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To: H.R. Haldeman From: Harry Dent RE: "For Your Information" RE: memo from James H. Boyce RE: Copy of Louisiana Poll (3rd Congressional District). Telephone Survey Press Release and Survey of Voter Attitudes attached. 10 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 6/25/1972
To: Bob Haldeman From: Harry Dent RE: "For Your Information RE: memo from Charles deGravelles regarding Louisiana statewide poll. Memo and June 24 - July 7, 1971, statewide poll attached. 20 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 10/13/1971
To: H.R. Haldeman From: Gordon Strachan RE: Forwarded memo on Louisiana poll that shows the President carrying the state (forwarded by Dent). Memo attached. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 7/29/1971
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WHSF: Contested, 44-21
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This file contains:
To: H.R. Haldeman From: Harry Dent RE: "For Your Information" RE: memo from James H. Boyce RE: Copy of Louisiana Poll (3rd Congressional District). Telephone Survey Press Release and Survey of Voter Attitudes attached. 10 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 6/25/1972
To: Bob Haldeman From: Harry Dent RE: "For Your Information RE: memo from Charles deGravelles regarding Louisiana statewide poll. Memo and June 24 - July 7, 1971, statewide poll attached. 20 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 10/13/1971
To: H.R. Haldeman From: Gordon Strachan RE: Forwarded memo on Louisiana poll that shows the President carrying the state (forwarded by Dent). Memo attached. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 7/29/1971
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Richard Nixon Presidential Library
Contested Materials Collection
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Document Description
44
21
6/25/1972
Campaign
Memo
To: H.R. Haldeman From: Harry Dent RE:
"For Your Information" RE: memo from
James H. Boyce RE: Copy of Louisiana Poll
(3rd Congressional District). Telephone
Survey Press Release and Survey of Voter
Attitudes attached. 10pgs
44
21
10/13/1971
Campaign
Memo
To: Bob Haldeman From: Harry Dent RE:
"For Your Information RE: memo from
Charles deGravelles regarding Louisiana
statewide poll. Memo and June 24 - July 7,
1971, statewide poll attached. 20pgs
44
21
7/29/1971
Campaign
Memo
To: H.R. Haldeman From: Gordon Strachan
RE: Forwarded memo on Louisiana poll that
shows the President carrying the state
(forwarded by Dent). Memo attached. 2pgs
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Page 1 of 1
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
(F)
Date : June 25, 1972
To:
H. R. HALDEMAN
Polls
FROM:
HARRY DENT ASD
Please handle
For your information
Republican
National
Committee.
June 23, 1972
lames H. Boyce, State Chairman
Member for Louisiana
38 Park Hills Drive
Post Office Box 1949
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821
504) 348-0285
Mr. Harry S. Dent
Special Counsel to the President
The White House
Washington; D. C. 20500
Dear Harry:
Attached you will find a copy of the poll that we ran recently
in the 3rd Congressional District and which'I think will be of
interest to you.
This is a District that we consider 'key as far as the forth-
coming election is concerned since it is a combination of all
types of voters.
Also attached is a copy of the press release issued concerning
this. I will give you some play-back later.
FYI, Walker is one of the leading pollsters. Several guber-
natorial candidates used nationally known pollsters such as
Quails, etc., having Walker's firm's poll at the same time,
and found that the results were the same; so, we decided that
we could rely on the information he furnished.
Sincerely yours,
JHB:bc
Dinne
He Repablican Total
Contact
JAY STONE
Executive Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 1972
BATON ROUGE- A telephone survey of Louisiana's Third Congressional District
shows that President Nixon and David Treen would carry the district by a substantial margin at
this time, James H. Boyce, Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, said today.
Boyce said the poll was made by Joe E. Walker Research Associates of New
Orleans on June 12 and 13. Calls were made to 700 persons in the six-parish area of the Third
District, he said.
"The President receives an extremely good report from this district with less
than 10% expressing real dissatisfaction with his performance, while 58 per cent said they
favored his re-election," Boyce said.
Boyce pointed out that the highest rating given Nixon in both the job he is doing
and sentiment for his re-election came from Jefferson Parish, which has 37 per cent of the
registered voters in the Third District. Only 7.1 per cent expressed dissatisfaction with Nixon
and more than 61 per cent favored his re-election.
The President also fared well among voters in the second most populous parish,
Lafourche. Only 12.7 per cent felt Nixon was not doing a good job and 58 per cent favored his
re-election.
Boyce said the surveyors also ran a preference poll on the upcoming congressional
race in the Third District.
