The Rev. Billy Graham met with Cincinnati Jewish leaders and apologized face to face for the first time since tapes of comments he made 30 years ago at the White House were released this year.

        In a private meeting Sunday with a Cincinnati rabbi and two others, the Rev. Mr. Graham said he couldn't believe he said Jews had a “stranglehold” on the news media.

        “He said, "What I said on those tapes was unforgivable,'” said Michael Rapp, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.

        “He doesn't remember them, and we accept that as fact. He apologized, he repudiated the anti-Jewish sentiments that were attributed to him and he hoped his actions, on behalf of the Jewish people over the years, contradicts the words he spoke.”

        The comments were recorded in the Oval Office in 1972 by President Richard Nixon, but were not made public until February. The conversation was part of 500 hours of tapes released by the National Archives.

        After the tapes were released, the Rev. Mr. Graham issued a written apology. Rick Marshall, director of the Graham missions, said Sunday was the first opportunity the Rev. Mr. Graham has had to meet with Jewish leaders in person.

        “From my point of view, and Mr. Graham's point of view, it was a private meeting,” said Mr. Marshall, who was at the meeting. “It was a private time to Mr. Graham to respond to their feelings. ... This was a private meeting that he took very much to his heart.”

        The Rev. Mr. Graham is preparing for his four-day Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky mission, which begins Thursday.

        Mr. Rapp, Neil Bortz (president of the Jewish Federation) and Rabbi George Barnard (president of the Cincinnati Board of Rabbis) met with the Rev. Mr. Graham and Mr. Marshall for about 30 minutes in a suite at Paul Brown Stadium.

        In the 1972 tape, the Rev. Mr. Graham says, “This stranglehold (on the news media by Jews) has got to be broken or this country's going down the drain.”

        “You believe that?” Mr. Nixon says in response.

        “Yes, sir,” says the Rev. Mr. Graham.

        “Oh, boy. So do I,” Mr. Nixon agrees, then says: “I can't ever say that, but I believe it.”

        “No, but if you get elected a second time, then we might be able to do something,” the Rev. Mr. Graham says.

        Jewish leaders said they felt satisfied and pleased with the Rev. Mr. Graham's Sunday apology.

        “He said he was very sorry and that this was not what he believed in,” Rabbi Barnard said. “He doesn't have any memory of that happening and couldn't imagine saying it.”

        Cincinnati's racial tensions and the situation in Israel also were discussed.

        “We all expressed the hope that he would use his public appearance as an opportunity to speak in favor of Israel, which is something we very much think needs to be done, at all times, but especially now,” Rabbi Barnard said. “My impression was that he received this positively.”

        Mr. Rapp said the Rev. Mr. Graham “was gracious and he was a gentleman.”

        Mr. Rapp had requested the meeting several months ago, and Mr. Marshall said they agreed to the meeting on Friday.

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