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This file contains:
Memo from Bryce Harlow to Bob Haldeman devlepments in bombing halt. 1pg. [Memo], 10/16/1968
Memo form Ellsworth to DC regarding Bombing Pause. 2pgs. [Memo], 10/17/1968
Memo from Harlow to DC regarding phone call from John Tower concerning bombing moratorium. 1pg. [Memo], 10/16/1968
New York Times (Max Frankel) report regarding Humphrey's insistance he can still win. 4pgs. [Report], 10/15/1968
UPI - Detroit summary regarding HHH's view on current campaign status. 1pg. [Report], 10/17/1968
AP (The Boston Globe) summary regarding Brooke urging HH vote pledge. 1pg. [Report], 10/17/1968
New York Times (Thomas A. Johnson) summary regarding Agnew soliciting Wallace votes. 1pg. [Report], 10/17/1968
Memo from Bell to Buchanan regarding the Catholic Vote. 5pgs. [Memo], 10/18/1968
Memo from Buchanan to RN regarding Day to Day battle casulties. 1pg. [Memo], 10/18/1968
New York Times (Max Frankel) release regarding Humphrey backing House election. 4pgs. [Report], 10/21/1968
Memo from Jim Keogh to RN regarding pressure to drop statement of RN's views on tobacco industry. 1pg. [Memo], 10/21/1968
Statement release from Richard M. Nixon regarding views on tobacco industry. 1pg. [Report], 10/21/1968
Memo from Price to RN regarding the Chicago Daily News' endorsement of RN. 1pg. [Memo], 10/21/1968
New York Times press report regarding praise for RN's proposal for a tutorial system from the director of the Teacher Corps (Richard A. Graham). 1pg. [Report], 10/21/1968
Memo from Jim Keogh to RN regarding subjects to cover during train stops. 1pg. [Memo], 10/21/1968
Memo from Buchanan to RN regarding RN presenting himself as a winner and a President throughout last ten days of campaign. 3pgs. [Memo], 10/22/1968
Memo from Buchanan and Ziegler to DC regarding media assertion that RN is inaccessible and that this sort of trouble can be avoided. 4pgs. [Memo], 10/18/1968
News Summary from the New York Daily News (Ted Lewis) regarding argument of popular vote versus Electoral College proceedings. 2pgs. [Newsletter], 10/22/1968
Release from the New York Times (Roy Reed) regarding "Humphrey Buoyed by Texas Outlook." 2pgs. [Newsletter], 10/23/1968
Memo from Ellsworth to DC. RE: Message to surrogate candidates. [Memo], 10/21/1968
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26126933
label
WHSF: Returned, 35-15
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
26126933
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
WHSF: Returned, 35-15
description
This file contains:
Memo from Bryce Harlow to Bob Haldeman devlepments in bombing halt. 1pg. [Memo], 10/16/1968
Memo form Ellsworth to DC regarding Bombing Pause. 2pgs. [Memo], 10/17/1968
Memo from Harlow to DC regarding phone call from John Tower concerning bombing moratorium. 1pg. [Memo], 10/16/1968
New York Times (Max Frankel) report regarding Humphrey's insistance he can still win. 4pgs. [Report], 10/15/1968
UPI - Detroit summary regarding HHH's view on current campaign status. 1pg. [Report], 10/17/1968
AP (The Boston Globe) summary regarding Brooke urging HH vote pledge. 1pg. [Report], 10/17/1968
New York Times (Thomas A. Johnson) summary regarding Agnew soliciting Wallace votes. 1pg. [Report], 10/17/1968
Memo from Bell to Buchanan regarding the Catholic Vote. 5pgs. [Memo], 10/18/1968
Memo from Buchanan to RN regarding Day to Day battle casulties. 1pg. [Memo], 10/18/1968
New York Times (Max Frankel) release regarding Humphrey backing House election. 4pgs. [Report], 10/21/1968
Memo from Jim Keogh to RN regarding pressure to drop statement of RN's views on tobacco industry. 1pg. [Memo], 10/21/1968
Statement release from Richard M. Nixon regarding views on tobacco industry. 1pg. [Report], 10/21/1968
Memo from Price to RN regarding the Chicago Daily News' endorsement of RN. 1pg. [Memo], 10/21/1968
New York Times press report regarding praise for RN's proposal for a tutorial system from the director of the Teacher Corps (Richard A. Graham). 1pg. [Report], 10/21/1968
Memo from Jim Keogh to RN regarding subjects to cover during train stops. 1pg. [Memo], 10/21/1968
Memo from Buchanan to RN regarding RN presenting himself as a winner and a President throughout last ten days of campaign. 3pgs. [Memo], 10/22/1968
Memo from Buchanan and Ziegler to DC regarding media assertion that RN is inaccessible and that this sort of trouble can be avoided. 4pgs. [Memo], 10/18/1968
News Summary from the New York Daily News (Ted Lewis) regarding argument of popular vote versus Electoral College proceedings. 2pgs. [Newsletter], 10/22/1968
Release from the New York Times (Roy Reed) regarding "Humphrey Buoyed by Texas Outlook." 2pgs. [Newsletter], 10/23/1968
Memo from Ellsworth to DC. RE: Message to surrogate candidates. [Memo], 10/21/1968
citationUrl
collections
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
35
15
10/16/1968
Memo
Memo from Bryce Harlow to Bob Haldeman
devlepments in bombing halt. 1pg.
35
15
10/17/1968
Memo
Memo form Ellsworth to DC regarding
Bombing Pause. 2pgs.
35
15
10/16/1968
Memo
Memo from Harlow to DC regarding phone
call from John Tower concerning bombing
moratorium. 1pg.
