We don’t generally think of a President’s mother shaping foreign policy.

President Richard Nixon was directly influenced by his mother, to help Israel in a desperate time of need. As a young child, Nixon’s mother told him, “Richard, someday if you are in the position to help Israel, do it.”

Golda Meir, the Prime Minister of Israel had appealed to Secretary of State for help, but he had no interest in helping. Hundreds of tanks were lined up ready to attack Israel. Several Arab nations were aligned to eliminate the nation of Israel, and Meir knew that the destruction of her country was at hand. At 3:00 am she called President Nixon to plead with him for help. It was during that conversation with Meir that Nixon recalled what his mother, a strong Christian, had prophetically told him as a child.

Even though his Presidency was in a difficult time, and Congress had warned him not to venture into any foreign policy issues, Nixon issued a Presidential order. Within 24 hours, US Tanks, ammunition and weapon carriers were in the hands of Israel.

The short story is that Israel was victorious against incredible odds.

You might say that Israel was saved by Hannah Milhous Nixon, the mother of the President.