Placing Republican David Treen up against three of the Democrats who have qualified,
Boyce said the pollsters found Treen coming out ahead in the district.
At the time the poll was taken, Treen led State Sonator Carl Bauer 40 to 21 per cent,
Treen outpolled former State Sen. George Oubre 38 per cent to 23, and Louis Watkins
12 1.) 1;,
Treen's strongest overall showing came in Jefferson Parish, Boyee pointed out. He
led all other candidates by substantial margins in the preferential poll in that parish.
Boyce said "Any polls taken in the future by the Republican Party of Louisiana
will again be released to the news media for their information and analysis. 11
-30-
EDITOR'S NOTE: A copy of the report as compiled by Joe E. Walker Research Associates is
enclosed for your use. Please feel free to use any of the information contained
herein.
NOTE TO ALL BROADCAST MEDIA: A one minute taped interview with Boyce is available
by phoning Jay Stone in Baton Rouge at 275-3482 during the week-end and
348-0285 on Monday.
RA
CORLODO OSSOCIODED WALKER RESERRCH ASSOCIATES
Report On
A Survey of Voter Attitudes
in the
Third Congressional District
of Louisiana
By: Joe C Waller E,
203 CARONDELET STONEW ORLEANS 1A 731305534 591-1903
I. Introduction
The survey reported herein was conducted by telephone on the afternoons and
evenings of June 12 and 13. The sample plan called for completing 700 interviews in
six parishes. The sample used was a modified area-probability model with random
sampling in Iberia, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes and
a highly structured sample of the 8th, 10th and relevant portions of the 9th wards of
Jefferson Parish. For one reason or another 20 interviews were voided by WRA,
leaving a total usable sample of 680. interviews. That portion of St. Martin parish
that is within the third district was excluded on the grounds that less than 1% of the
district's voters reside there and those who do live in such close proximity to areas
sampled in St. Mary parish that no statistically meaningful data would have been
gained.
Percentages of the district total registered vote for each parish compared to
percentages of the sample drawn indicate minimal over or under sampling due to
voided interviews.
Parish
% Registered
% Polled (Rounded)
It
Iberia
13.4
13
- .4
Jefferson
37.0
39
+ 2.0
Lafourche
15.7
16
+.1
St. Charles
6.8
7
+.2
St. Mary
13.3
13
- .3
Terrebonne
13.4
12
- 1.4
II. The President
Respondents were asked three questions relative to President Nixon. First,
they were asked, "In general, would you say President Nixon is doing a good job, a
fair job or a poor job ?" Table I reflects the district percentages giving each job
rating.
Table I
Nixon Job Rating in Third District
Rating
Percentage
Good
54.7%
Fair
32. 5%
Poor
9.4%
No Opinion
3.4%
N = 680
100.0%
The second question asked, "At this time, would you say you favor President
Nixon's re-election or would you prefer someone else ?" As indicated in Table II, the
President is presently a solid choice among third district voters for re-election.
Table II
For or Against Re-Election of President Nixon
Positions
Percentage
For
58.3%
Against
25.5 %
Undecided
.16.2%
N = 680
100.0%
Respondents who indicated that they were opposed to Nixon's re-election were
asked, "Which, if any, of the other candidates now in the running might you support
against Nixon ?" Table III indicates the results on this probe.
Table III
Support for Potential Nixon Opponents
Candidate
Percentage
Wallace
41.6%
McGovern
13.8%
Humphrey
10.9%
Kennedy
1.1%
McClosky
1.17
Undecided
31.5%
N = 173
100.0%
A parish breakdown of Nixon's job rating and sentiment toward his re-election
is given in Table IV: The reader is Qutioned here that the sample in this survey was
constructed to reflect district-wide attitudes, and the degree of reliability decreases
as the unit of aggregation decreases. Jefferson parish results are an exception to this
general rule since the Jefferson sample is itself a highly structured model of that por-
tion of the district.
