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This file contains:
From RN to Rose Mary Woods RE: Betty Palmer. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Rose Mary Woods RE: favorite hymn. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Roy Ash and Bob Haldeman RE: Cabinet Committee on wage-price stabilization. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to John Ehrlichman RE: PR. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bill Rogers RE: Lucius Clay. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman RE: Gail Patrick Jackson and the Betty Furness job. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman RE: offers to potential administration officials. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/2969
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman RE: conversation with Pete Flanigan. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman RE: Cabinet officials. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman RE: schedule after the Inauguration. 2 pgs. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Roy Ash, Bob Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman RE: independent agencies study. 2 pgs. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bill Rogers and Henry Kissinger RE: Ambassadors abroad. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Henry Kissinger RE: Latin American dictators in 1960. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Roy Ash RE: younger business executives in the Administration. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman RE: meetings with agency heads. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Dwight Chapin RE: golf clothes. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to John Ehrlichman RE: commencement speeches. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to John Ehrlichman RE: CBS. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to John Ehrlichman RE: Jimmy Byrnes. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to John Ehrlichman RE: autographed pictures of Cabinet members and Ambassadors. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: thank you notes to commentators. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: National Committee. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: correspondence reports. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: meeting with Arthur Burns. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: Cabinet transition. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Jim Keogh and Bob Haldeman RE: Johnson's foreign policy. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: National Committee. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman RE: Cabinet evaluations. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: correspondence and statement specialists. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Rose Mary Woods RE: Betty Palmer. Handwritten notes added by unknown. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Rose Mary Woods RE: Dick Ogilvie. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
26125874
label
WHSF: Returned, 1-36
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
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Source metadata
id
26125874
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
WHSF: Returned, 1-36
description
This file contains:
From RN to Rose Mary Woods RE: Betty Palmer. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Rose Mary Woods RE: favorite hymn. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Roy Ash and Bob Haldeman RE: Cabinet Committee on wage-price stabilization. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to John Ehrlichman RE: PR. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bill Rogers RE: Lucius Clay. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman RE: Gail Patrick Jackson and the Betty Furness job. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman RE: offers to potential administration officials. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/2969
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman RE: conversation with Pete Flanigan. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman RE: Cabinet officials. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman RE: schedule after the Inauguration. 2 pgs. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Roy Ash, Bob Haldeman, and John Ehrlichman RE: independent agencies study. 2 pgs. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bill Rogers and Henry Kissinger RE: Ambassadors abroad. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Henry Kissinger RE: Latin American dictators in 1960. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Roy Ash RE: younger business executives in the Administration. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman RE: meetings with agency heads. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Dwight Chapin RE: golf clothes. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to John Ehrlichman RE: commencement speeches. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to John Ehrlichman RE: CBS. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to John Ehrlichman RE: Jimmy Byrnes. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to John Ehrlichman RE: autographed pictures of Cabinet members and Ambassadors. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: thank you notes to commentators. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: National Committee. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: correspondence reports. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: meeting with Arthur Burns. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: Cabinet transition. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Jim Keogh and Bob Haldeman RE: Johnson's foreign policy. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: National Committee. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman RE: Cabinet evaluations. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: correspondence and statement specialists. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Rose Mary Woods RE: Betty Palmer. Handwritten notes added by unknown. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
From RN to Rose Mary Woods RE: Dick Ogilvie. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/7/1969
citationUrl
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Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
Returned White House Special Files
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Richard Nixon Presidential Library
White House Special Files Collection
Folder List
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
Document Type
Document Description
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Rose Mary Woods RE: Betty
Palmer. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Rose Mary Woods RE: favorite
hymn. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Roy Ash and Bob Haldeman
RE: Cabinet Committee on wage-price
stabilization. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to John Ehrlichman RE: PR. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Bill Rogers RE: Lucius Clay. 1
pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John
Ehrlichman RE: Gail Patrick Jackson and the
Betty Furness job. 1 pg.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Page 1 of 5
Box Number Folder Number Document Date
Document Type
Document Description
1
36
01/07/2969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John
Ehrlichman RE: offers to potential
administration officials. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John
Ehrlichman RE: conversation with Pete
Flanigan. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John
Ehrlichman RE: Cabinet officials. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John
Ehrlichman RE: schedule after the
Inauguration. 2 pgs.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Roy Ash, Bob Haldeman, and
John Ehrlichman RE: independent agencies
study. 2 pgs.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Bill Rogers and Henry Kissinger
RE: Ambassadors abroad. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Henry Kissinger RE: Latin
American dictators in 1960. 1 pg.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Page 2 of 5
Box Number Folder Number Document Date
Document Type
Document Description
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Roy Ash RE: younger business
executives in the Administration. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John
Ehrlichman RE: meetings with agency heads.
