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! 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