Table IV
Nixon Job Rating and Sentiment for Re-election by Parish
JOB RATING
RE-ELECTION SENTIMENT
N
Good
Fair
Poor
No Op
For
Against
Undecided
Jefferson
265
59.1
31.8
7.1
2.0
61.4
25.4
13.2
St. Charles
47
46.0
42.0
12.0
0.0
58.0
32.0
10.0
Lafourche
108
52.7
30.0
12.7
4.6
58.1
17.2
24.7
Terrebonne
82
45.5
44.3
6.3
3.9
53.1
36.7
10.2
St. Mary
89
54.4
26.6
11.1
7.9
57.7
26.6
15.7
Iberia
89
57.1
27.3
11.9
3.7
54.7
21.4
23.9
3rd District
680
54.7
32.5
9.4
3.4
58.3
25.5
16.2
III
Third District Democratic Candidates
In an attempt to assess the vote-getting potential of potential Democratic
candidates in the third district, respondents were asked; "as you know, 3rd District
U. S. Representative Pat Caffery is notgoing to run for re-election. Which, if any,
of the following possible candidates for his seat might you vote for if the election were
held today ?" The results of this question are reported in Table V.
Table V
Voter preference for Democratic Hopefuls
Candidate
Percentage
11.97
Oswald DeCuir
4.1%
George Oubre
13.5%
Louis Watkins
4.8%
3 other candidates who did not qualify
11.9%
Undecided
53.8%
N=680
100.0%
IV
Republican Prospects in the Third District
The survey asked three questions directly related to Republican prospects in
the third district. First, respondents were asked, "As you also know, all of Louisian's
U. S. Senators and Representatives are Democrats. Would you personally consider
voting for a Republican for either Representative or Senator ?" District-wide and Parish
results of this question are reported in Table VI.
Table VI
Parish and District Percentages on Considering
Voting for a Republican
Response Percentage
Parish
N
Yes
No
Not Sure
Jefferson
265
56.9%
23.2%
19.9%
(100%)
St. Charles
47
36.0%
32.0%
32.0%
(100%)
Lafourche
108
38.1%
36.3%
25.6%
(100%)
Terrebonne
82
45,5%
45.5%
9.0%
(100%)
SL. Mary
S9
48.8%
31.1%
20.1%
(100%)
Iberia
89
38.0%
39.2%
22.8%
(100%)
3rd District
680
47.6%
31.0%
20.8%
(100%)
The second question asked related specifically to Treen's candidacy and was
worded simply, "Do you think that David Treen would have much of a chance of
winning the Third District Congressional seat ?" Results of this measure are pre-
sented in Table VII.
Table VII
Percentages on Treen's Chance of Winning by Parish and District
Responce Percentage
Parish
N
Can Win
Can't Win
Not Sure
Jefferson
265
43.0
19.1
37.9
St. Charles
47
28.0
22.0
50.0
Lafourche
108
27.2
28.1
43.7
Terrebonne
82
30.3
21,5
48.2
St. Mary
89
33.3
23.3
43.4
Iberia
89
27.3
23.8
43.9
3rd District
680
34.7
23.6
41.7
The third question relative to Republican chances in the 3rd District consisted
of pitting David Treen against three of the potential Democratic candidates. The re-
sults of these trial heats are reported in Table VIII. (A fourth potential, Joe Waites,
was used but did not file.)
TABLE VIII
Treen Trial Heats by Parish and District
Candidates
Jeff.
St. Chas.
Lafourche
Terreb
St. Mary
Iberia
District
Bauer =
11.9
8.0
19.0
15.1
56.6
30.9
21.4
Trc 11
52.0
52.0
37.2
29.1
22.2
29.7
40.2
Und cided
36.1
40.0
43.8
55.8
21.2
39.4
38.4
Oul 2
19.8
42.0
30.0
15.1
14.4
30.9
23.2
Trc n
44.9
36.0
26.3
30.3
47.7
32.1
38.3
Und cided
35.3
22.0
43.7
54.6
37.9
38.0
38.5
Wat ins
11.6
2.0
17.2
24.0
6.6
21.4
13.8
Trc 2
48.6
56.0
33.6
26.5
50.0
33.3
42.5
Und cided
39.8
42.0
49.2
49.5
43.4
45.3
43.7
N
265
47
108
82
89
89
680
THE WHITE HOUSE
La
WASHINGTON
Palls
Date: October 13,
971
TO:
BOB HALDEMAN
FROM:
HARRY DENT ASD
Please handle
For your information
Republican
nayment
lational
Committee.
October 8, 1971
harles deGravelles, State Chairman
ember for Louisiana
Azalea Street
afayette, Louisiana 70501
18) 235-5660
Mr. Harry Dent
The White House
Special Counsel to the President
Washington, D. C.
Dear Harry:
During the months of June and July, a statewide
poll was made at a reputed cost of $25,000.00. This survey
was made for the Lake Charles American Press, Station WDSU-TV,
New Orleans, and a citizens group called the Coldwater Com-
mittee.
