Strauss Meets with Jewish Leaders

Robert Strauss, President Carter’s election campaign manager, “blew his cool” last night at a fund-raising meeting with Jewish leaders and “stormed out of the room,” according to Gerald Strober, member of the executive committee of Herut U.S.A. and a member of the board of directors of the American Zionist Federation, who was present of the meeting.

Strauss refused to take or answer questions dealing with the Carter Administration’s Mideast policy, Strober told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today. The meeting, which was attended by some 50 Jewish leaders, was held at the Atrium Club here a private club in midtown Manhattan. When Strauss was confronted with questions critical of the Administration’s treatment of Israel, he reacted by describing these concerns as “emotional hysteria,” Strober said.

Describing Strauss’ response last night as a “cowardly performance,” Strober said that he (Strauss) stormed out of the room when one of the Jewish leaders — whom Strober could not identify –asked why the President did not keep his promises to the Jewish voters.

Strober said he is “troubled by the fact that Carter keeps sending Jews who are in his Administration to talk to members of the Jewish community. I think Carter should face the Jewish community himself and tell us why he is so stridently anti-Israel.” He added that the anti-Carter feeling In the Jewish community in the wake of the anti-Israel vote cost by the U.S. on March I in the Security Council is “almost unanimous.”

Meanwhile, some 200 members of the Concerned Jewish Youth (CJY) demonstrated yesterday afternoon in front of the Carter-Mondale head-quarters here. For on hour, they chanted anti-Carter slogans and carried placards denouncing the Administration’s Mideast policy. Jay Spector, president of the CJY chapter at Queens College, said: “We will not stop until Mr. Carter is out of office.” Spector said that while the CJY was not formally affiliated with Betar it was in general agreement with the Betar philosophy.

Vice President Walter Mondale, meanwhile, was scheduled to address a B’nai B’rith ceremony here this evening during which awards will be given to various organizations for their work on behalf of refugees around the world. A B’nai B’rith spokesman said Mondale would discuss the situation in the Middle East and the plight of India-China refugees.