1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Dwight Chapin RE: golf clothes.
1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to John Ehrlichman RE:
commencement speeches. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to John Ehrlichman RE: CBS. 1
pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to John Ehrlichman RE: Jimmy
Byrnes. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to John Ehrlichman RE:
autographed pictures of Cabinet members
and Ambassadors. 1 pg.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Page 3 of 5
Box Number Folder Number Document Date
Document Type
Document Description
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: National
Committee. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE:
correspondence reports. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: meeting
with Arthur Burns. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: Cabinet
transition. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Jim Keogh and Bob Haldeman
RE: Johnson's foreign policy. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: National
Committee. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John
Ehrlichman RE: Cabinet evaluations. 1 pg.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Page 4 of 5
Box Number Folder Number Document Date
Document Type
Document Description
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman and John
Ehrlichman RE: Cabinet evaluations. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE:
correspondence and statement specialists. 1
pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Rose Mary Woods RE: Betty
Palmer. Handwritten notes added by
unknown. 1 pg.
1
36
01/07/1969
Memo
From RN to Rose Mary Woods RE: Dick
Ogilvie. 1 pg.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Page 5 of 5
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
RMW
FROM:
RN
I think you ought to send an invitation to Betty
Palmer for the Inauguration.
And, also, I think it might be thoughtful to send
one to Arnold Hutschnecker.
Also, along the same lines, Mr. and Mrs. Ab England
should be invited to the Inauguration.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
RMW
FROM:
RN
The next time you get a request for a favorite
hymn, you might give them the name of one that is not well-
known, but which I often played on the piano, with my
own arrangement.
The title is, "He Will Hold Me Fast. "
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Roy Ash
FROM:
RN
CC:
Bob Haldeman
In reading one of the reorganization reports I
note that a suggestion was made that we ought to set up a
Cabinet Committee on wage-price stabilization. I know that
a committee of this type is already in existence, and the
question is whether it is worth continuing, should be
disbanded, or whether something new should be set up in its
place.
Perhaps this should be decided after discussion
with McCracken, Kennedy, Stans and Shultz.
This, incidentally, is an area where I would not
consult Moynihan since his concerns are solely in the urban
affairs problems.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
John Ehrlichman
FROM:
RN
In the general PR area it is vitally important
that in the early days of the Administration, it become
clear that we are initiating a new foreign policy, a new
policy on government organization, and a new policy on law
and order, as well as a new fiscal policy to stabilize the
dollar. In addition, of course, we need to give definite
indications of new directions as far as our urban problems
are concerned.
I would like for you or someone under your
direction to keep informed on what is developing in these
various areas and to see what, if anything, we can do to
create these impressions in the public mind in the next two
or three months.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bill Rogers
FROM:
RN
As I recall you had had some discussion with
Lucius Clay with regard to the Chairman assignment.
I have no feeling as to whether he would fit in,
but I wanted to be sure that you have followed up on the
discussion so that he is not waiting for a call from me.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman/John Ehrlichman
FROM:
RN
The possibility of Gail Patrick Jackson for the
Betty Furness job is intriguing.
I am inclined to think we are probably stuck with
this job because if we don't fill it a great outcry will
be raised that we don't care about the consumer. I don't
know whether Gail would do it or not, but I would like
some discussion to take place within the staff and a
recommendation made to me.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman/John Ehrlichman
FROM:
RN
By the end of this week I think we ought to have
made firm offers to Champion, Hill, Lodge, Murfin, Day,
Coleman, Middendorf, Warner and Sandoval, Herb, and any
others in the strictly political category where heat will
otherwise fall on me.
Pete Flanigan is on top of the situation and
probably will have some answers.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman/John Ehrlichman
FROM:
RN
I spoke to Pete Flanigan on a subject which I know
he will be looking into but which presently probably is on
the back burner because of more urgent matters under his
jurisdiction. I think it is vitally important for us to get
a. list of the blue ribbon commissions which the President can
appoint, involving part-time service and great prestige.
The Intelligence Board is one of this type. Here
I am going to move off a lot of people who are either too old
or who are not politically with us and appoint a number of
others who have interest in this field.
For example, a fellow like Jim Copley might be appointed
to the Intelligence Board or something similar in which he
has an interest.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman/John Ehrlichman
FROM:
RN
One point that should be made to all Cabinet
officials (I imagine that most of them have already taken
this into consideration) is that they get the best possible
evaluation of the career people in their departments.