I managed to get my hands on this poll and Xeroxed
the entire poll. I am enclosing pertinent parts of this survey
that deal with national issues as well as a trial heat between
President Nixon, Senator Muskie et al.
After you have studied this, please pass it on
to anyone that you think it would benefit.
Sincerely,
Charlie
Charles deGravelles
CdG:rp
Encl.
CC: Senator Bob Dole, Chairman
Republican National Committee
CC: Mrs. Anne Armstrong, Co-Chairman
CC: Mr. James Galbraith
This report presents results of a scientific survey of Louisiana public
opinion conducted between June 24 and July 7, 1971. The survey is based
on personal interviews with a statewide representative cross section of
i, 000 registered voters.
The sample design allocated to regions of the state and parishes within
regions their proportionate shares of the interviews in accordance with
latest available registration figures. The interviews were distributed
within parishes random selection of sampling points, thus deter-
mining by probability method instead of human choice where the inter-
views were to be made.
The field work was conducted by resident Louisiana interviewers engaged,
trained, and supervised by The Opiniometer Corporation, a subsidiary of
our research firm. The completed interviews were checked for compliance
with sample specifications and interviewing instructions, edited and
coded, recorded on IBM cards, and tabulated in the data processing of-
fices of our firm.
Primary objectives of the survey were:
1. To measure comparative standings of likely candidates for
Governor in terms of statewide visibility, personal popularity,
and voters' current preferences.
2. To gauge attitudes toward state government and related issues
which make up the background climate in which campaigns for
Governor and other state offices must be waged.
The findings are presented not as a forecast of what will happen but as
a planning guide -- to help opinion leaders evaluate problems and oppor-
tunities faced by political personalities whom they may choose to support.
The report is divided into four sections:
1. Summary of Findings: An objective analysis of the results
in terms of the principal objectives.
2. Statistical Tabulations: Detailed tabulations of responses
to all questions asked in the survey by geographic regions
and other selected breakdowns deemed to be most helpful in
evaluating current Louisiana opinion.
- iii -
JON, Continued
3. The Survey Plan: An explanation of the sampling method
followed by tabulations of characteristics of the resultant
sample.
4. Appendix: Copies of the questionnaire and interviewing
aids utilized in the conduct of the interviews, together
with the instructions given to the interviewers.
would emphasize that this survey is limited to reflecting the
olitical situation as of the time the interviews were conducted. The
arrent situation, most particularly as it affects individual political
ersonalities, may be significantly changed by the various campaigns and
heir treatment by influential media.
LOUIS, BOWLES AND GRACE, INC.
Research and Management Consultants
Dallas, Texas
- iv -
SIFICATION OF VOTERS B1 POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
"In politics, do you consider yourself as a liberal, a conservative, or a
middle-of-roader?"
All Voters by Regions
Of State:
New Orleans
All
South-
South-
Metro Area
Voters,
North
west
east
Voters
Statewide
Liberal
12%
13%
18%
22%
15%
Conservative
42
28
29
26
32
Middle-of-roader
32
44
40
42
39
Undecided
13
14
12
11
13
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Base - number of
interviews
277
243
480
266
1000
White Voters Statewide
by Socio-Economic Levels
All
All
Upper
Middle
Lower
White
Black
Third
Third
Third
Voters
Voters
Liberal
14%
12%
11%
12%
26%
Conservative
41
29
33
35
25
Middle-of-roader
40
47
36
41
33
Undecided
5
12
20
12
17
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Base - number of
interviews
260
260
260
780
220
- 39 -
"Do you classify yourself as a Democrat, a Republican, or an independent
voter?"
All Voters by Regions
Of State:
New Orleans
All
South-
South-
Metro Area
Voters,
North
west
east
Voters
Statewide
Democrat
70%
76%
73%
74%
73%
Republican
5
6
5
5
5
Independent
22
17
20
18
20
Unclassified
4
2
2
2
2
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Base - number of
interviews
277
243
480
266
1000
White Voters Statewide
by Socio-Economic Levels
All
All
Upper
Middle
Lower
White
Black
Third
Third
Third
Voters
Voters
Democrat
64%
71%
73%
69%
85%
Republican
9
5
2
5
4
Independent
25
21
20
22
10
Unclassified
1
2
5
3
-
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Base - number of
interviews
260
260
260
780
220
- 40 -
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, continued
V. Attitudes Toward President Nixon
Louisiana voters appear to be somewhat more satisfied than dissatisfied
with the way President Nixon is handling his job as President:
"How satisfied are you with the way Richard Nixon
has been handling his job as President --- would
you say completely satisfied, generally satisfied,
somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?'
