{"id":58,"date":"2019-08-30T16:02:52","date_gmt":"2019-08-30T16:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/exhibits\/benjamin-gettler\/?page_id=58"},"modified":"2019-10-04T20:47:15","modified_gmt":"2019-10-04T20:47:15","slug":"political-participation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/libapps.libraries.uc.edu\/exhibits\/benjamin-gettler\/political-participation\/","title":{"rendered":"Political Participation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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    Ben and Dee Gettler in front of the White House for the Presidential Inauguration of Ronald Reagan.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n
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    Gettler in the White House on invitation from President Ronald Reagan.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n
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    Gettler at the 1984 Republican National Convention.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n
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    Gettler supporting U.S. Representative Pat DeWine, along with Senators Phil Gramm, John McCain and Mitch McConnell.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n
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    Letter from Gettler to Steve Forbes regarding Gettlers speech to introduce Forbes at the Hamilton County Republican Party Lincoln-Reagan Dinner.<\/div><\/div><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    One of the most impactful moments in Benjamin Gettler\u2019s life was his first trip to Israel in 1965, where he realized he could sit idle while his people in Israel needed support from the United States. President Jimmy Carter\u2019s stance against supporting Israel was one of the major factors leading to Gettler\u2019s position as a devoted republican. Gettler also knew Ronald Reagan from his previous time working for the Screen Actor\u2019s Guild, and was able to rally strong Jewish support for Reagan. This support contributed to Reagan winning the Presidency in 1980. Gettler himself was an avid fan of President Reagan. He traveled with his wife Dee for Reagan\u2019s inauguration, and twice was invited to visit with President Reagan at the White House. On one occasion, Gettler was able to get to President Reagan\u2019s candy jar and take some jelly beans, which he kept for the rest of his life. <\/p>\n

    Gettler supported, corresponded with, and befriended many republican politicians, including Jack Kemp, Conrad Burns, Rob Portman, Steve Forbes, and Brad Wenstrup. He attended every Republican National Convention from 1980-1992, and was regularly called upon for campaign contributions or campaign leadership roles. His connections to politicians helped him to move agendas important to the Jewish Community, in particular JINSA, as well as gave him an ability to voice his concerns of legislation that would affect his business. <\/p>\n

    After his death on June 4, 2013, United States Representative Brad Wenstrup delivered a touching tribute to his friend before the House of Representatives, recalling their time together playing pickup basketball, Gettler\u2019s philosophies, and honoring his legacy of philanthropy and political participation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-58","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t