16 February 7 • 2019
jn
continued from page 14
continued on page 18
jews d
in
the
International Jew’
for the Dearborn
Historian. McGraw explores the
history of Ford and the Dearborn
Independent with one overarching
premise in mind — we cannot
afford to forget our history, warts
and all, if we are to learn from it
and progress.
McGraw wrote the piece while
editor of the Dearborn Historian, a
long-standing, regional historical
journal. (He was terminated Jan.
28; the same day Dearborn Mayor
John O’
Reilly halted distribution
of the Historian featuring his story.
See page 12.) Prior to his current
position, McGraw worked for 32
years at the Detroit Free Press, after
which he worked as a communi-
cations director for Compuware;
co-founded the online news source,
DeadlineDetroit.com; and was a
feature writer for Bridge Magazine
and other publications.
His articles have appeared in a
wide-range of journals, such as the
New York Times, the Washington
Post, the Toronto Globe and Mail,
the Fifth Estate and Orbit. McGraw
has also edited three books: Great
Page in Michigan History, The
Quotations of Mayor Coleman A.
Young and, for Detroit’
s 300th
birthday, The Detroit Almanac.
“Henry Ford and ‘
The
International Jew’
” is a well-re-
searched article that has two main
themes. First, McGraw describes
the anti-Semitic reports and publi-
cations generated by the Dearborn
Independent, beginning in May
1920. For the next two years, hard-
ly a week would pass without some
anti-Semitic tract in the newspaper.
Ford claimed he did not dictate
nor monitor the editorial processes
of the Independent, but this would
appear to go against his nature of
attempting to exert control over
everything he owned or managed.
Indeed, as McGraw points out:
“Few people are aware of the details
of how Ford spent millions on
his paper and on the four-book
International Jew series.” The lat-
ter publication sold more than
200,000 copies a few years after
it was printed and was translated
into 12 languages, including, of
course, German. McGraw pro-
vides a detailed narrative of the
Independent’
s operations during
this era, the development of its
reputation both in America and
abroad and, most poignant, Hitler’
s
admiration for these works and
Henry Ford the person.
But it is McGraw’
s second-
ary theme that is most chilling.
The anti-Semitic writings of the
Independent and The International
Jew are still prevalent today. For
example, a search easily finds these
publications used as resources
for neo-Nazi and far-right online
newsletters and blogs.
McGraw, however, like many
other historians who have tackled
this subject, still can only speculate
about one question: Why was Ford
anti-Semitic? He didn’
t like banks.
Was that the catalyst for his views?
Ford grew up in rural America in
the late-19th century with all its
prejudices. Did this inform his
opinion? No one really knows: Ford
never directly addressed the founda-
tion of his opinions regarding Jews.
There were also contradictions
in his behavior. Ford relied upon
Albert Kahn, a Jew, as his chief
industrial designer and, until the
Independent began its anti-Semit-
ic campaign, had been friendly
with Rabbi Leo Franklin (after the
Independent’
s campaign against
Jews began, however, Franklin,
famously, returned his Ford auto-
mobile, and as an editor of the
Detroit Jewish Chronicle, took Ford
to task).
“Henry Ford and ‘
The
International Jew’
” is a good read.
It is good history, and it has an
important lesson, one that is most
relevant for current American and
world politics.
I got the chance to ask McGraw a
few questions regarding his reasons
for writing this article, what he
learned along the way and what he
hopes it accomplishes:
Q: As you have noted, your
article does not describe a “happy
story.” Moreover, this disturb-
ing story shows the dark side of
one of Michigan’
s and America’
s
leading historical figures, the man
who more than any other individ-
ual put America on wheels. Why
did you decide to write this story?
Bill: I’
ve researched the story of
Henry Ford and anti-Semitism for
years but had the chance to write
about it only once or twice for the
COME TO FLORIDA IN THE NEW YEAR
Now selling
Valencia Bay
Advantage Plus
Elly & Ed Lepselter
(561) 302-9374
Houses, Condos, and Rentals in Active Adult,
Country Club and Beachside Communites
®
Fort Lauderdale to
Jupiter and beyond!
2234650
Nouveauté
Fun, Energetic, Modern, Interactive,
Upscale Band, for Your Wedding,
Corporate Party, Bar/Bat Mitzvah!
For Booking Information:
Wendy Rogelle
248.683.2534
Wendy_rogelle@comcast.net
www.nouveaute-band.com
wendy_rogelle@comcast.net
www.nouveaute-band.com
Offering Nutritional Meals, Kosher Foods and Other Dietary Restrictions
Individual and Group Clinical Therapy Services
Transportation Can Be Provided
Private Duty Care
Home Visitations
CNAs, Registered Nurses and CPR Certified on Staff
Licensed and Insured
Exquisite Helpers | Adult Day Program
“Providing Compassionate Care in a Social Environment”
Monday-Friday 7:30am-6:30pm
Call 586-267-0303
for inquiries and rates