Completely satisfied
12%
Generally satisfied
38
50%
Somewhat dissatisfied
28
Very dissatisfied
14
42%
No opinion
8
100%
Black voters were found to be less satisfied (38%) than white voters
(54%) and more dissatisfied (55%) than white voters (38%) -
(Page 3)
- XXX -
V. Attitudes Toward President Nixon, Continued
When voters who said they were completely or generally satisfied with
Nixon's handling of his job were asked "What makes you feel that way
about him?" the following answers were given most frequently:
Record in office
32%
Vietnam war policy
17
Efforts to fulfill campaign promises
5
Honesty, integrity
5
These four categories account for about six-tenths of all responses
given, and no other item was mentioned by more than one voter in every
twenty-five (4%) About one voter in six (17%) was unable to give a
reason for his satisfaction. (Pages 4-7)
on the other hand, when the same question was posed to voters who had
said they are somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with Nixon's
performance, about nine in ten (93%) were able to give at least one
reason for feeling as they do. The following reasons were advanced
most often:
Vietnam war policy
45%
Failure to fulfill campaign promises
11
Recession -- unemployment
11
Failure to stabilize national economy
9
Welfare program
7
Racial policies
7
Lack of leadership ability
5
These comments account for about three-fourths of all the criticisms
leveled at Nixon for his handling of his job, and no other criticism
was volunteered by more than one voter in twenty-five (4%) (Pages 10-12)
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, continued
V. Attitudes Toward President Nixon, Continued
Given the relatively close balance in satisfaction and dissatisfaction
with the performance of the President, it is not surprising that survey
evidence reveals Nixon's political position among Louisiana voters is
somewhat tenuous:
"Suppose a presidential election were being held
today, and you had these three choices: Richard
Nixon as the Republican, Edmund Muskie as the Demo-
crat, and George Wallace as the independent. Which
one would you like to see win -- Nixon, Muskie, or
Wallace?"
Nixon
30%
Wallace 28
Muskie.
19
Undecided 23
100%
Avowed Democrats divided about evenly between Nixon (25%), Muskie (24%)
,
and Wallace (27%) ; while Republicans largely favored Nixon (71%), as
might be expected; and independent voters mostly split between Nixon
(37%) and Wallace (34%), with Muskie (8%) showing very little support
among the independents. Indeed, only among black voters (46%) was
there concentrated support for Muskie. (Page 42)
- xxxii -
ATTITUDES TOWARD NIXON'S PERFORMANCE AS PRESIDENT
"How satisfied are you with the way Richard Nixon has been handling his
job as President -- would you say completely satisfied, generally satis-
fied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?"
All Voters by Regions
of State:
New Orleans
All
South-
South-
Metro Area
Voters,
North
west
east
Voters
Statewide
Completely satisfied
13%
11%
13%
13%
12%
Generally satisfied
37
41
38
38
38
Somewhat dissatisfied
30
33
24
24
28
Very dissatisfied
13
12
16
16
14
No opinion
8
4
9
9
8
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Base - number of
interviews
277
243
480
266
1000
White Voters Statewide
by Socio-Economic Levels
All
All
Upper
Middle
Lower
White
Black
Third
Third
Third
Voters
Voters
Completely satisfied
11%
10%
14%
12%
15%
Generally satisfied
46
43
38
42
23
.
Somewhat dissatisfied
28
25
23
25
37
Very dissatisfied
10
16
13
13
18
No opinion
5
7
12
8
6
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Base - number of interviews
260
260
260
780
220
- 3 -
PREFERENCES IN NIXON-MUSKIE-WALLACE PRESIDENTIAL TRIAL HEAT
"Suppose a presidential election were being held today, and you had
these three choices: Richard Nixon as the Republican, Edmund Muskie
as the Democrat, and George Wallace as the independent. Which one
would you like to see win -- Nixon, Muskie, or Wallace?"