All of the recommendations of our reorganization
task force lean hard on this point. The tendency, naturally,
is to think almost exclusively at this time of the appointees
we will be naming, but the quality of the career people and
where they are placed will make or break the Cabinet official.
Don't write a memorandum on this. I think that a
telephone call to each Cabinet official, reminding them
of this, might be in order.
It will not be necessary, incidentally, to call
Rogers or Laird. I know both of them have already moved in
this direction-
The other Cabinet officials, however, I think could
well use this kind of a reminder.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman/John Ehrlichman
FROM:
RN
It is time to rough out my schedule for the first
week after the Inauguration. I would like for you to discuss
this in a meeting with Bryce, Kissinger and Moynihan on
specific matters.
I thought that it might be helpful, for the morale of
the departments generally, for me to try to make a personal
visit to each Cabinet Department, of a half-hour each, on
the 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th. We could probably do four
each day. This would simply be a call at the Department and
a brief talk to the 100 to 150 top officials in the Department.
At State and Defense, and possibly Justice, it might
be well to make this a luncheon visit, and if we take four
days for the exercise, Treasury might be added to that list
or HEW for a luncheon visit.
Another possibility would be to schedule a drop-by
at the Senate one day around noon, and a drop-by at the House.
Harlow might advise as to the advisability of such a move.
In each of these cases a lunch with the leadership would
probably be in order.
An NSC meeting, an Urban Council meeting, and a
Cabinet meeting should all be scheduled during the first
week as well.
- 2 -
Social events should be limited to those I have
already discussed with Ehrlichman.
By the end of this week, I would like to see a
tentative schedule and recommendations for my approval.
In working on my schedule for the first week
consideration should also be given as to when the first
press conference should be held.
I am inclined, incidentally, not to make it a
grandiose television spectacular such as Kennedy staged.
I think it might be well for us to move in the other direction
and while having it, of course, open to television, make
it low-keyed. I, however, am open to suggestion on this
subject and this is one which should be kicked around by the
PR group.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Roy Ash/ Bob Haldeman/ John Ehrlichman
FROM:
RN
At the present time I realize that we are having
Bob Ellsworth doing a study of the independent agencies
and giving him the responsibility of supervising it from
the White House.
I have long thought that we should look at these
agencies and see whether or not supervision in several
instances could not be put under an appropriate Cabinet head.
Only a few should be the responsibility of the White House.
Certainly the Small Business Administration should
be under the general supervision of Commerce. The Federal
Mediation Service, in my view, should be under the supervision
of the Labor Department, although you are likely to get an
argument from Stans on this -- one, incidentally, that I
think is fallacious.
NASA cannot be put under Defense because that leaves
out its non-military functions. Therefore, it would have to
remain under general White House jurisdiction.
I think I would be interested in seeing Ash's
recommendation as to what independent agencies can be put
under Department heads for supervision. This becomes important
because as we name the heads of these agencies if we believe
they should be under a department head we tell the individual
we appoint that that is the way it is going to be.
- 2 -
For example, I think that should definitely be the
understanding with regard to USIA which should be under
State.
AID, on the other hand, needs somewhat separate
identity due to the fact that Defense and other agencies
also have an interest.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bill Rogers
FROM:
RN
CC:
Henry Kissinger
At the beginning of a new Administration I believe
that an analysis of the qualifications of all of our
Ambassadors abroad, career as well as non-career, should be
made. While the great majority of career men will probably
be retained in their present posts, the beginning of a new
Administration is a good time to move some of the dead wood
out and to move some of the unqualified men from one post to
a less sensitive one.
In my travels abroad I have, of course, seen the
usual number of political appointees who weren't qualified
for the job they held, but I have also seen a number of
career men who were pretty inadequate and who should be
replaced.
I think a very hard-head analysis should be made just
as soon as we take over on January 20 so that any changes can
be made within the first two or three months that we are in
office. If we delay beyond that point we will be subject to
the charge of being vindictive, personal or political.
Changes at this time, of course, will be expected.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Henry Kissinger
FROM:
RN
There is no hurry on this, but I would like to
have for future reference the number of dictators who were
in office in Latin America when Eisenhower left office in
1960, as compared to the number when we take over on
January 20.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Roy Ash
FROM:
RN
I have the feeling that we are not getting enough
of the bright, younger business executives in your age
group, 40 to 50, who might bring some real imagination and
drive to the Administration.
