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OCR Page 1 of 66THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
POLITICAL MEDIA ANALYSIS
October 25, 1972
13 Days To Go
Stories and footage relating to the President and Family yesterday were
straight to favorable, including RN speaking of peace to Vets, the White
House Fellowship, the veterans legislation, and Tricia handling the
hecklers in West Virginia on two nets. Major story of course, dominant
story this morning, is Vietnam RN with HAK and Thieu's tough stance
against a coalition and against a cease-fire, unless there is a withdrawal.
Of more political interest, however, we believe, are the following
observations. A) McGovern is confused as to how to handle the "peace"
reports. His aides say if peace comes, it is because of McGovern. McGovern
says if peace comes, RN should explain why we didn't get the deal four years
ago then McGovern answers his own question, saying it is because RN
was appeasing "right-wing hawks. 11 Then McGovern contends that if he
were President, he would "cut Thieu's water off. "
In the absence of a peace settlement or cease-fire our best guess is that
McGovern, with strong network support from the Cronkites and Kalbs,
will zero in on Thieu as the "roadblock" to peace -- charging that this "corrupt
dictator is the only thing that stands between the U.S. and an end to this
immoral war, 11 etc. While this is not McGovern's issue any more the
above seems to us the way he will end up handling it if nothing hard
emerges in the next few days -- one reason being he can count upon left
media support on this.
B) However, the main attack line of McGovern for the final two weeks seems
set now - Watergate/Espionage/Sabotage. Again, it is an issue where he
can count on media collaboration such as he received yesterday when two
nets challenged Kleindienst on camera as to why he was not calling a
Justice Dept. investigation. McGovern also was at his most strident and
harsh in demanding to know why RN does not answer his rhetorical questions
about Watergate, etc.
On this issue this morning, outside the Post and Times, it is not played
high. Most papers include it inside, as one of the half dozen to dozen
political stories they are now running each day. However, Times this
morning front-pages story of 26-year-old GOP chick allegedly recruited
to join Muskie campaign, and Post banners story allegedly linking HRH
to the "secret fund. 11 Wires run this straight this morning.
Our problem on this issue is that the networks are following up McGovern
leads such as Mankiewicz challenge to Justice, which brought Carl Stern
and others into confronting Kleindienst. Secondly, McGovern keys off the
Post what they allege from files and testimony he takes as gospel and will
likely do so again today then the nets runsit. Tonite, comes his national addres
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