All Voters by Regions
of State:
New Orleans
All
South-
South-
Metro Area
Voters,
North
west
east
Voters
Statewide
Nixon
27%
31%
31%
35%
30%
Muskie
11
21
23
26
19
Wallace
36
21
27
23
28
Undecided
26
27
19
16
23
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Base - number of
interviews
277
243
480
266
1000
White Voters Statewide
by Socio-Economic Levels
All
All
Upper
Middle
Lower
White
Black
Third
Third
Third
Voters
Voters
Nixon
43%
33%
22%
33%
21%
Muskie
13
13
8
11
46
Wallace
26
33
47
35
2
Undecided
18
21
24
21
30
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Base - number of interviews
260
260
260
780
220
By Political Party Affiliations:
Demo-
Repub-
Inde-
Unclas-
crats
licans
pendents
sified
Nixon
25%
71%
37%
29%
Muskie
24
4
8
-
Wallace
27
10
34
42
Undecided
24
16
21
29
100%
100%
100%
100%
Base - number of interviews
730
51
195
24
- 42 -
IONS SAID
"What makes you feel that way about him? Anything else?"
Voters Completely or
Generally Satisfied
Whites Blacks Total
Record in office: he's the best President
we've had in a long time -- really trying
to help our country; doing all he can for
our nation; has done the best he could
under the circumstances -- he inherited a
lot of problems; has been the best Presi-
dent since Thomas Jefferson; no Democrat
in Washington could do the job that he is
doing; a very good President; doing a
great job considering what he had to face;
he has had so many pieces to try to put
together that others left undone; the way
he's conducted himself in office -- quite
a job for one man; no major crisis since
he has been President; trying hard to clean
up the mess left by Johnson; has done well
in both domestic and world affairs; etc
34%
22%
32%
Vietnam War policy: he seems to be working
to end the war; trying to get the troops
out of Vietnam; doing more about Vietnam
than anyone else; doing the best he can to
close the war; trying to calm down
Vietnam and get more home; trying to get
our boys back safely and in an honorable
way; doing more to end the war than
President Johnson; he inherited some bad
problems -- primarily Johnson's decision
to have "guns and butter"; think he will do
his best to end the war; etc
17
18
17
Efforts to fulfill campaign promises: he is
fulfilling his campaign promises; has tried
to live up to his commitments; has tried
very hard to live up to his promises; has
attempted to do what he said he would do;
stuck as closely to his promises as
possible; 90% of what he says, he lives up
to; etc
6
1
5
- 4 -
Voters Completely or
Generally Satisfied
Whites Blacks Total
Honesty, integrity: he is honest; honest
and sincere in his job; trying real hard
to fill the office honorably; I admire his
sincerity and integrity; tries to be fair
and honest; an honest man of the highest
integrity; a Christian President; etc
6%
1%
5%
Other personal attributes: a dedicated
man; a God-fearing man; like him and all of
his family; he is intelligent; tolerant and
patient; well-informed; very conscientious;
kind and forthright; understanding; con-
siderate; mature; levelheaded; etc
4
5
4
Administrative ability: like the way he
handles problems; does things the way he
should; very understanding on all issues;
thinks matters through before acting; his
actions are logical; a man that knows what
he is doing; makes his own decisions and
acts on them; he is his own man; etc
4
2
4
Doing the best he can with a Democratic
Congress: trying to do a conscientious
job with a hostile Congress; does the best
he can with so many against him; if he had
more help from Congress, he could do a
better job; doing well considering most of
Congress is against him; doing a good job
considering the support he gets; etc
5
1
4
acial policies: has handled the racial
situation fairly well; tried his best to
deal with Negroes; is straightening up
integration; has made an honest effort to
stop bussing; etc.
3
4
3
elfare program: we have enough welfare
aid; the welfare program is better than we
had; the poor receive welfare and food
stamps; he is concerned about poor people;
he gives us an old-age pension; like the way
he has taken care of the poor and aged; etc
1
9
3
- 5 -
TONS
Voters Completely or
Generally Satisfied
Whites Blacks Total
Welfare reform --- guaranteed income plan:
doing what he can to improve the welfare
plan; like the welfare reform bill he is
trying to pass; has some good long-range
plans for advancing levels of poverty to a
living income; he is trying to put the
people to work who are able to work; has a
new program for better pay for families who
are disabled; etc.