Would you give this some thought and try to see
if we can enlist some of them in the days ahead.
CC:
Bob Haldeman
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman/ John Ehrlichman
FROM:
RN
With further reference to RN schedule in the first
week, I want to start a practice of about once each month
of seeing the independent agency heads.
In the first instance they can all be brought in
in a group because the message will be one involving morale,
etc. After that, we will have to see them individually,
and in groups only when the problems are common.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Dwight Chapin
FROM:
RN
My recollection is that I left some golf clothes
at Limebrook.
I can't recall whether I left any golf clubs there
or at Baldustrol.
I think I did leave some golf shoes or something
else at Baldustrol.
Would you see that checks are made at both Clubs
to gather up what, if anything, I left there so that they
can be shipped to Washington.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
John Ehrlichman
FROM:
RN
I note that we are beginning to receive
invitations to do commencement speeches.
Hardin spoke to me about doing the commencement
at Nebraska on its 100th anniversary on May 31. When I
was in Chicago the President of Northwestern asked me to
do their commencement in June.
I am not keen on doing any commencement addresses
at this time. In any event, I do not think any decision
with regard to commencement addresses should be made before
approximately March 1. I think both of these invitations
should be responded by telephone by you stating our situation
and if they want to go forward with somebody else it is okay.
If I am unable to do them it is possible that they
might want Agnew.
In any event, I would like advice from our PR group
as to what, if any, commencement addresses I should do this
year.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
John Ehrlichman
FROM:
RN
I understand that CBS had a 15 or 20 minute film
on the wedding, (I think it was CBS, it might have been
NBC), which was carried broadly.
I wonder if you could check and see whether it
would be possible for us to get a tape of this film for
our library. We would like to see it at the White House
if possible.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
John Ehrlichman
FROM:
RN
When I was in South Carolina I told Jimmy Byrnes
we would have him in the White House for his next
birthday, which I believe will be his 90th.
Would you check this and put the date on for a
lunch or dinner if it fits into our schedule.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
John Ehrlichman
FROM:
RN
Would you give me a report by the end of the week
as to what we are going to do about pictures for distribution
to the government offices and also, what, if anything, we
ought to do about autographed pictures for members of the
Cabinet, sub-Cabinet, etc., as well as Ambassadors.
Perhaps you ought to check this with Johnson to
see what he did and also with Goodpaster to see what the
Eisenhower practice was.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman
FROM:
RN
A reminder -- where are the thank you notes,
which I asked for sometime ago from Herb Klein, to favorable
press and television commentators?
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman
FROM:
RN
RE:
National Committee
It is imperative that we move on the Bliss matter
this week. If we let it drag until the Inauguration he
will just stay on because we do not have an alternative.
Also, I think it is vitally important to go forward
on the new National Committee organization plan if we have
one agreed upon.
In reading Sears' recommendations there are, of
course, suggestions that simply cannot be put into effect
at this time -- for example, getting rid of the Senate and
House Campaign Committees. We may be able to reduce the
flow of money to them but, on the other hand, with people
like Tower in charge there isn't any way that we can get
rid of them.
A strong National Chairman, however, might be able
to coordinate their activities much more closely with those
of the National Committee, particularly if we use our financial
clout to bring them into line.
Give me a report on this general subject -- Bliss
and the National Committee organization -- before the end of
the week.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman
FROM:
RN
Before the end of the week I would like a report
on the correspondence and statement specialists you are
trying to find for me.
I would like for you to also give me a report as
to what we are going to do with regard to the staff secretary
position which Goodpaster filled for Eisenhower and in which
he sat in on National Security Council meetings, and also
some meetings in the President's office and followed up
on decisions that the President made. This is not something
which you can undertake with your administrative responsibilities
which will keep you too busy to handle a great amount of
detail as well.
I want you to have a talk with Goodpaster, as I
indicated in a previous memo, see what is needed, and then
give me a recommendation as to the man (I believe he should be
a military man) for the position.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman
FROM:
RN
In reading the organization memos and in talking
with Arthur Burns, what they really come up with is the
recommendation that we need a "Sorensen" to handle our
domestic programs.
This is clearly different from your responsibilities
as the chief administrative official of the White House
with all of the problems, personnel, etc. under your
supervision.
With some trepidation I think we might take a new
look at Ellsworth to see whether he might fit this role,
at least in part.
