Changes

In 1918, Ford's closest aide and private secretary, Ernest G. Liebold, purchased an obscure weekly newspaper, ''The Dearborn Independent''. In 1920, from May 22 to October 2, it ran numerous antisemitic  articles under Ford's name.  Ford never wrote any of them, but he knew the contents.<ref>https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_International_Jew</ref> The ''Independent'' ran for eight years, from 1920 until 1927, during which Liebold was editor. The newspaper published "Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion" which was discredited as a forgery during the ''Independent'''s publishing run by ''The Times'' of London.<ref> Baldwin (2000)</ref>

In 1918, Ford's closest aide and private secretary, Ernest G. Liebold, purchased an obscure weekly newspaper, ''The Dearborn Independent''. In 1920, from May 22 to October 2, it ran numerous antisemitic  articles under Ford's name.  Ford never wrote any of them, but he knew the contents.<ref>https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_International_Jew</ref> The ''Independent'' ran for eight years, from 1920 until 1927, during which Liebold was editor. The newspaper published "Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion" which was discredited as a forgery during the ''Independent'''s publishing run by ''The Times'' of London.<ref> Baldwin (2000)</ref>

Denounced by the [[Anti-Defamation League]] (ADL), the articles nevertheless explicitly condemned pogroms and violence against Jews (Volume 4, Chapter 80), preferring to blame incidents of mass violence on the Jews themselves. None of this work was actually written by Ford, who apparently could barely read beyond the fifth grade level.<ref> Asked at the trial to read an editorial Ford refused; he said he only read headlines. He demanded that all business reports be made to him orally at briefings; he never read the accompanying studies.</ref>  Friends and business associates said they warned Ford about the contents of the ''Independent'', and that Ford probably never read them. <ref> Watts pp x, 376-387; Lewis (1976) pp 135-59.</ref> However, court testimony in a libel suit, brought by one of the targets of the newspaper, stated that Ford knew about the contents of the ''Independent'' in advance of publication.  <ref> Baldwin (2000)</ref>  

Denounced by the [[Anti-Defamation League]] (ADL), the articles nevertheless explicitly condemned pogroms and violence against Jews (Volume 4, Chapter 80), preferring to blame incidents of mass violence on the Jews themselves. None of this work was actually written by Ford, who apparently could barely read beyond the fifth grade level.<ref> Asked at the trial to read an editorial Ford refused; he said he only read headlines. He demanded that all business reports be made to him orally at briefings; he never read the accompanying studies.</ref>  Friends and business associates said they warned Ford about the contents of the ''Independent'', and that Ford probably never read them. <ref> Watts pp x, 376-387; Lewis (1976) pp 135-59.</ref> However, court testimony in a libel suit, brought by one of the targets of the newspaper, stated that Ford did indeed know about the contents of the ''Independent'' in advance of publication.  <ref> Baldwin (2000)</ref>  

A libel lawsuit brought by Jewish farm cooperative organizer Aaron Sapiro in response to anti-Semitic remarks led to a highly publicized trial; Ford closed the ''Independent'' in December 1927 and apologized for attacking the Jewish people. At the trial, William Cameron, the editor of Ford's "Own Page", a regular feature of the magazine, testified that Ford never wrote or dictated the editorials, even though they were under his byline. Cameron testified that he never discussed the content of the pages or sent them to Ford for his approval.<ref>Lewis, (1976) pp. 140-156; Baldwin p 220-221.</ref>  Everyone agreed, however, that Ford had a general knowledge of the anti-semitic thrust and funded their publication.  

A libel lawsuit brought by Jewish farm cooperative organizer Aaron Sapiro in response to anti-Semitic remarks led to a highly publicized trial; Ford closed the ''Independent'' in December 1927 and apologized for attacking the Jewish people. At the trial, William Cameron, the editor of Ford's "Own Page", a regular feature of the magazine, testified that Ford never wrote or dictated the editorials, even though they were under his byline. Cameron testified that he never discussed the content of the pages or sent them to Ford for his approval.<ref>Lewis, (1976) pp. 140-156; Baldwin p 220-221.</ref>  Everyone agreed, however, that Ford had a general knowledge of the anti-semitic thrust and funded their publication.  

Distribution of ''International Jew'' was halted by Ford.

Distribution of ''International Jew'' was halted by Ford.

Ford's reputation was seriously damaged by his episode of anti-Semitism, even though he recanted in 1927 and never repeated it.  He was responsible for the publication, in the U.S. of the ''Protocols of the Elders of Zion'' and several other pamphlets aimed against Jewish influence.  He paid for the publication of an anti-Semitic book ''The International Jew''.

Ford's reputation was seriously damaged by his episode of anti-Semitism, even though he recanted in 1927 and never repeated it.  He was indeed responsible for the publication, in the U.S. of the ''Protocols of the Elders of Zion'' and several other pamphlets aimed against Jewish influence.  He paid for the publication of an anti-Semitic book ''The International Jew'', a work endorsed by Hitler.  Hitler loved automobiles and like many Europeans idealized Ford for bringing autos to the people, which Hitler tried (and failed) to emulate through the Volkswagen.<ref> Ford was honored by the Nazi government for his automobiles, as was General Motors.</ref>

== Ford's international business==

== Ford's international business==