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

U.S. agricultural products on credit. Thus, in his capacity as Secretary of Agriculture,Benson made a number of trips to countries around the world, two of which carried himto Israel.Again, as noted in Chapter Two, my analysis of Benson's political experience islimited because of the lack of access to Benson's personal record. Yet the public record isquite compelling and is the basis for my examination here. The documentation in thischapter is more diverse than for the previous chapter detailing his religious perspectives,and includes some of his own thoughts and public comments, illustrated mostly innewspapers and other articles, as well as some personal correspondence. In order toachieve a more thorough understanding of Benson's views, I begin with a study of thepolitical views of contemporary U.S. leaders, and then contrast them with those ofBenson. The record reveals that, while Benson faithfully represented his country'sinterests during his visits and in his public commentary, he also exhibited a strongpartiality for the Jewish State, especially regarding its disputed place in the Middle East.America's relationship with Israel remained ambivalent throughout the 1950s, andin the years leading up to Israel's establishment in 1948, American support of a Jewishstate was anything but certain. After World War I, America clung to an internationaldiplomatic policy of neutrality, especially where the Middle East was concerned.Professional diplomats of the 1920s particularly opposed Zionism, a dislike that MichaelOren attributes to Christian missionary efforts in the Middle East and their concern overZionist disruption of their labors. 113President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed anassurance of American neutrality, but, like much of his country, seemed ambivalent about113Oren, Power, Faith and Fantasy, 423.42