2%
1%
2%
Increased social security benefits: I am
pleased he increased our social security
checks; raised social security payments; he
has given us more social security; etc
1
6
2
Foreign policies (other than Vietnam) he
made peaceful relations in Europe; he is
straightening out foreign affairs -- putting
a better face on nationally with the
Russians; like his foreign policies; etc
2
2
2
Interested in the people -- keeps them in-
formed: trying to do his best for the
people; trying to do all he can for the
poor people in the ghettos; he stands up for
the people; he lets the people know when and
why he is doing something; etc
1
2
1
Fiscal/tax policies: he cuts out money for
unnecessary programs; trying to balance the
budget; he surprised me as a Republican -
he's not too tight with the budget; his policy
on taxes leans more favorably toward the tax-
payer; has tried to cut taxes; etc
1
2
1
fforts to stabilize the economy: seems to
have stabilized things; trying to bring
prices down; etc
1
1
Conservative: he is a conservative; more con-
servative; etc
1
-
1
)ther reasons for approving: like his policy on
law and order; has benefited government workers;
allowing the young people more voice; like the
way he has handled the news media; like the way
hc did the draft; has helped working conditions;
like his stand on the drug situation; allowing
eighteen-year olds to vote; etc
2
1
2
- 6 -
Voters Completely or
Generally Satisfied
Whites Blacks Total
General approval: I'm all for him; seems
O.K.; doing as well as anyone else could;
like him fine; he is not hurting anyone;
just like what he is doing; etc.
11%
19%
13%
No reason expressed
17
16
17
119%
112%
119%
Base - number of interviews
422
85
507
- 7 -
EXPRESSIONS OF WITH NIXON
"What makes you feel that way about him? Anything else?"
Voters Somewhat or
Very Dissatisfied
Whites Blacks Total
Vietnam War policy: he hasn't stopped the war
in Vietnam; he is hedging on his commitments
concerning the war; he should not have this
nation involved in a war; should pull the
troops out like he promised; at the end of
ten years someone should do something about
this war, and he is our President; hasn't
returned our boys from Vietnam; hasn't kept
his campaign promises to end the war; his
main platform was to get out --- he hasn't done
that yet; Nixon lied to the people when he
said he would end the war; dodging the issue
of stopping the war; he's playing politics
with the war; either pull out or fight to win;
he could end the war; he hasn't won the war;
he could get all those boys out; should end
this war and get our prisoners returned; etc
47%
39%
45%
Failure to fulfill campaign promises: he has
not fulfilled his promises; promised SO many
things that he couldn't accomplish; some of
the things he promised and left out; made too
many promises; his platform called for so
many things that he hasn't done; makes
promises that he doesn't keep; etc
11
13
11
Recession -- unemployment: the recession we
are in; he has caused a depression; when the
Republicans get in office, we always have a
depression; there is so much unemployment
since Nixon has been in office; the unemploy-
ment situation is getting worse; the job
situation is pathetic; lots of jobs have been
cut; have had a hard time getting a job since
Nixon has been in office; there is not any
work; has made the job situation worse; needs
to help the poor people -- we need jobs;
need to provide more work for youth; my husband
has spent 23 years in service and can't find
a job; he is putting too many people out of
work; etc
9
17
11
- 8 -
OF
WITH
NIXON,
Conti
Voters Somewhat
Very Dissatisfie
Whites Blacks
Failure to stabilize national economy: he is
messing up the economy -- prices getting out
of hand; prices continue to go higher; the
cost of living is skyrocketing; an ordinary
wage does not buy necessities; since he has
been in office, the prices have almost doubled;
there should be a control on rising prices;
the law of economics should be left to them-
selves rather than manipulated by the govern-
ment; hasn't kept food prices down; retired
people can hardly make it; etc
9%
8%
Welfare program: spending too much money on
welfare --- some people could work for it;
his welfare policies -- help the poor and
needy instead of the undeserving; hasn't
helped the poor people as much as some people
think; has ignored the poor with all this
cutback in the poverty program; doesn't have
the interest of the poor at heart; don't like
his comments on nursing homes; hasn't done
anything to better the poor; the food stamp
program -- those who need it can't get it;
could do more for the aged who are not well
enough to work; my pension is only $54.00; etc
5
12
Racial policies: don't like his stand on inte-
gration; hasn't done as much as he should about
integration; the fight for equal rights seems
to have slowed down; seems he's not doing much
for the Negro; don't like the way he talked
about the Negro; don't think he is fair toward
black people; unequal treatment of the North
and South on the integration problem; too much
for the black people; trying to integrate too
fast; etc
7
8
9 -
Voters Somewhat or
Very Dissatisfied
Whites Blacks Total
Lacks leadership ability: not as good a
leader as he should be -- seems weak to me;
easily influenced by other people; I thought
he would be a stronger President; hasn't
given us a definite answer on any problem that
comes up; some of the tactics he's using to
handle the government just don't measure up;
moves too slowly -- doesn't act fast enough;
makes a lot of double-talk; wishy-washy;
contradicts himself; he lacks force; etc
6%
2%
5%
Record in office: has done nothing outstand-
ing since he has been in office; could do
more if he stayed in Washington -- travels
too much; so many things he could have done
that he hasn't done; not running the country
as it should be; don't agree with things that
he has done; hasn't proved himself to be the
kind of person to attend to our country's
affairs; etc
4
4
4
Integration of schools: too forceful on in-
tegration of schools -- especially the
bussing; has made a mess of our schools;
bussing arrangement in public schools; wish
he would stop pushing bussing of children to
have racial balance in schools; we like our
schools the way they were -- now all the
teachers and pupils are dissatisfied; he said
he wasn't going to bus the children but he
did -- too much discrimination against the.