One other very important conclusion that came out
of our meeting with Burns is the need to drag Buchanan,
Price and Safire into discussions on domestic matters so that
they will not be doing their writing in a vacuum. Unless
they participate in discussions with regard to the development
of programs they are not going to be effective.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman
FROM:
RN
As you read the attached memorandum which I have
sent to Keogh, I would like for you to ask each Cabinet
officer to assign one of their closest and most trusted
associates within their Department to prepare a paper for
each Department on what they inherited from the outgoing
Administration.
The problem we are confronted with here is that
unless we develop these facts now we will not have a yardstick
to measure our own performance, and also will not be able
to prepare the political comments which must inevitably be
made as we go into 1970 and 1972.
I do not want you to send a memorandum on this.
I think it can best be handled by a personal telephone call
to each.
Memoranda should not be sent on political matters since
one of them is undoubtedly likely to get out and appear in the
newspaper. I want you to see to it that all of the members of
the White House staff have the good judgment not to write
memoranda on strictly political matters. Use the telephone or
personal conversation.
Perhaps Ellsworth could make a study in this respect
with regard to the independent agencies.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Jim Keogh
FROM:
RN
CC:
Bob Haldeman
I would like to have the research team, under
your direction, develop a paper for me which we may later
decide can be made available to some of our political figures,
on what we inherit as we take over from Johnson in terms
of VietNam and other failures in foreign policy abroad, as
well as problems at home.
Perhaps one way to get at this is to compare the
situation today with what it was when Eisenhower left office
in 1960.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman
FROM:
RN
RE:
National Committee
It is imperative that we move on the Bliss matter
this week. If we let it drag until the Inauguration he
will just stay on because we do not have an alternative.
Also, I think it is vitally important to go forward
on the new National Committee organization plan if we have
one agreed upon.
In reading Sears' recommendations there are, of
course, suggestions that simply cannot be put into effect
at this time -- for example, getting rid of the Senate and
House Campaign Committees. We may be able to reduce the
flow of money to them but, on the other hand, with people
like Tower in charge there isn't any way that we can get
rid of them.
A strong National Chairman, however, might be able
to coordinate their activities much more closely with those
of the National Committee, particularly if we use our financial
clout to bring them into line.
Give me a report on this general subject -- Bliss
and the National Committee organization -- before the end of
the week.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman
FROM:
RN
In reading the organization memos and in talking
with Arthur Burns, what they really come up with is the
recommendation that we need a "Sorensen" to handle our
domestic programs.
This is clearly different from your responsibilities
as the chief administrative official of the White House
with all of the problems, personnel, etc. under your
supervision.
With some trepidation I think we might take a new
look at Ellsworth to see whether he might fit this role,
at least in part.
One other very important conclusion that came out
of our meeting with Burns is the need to drag Buchanan,
Price and Safire into discussions on domestic matters so that
they will not be doing their writing in a vacuum. Unless
they participate in discussions with regard to the development
of programs they are not going to be effective.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman/John Ehrlichman
FROM:
RN
One point that should be made to all Cabinet
officials (I imagine that most of them have already taken
this into consideration) is that they get the best possible
evaluation of the career people in their departments.
All of the recommendations of our reorganization
task force lean hard on this point. The tendency, naturally,
is to think almost exclusively at this time of the appointees
we will be naming, but the quality of the career people and
where they are placed will make or break the Cabinet official.
Don't write a memorandum on this. I think that a
telephone call to each Cabinet official, reminding them
of this, might be in order.
It will not be necessary, incidentally, to call
Rogers or Laird. I know both of them have already moved in
this direction-
The other Cabinet officials, however, I think could
well use this kind of a reminder.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman
FROM:
RN
Before the end of the week I would like a report
on the correspondence and statement specialists you are
trying to find for me.
I would like for you to also give me a report as
to what we are going to do with regard to the staff secretary
position which Goodpaster filled for Eisenhower and in which
he sat in on National Security Council meetings, and also
some meetings in the President's office and followed up
on decisions that the President made. This is not something
which you can undertake with your administrative responsibilities
which will keep you too busy to handle a great amount of
detail as well.
I want you to have a talk with Goodpaster, as I
indicated in a previous memo, see what is needed, and then
give me a recommendation as to the man (I believe he should be
a military man) for the position.
January 7, 1969
MEMO RANDUM
TO:
RMW
FROM:
RN
I think you ought to send an invitation to Betty
Palmer for the Inauguration.
And, also, I think it might be thoughtful to send
one to Arnold Hutschnecker.
Also, along the same lines, Mr. and Mrs. Ab England
should be invited to the Inauguration.
January 7, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
RMW
FROM:
RN
Dick Ogilvie wants a picture -- one of the larger
ones for framing.
Would you send one in to me for an autograph.