J. Reuben Clark - Approach Toward Minorities

Approach Toward Minorities

As noted in D. Michael Quinn's 2002 biography, Clark's attitude toward the equality of blacks was nuanced. Clark was opposed to interracial marriage of white and black people, and he advocated the separation of blood in hospitals to ensure that white people were not given the blood of black people. (blacks were denied LDS priesthood until 1978, and some Latter-day Saints believed that such a mixing of blood would invalidate the white recipient's priesthood status or his future potential priesthood status.) However, in his later life, Clark advocated some degree of civil (if not spiritual) equality for blacks.

According to Quinn, Clark's attitude toward Jews was more consistent. In his 1898 valedictory, Clark spoke of "the foul sewage of Europe," a phrase that Quinn interprets as referring to Jews. "There is nothing in their history which indicates that the Jewish race have either free-agency or liberty," Clark argued in reply to a 1941 book on Hitler. "'Law and order' are not facts for the Jews." Clark also criticized prominent Jewish political commentator Walter Lippman on the basis of his religion: "I long ago ceased reading his stuff, because he veers like a weather-vane, but I am sure always true when the wind blows from Jew-ward." Clark retained his antisemitism until his death.

Clark was adamantly against the use of the atomic bombs in Japan during World War II. He was quoted thus:

Then as the crowning savagery of war, we as Americans wiped out hundreds of thousands of civilian population with the atom bomb in Japan, few in any of the ordinary civilians being any more responsible for the war than were we and perhaps no more aiding Japan in the war than we were aiding America. Military men are now saying that the atom bomb was a mistake. It was more than that: it was a world tragedy.

Clark developed a regard and affection for the Mexican people he served while Ambassador to Mexico. The Mexican people and leaders returned this respect and love:

To no one could come a greater honor than the assurance you give me of the sympathy and affection of the Mexican people. To possess a place in the hearts of a people is the most priceless heritage that can come to any man, however high may be his degree and however lowly may be his station.