South concerning school integration; etc
5
3
4
Lacks integrity -- politically motivated:
don't think he is honest; never did fully
trust him; he's a politician -- doesn't tell
people the truth; he has double-crossed the
public; too secretive; two-faced; etc
4
1
4
Inability to obtain Congressional support:
his hands are tied by Congress; not allowed
to do anything because of Congress; no coopera-
tion from Congress; might have done better but
Congress has been against everything he tried
to do; not informing Congress on important
issues; not trying to listen to or help his,
Congress; etc.
3
1
2
-. 10 -
REASONS FOR EXPRESSIONS OF DISSATISFACTION WITH NIXON, Continued
Voters Somewhat or
Very Dissatisfied
Whites Blacks Total
Views toward organized labor: he is against
organized labor; he's against the unions; I
don't think the President should be against
better pay for the working man when public
officials make more than they know what to
do with; etc
2%
1%
2%
Breakdown of law and order: he should take
a firm stand against riots; too slow in
taking action against riots; should enact
stricter laws; etc
3
2
Foreigh policies (other than Vietnam): don't
like the way he is handling loans to foreign
countries; his foreign posture is not to my
liking; should take a firm stand on foreign
policies; he's letting American ships go
under foreign flags; sending troops to other
foreign countries to start more wars; dic-
tating of foreign policy by persons other than
cabinet; etc
3
-
2
Fiscal policies: wasting money; he's not. right
with the budget; spends too much money on the
wrong things; has the federal government
operating on a deficit; etc.
2
-
2
Tax policies: high taxes; too many taxes; etc
1
3
1
Housing program: don't like the 235 Housing
Program -- the average man can't qualify and
yet can't afford the other; not solving the
urban crisis - need more and better housing;
etc
1
1
1
Choice of appointments: Supreme Court appoint-
ment not too good; he's letting too many bums
take over; don't like some of his appointments;
etc
1
-
1
Education program: he cut the amount given for
education; should have less federal control
over our schools; etc
1
11
REASONS FOR EXPRESSIONS OF DISSATISFACTION WITH NIXON, continued
Voters Somewhat or
Very Dissatisfied
Whites Blacks Total
Other reasons for disapproving: not taking
care of medicare; lack of security of
government business; he should sign a
pardon for William Calley; doesn't t belong
to the party; should take measures to stop
rock festivals; doing nothing on pollution
bills; he listens too much to the unions;
should eliminate the lottery; the Pentagon
Papers; etc.
3%
1%
2%
General disapproval: dislike everything in
general that he has done; don't like him
well enough to vote for him; not doing too
much -- need better man; not the man for the
job; I did expect more of him; etc
6
5
6
No reason expressed
6
8
7
133%
127%
135%
Base - number of interviews
297
121
418
- 12 -
File
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
and
Date 7-29-71
NOTE TO: H. R. HALDEMAN
FROM:
GORDON STRACHAN
Dent forwarded a memorandum on
a Louisiana poll that shows the
President would carry the state
with 30% to Wallace's 28%, to
Muskie's 19%, and 23% undecided.
50% of the people in Louisiana
approve the President.
MEMORANDUM
July 27, 1971
TO:
Honorable John Mitchell
H. R. Haldeman
FROM:
Harry Dent ASD
A Dallas firm had just completed a poll of Louisiana
voters, touching on some statewide races and the Presi-
dency. The poll, taken by Louis, Boles, Grace, Inc.,
was commissioned by the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate,
the Lake Charles American Press, WDSU-TV, New
Orleans, and the "Coldwater Committee," a group of
wealthy Louisianans who search out strong candidates to
back financially.
The poll findings were as follows:
1. 50% are satisfied with RN's handling of the Presi-
dency; with 42% dissatisfied and 8% undecided.
2. If Presidential election were today, RN would carry
the state with 30% (23% in 1968), trailed by Wallace
at 28% (he won in 1968 with 48%), and Muskie at
19%, with 23% undecided.