35
15
10/15/1968
Report
New York Times (Max Frankel) report
regarding Humphrey's insistance he can still
win. 4pgs.
35
15
10/17/1968
Report
UPI - Detroit summary regarding HHH's
view on current campaign status. 1pg.
35
15
10/17/1968
Report
AP (The Boston Globe) summary regarding
Brooke urging HH vote pledge. 1pg.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Page 1 of 3
Box Number Folder Number
Document Date
Document Type
Document Description
35
15
10/17/1968
Report
New York Times (Thomas A. Johnson)
summary regarding Agnew soliciting
Wallace votes. 1pg.
35
15
10/18/1968
Memo
Memo from Bell to Buchanan regarding the
Catholic Vote. 5pgs.
35
15
10/18/1968
Memo
Memo from Buchanan to RN regarding Day
to Day battle casulties. 1pg.
35
15
10/21/1968
Report
New York Times (Max Frankel) release
regarding Humphrey backing House
election. 4pgs.
35
15
10/21/1968
Memo
Memo from Jim Keogh to RN regarding
pressure to drop statement of RN's views on
tobacco industry. 1pg.
35
15
10/21/1968
Report
Statement release from Richard M. Nixon
regarding views on tobacco industry. 1pg.
35
15
10/21/1968
Memo
Memo from Price to RN regarding the
Chicago Daily News' endorsement of RN.
1pg.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Page 2 of 3
Box Number Folder Number Document Date
Document Type
Document Description
35
15
10/21/1968
Report
New York Times press report regarding
praise for RN's proposal for a tutorial system
from the director of the Teacher Corps
(Richard A. Graham). 1pg.
35
15
10/21/1968
Memo
Memo from Jim Keogh to RN regarding
subjects to cover during train stops. 1pg.
35
15
10/22/1968
Memo
Memo from Buchanan to RN regarding RN
presenting himself as a winner and a
President throughout last ten days of
campaign. 3pgs.
35
15
10/18/1968
Memo
Memo from Buchanan and Ziegler to DC
regarding media assertion that RN is
inaccessible and that this sort of trouble can
be avoided. 4pgs.
35
15
10/22/1968
Newsletter
News Summary from the New York Daily
News (Ted Lewis) regarding argument of
popular vote versus Electoral College
proceedings. 2pgs.
35
15
10/23/1968
Newsletter
Release from the New York Times (Roy
Reed) regarding "Humphrey Buoyed by
Texas Outlook." 2pgs.
35
15
10/21/1968
Memo
Memo from Ellsworth to DC. RE: Message
to surrogate candidates.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Page 3 of 3
10/16
MEMO FOR
BOB HALDEMAN
FROM
BRYCE HARLOW
As of 11:15 this morning the bombing halt developments
were still far too confused to make much of them.
The White House flatly asserts there has been "no break-
through" and that there is "no change." Senator Dirksen talked yesterdayth
with Secretary Rusk who at that point said there has been no change. All
we have this morningmis indication that the U. S. may have offered a bombing
halt for a time, but we still have no evidence that the other side is willing
to do anything in return.
I have sent to Dwight Chapin what John Tower suggests RN
might say about all of this. However, it presumes a bombing moratorium,
and this is not officially known as yet.
If there should be a moratorium, I suggest a RN statement
along these lines:
"From my many conversations with the President
and Secretary Rusk and from their many previous public
statements I must conclude that the bombing halt has
come to pass as a result of some specific commitment or
specific act by the North Vietnamese. I am not aware of
the details of this as vet and am asking for them from the
President or Secretary.
"In any case, every citizen prays that this new
development will, first, not jeopardize the security of
our troops in the DMZ area and. second, will speed progress
toward a dependable peace in Vietnam. Certainly that is my
own view, and I will maintain my position of withholding any
comment that might in some way undermine the progress of the
negotiations. I repeat -- in international affairs our
nation has only one leader at a time -- the President -- and
we must do nothing to impede or undercut his efforts toward peace."
October 17, 1968
TO:
DC
FROM:
Ellsworth
RE:
Bombing Pause
Called Rusk but he had his assistant, Shlaudeman,
talk to me. Said Rusk had already talked to Agnew. Said
Rusk told Agnew the White House statement spoke for itself.
Said Rusk emphasized to Agnew that there are a number of
essential matters still under negotiat ion and discussion
at Paris, that it is still up to Hanoi, that they are
still working a it, that it is hard to predict, and
especially emphasized that the President will be in touch
with Mr. Nixon if anything important develops.
agnew this something coming - Couple day
Rusk lacked normal ease
didn't want it known they talked =
Ottenad has told people
mc w heard from someone
Buyce thks this isall smog -
October 16, 1968
TO: DC
FROM: Harlow
John Tower telephoned. He expects the United States
to announce a bombing moratorium until a date certain - say, 2
to 4 weeks - to allow Hanoi an opportunity to respond.
Tower recommends that RN express hope that this move
will not jeopardize the security of our own forces in the DMZ,
that he hopes the move will be productive and bring real prog-
ress in the peace talks, that he will continue to do nothing
to upset these talks in any way, and that he is requesting
immediate advice in detail on all of this from the President.
NEW YORK TIMES
October 15, 1968
By Max Frankel
Washington, Oct. 14
Page 1
HUMPHREY INSISTS HE STILL CAN WIN
HE STARTS BUSY WEEK WITH BITTER GIBES AT NIXON AND A SHOW
OF
OPTIMISM
With a new and probably final burst of political energy, Hubert
H. Humphrey set out today to prove that his campaign was "coming alive "
at last and that Richard M. Nixon could still be overtaken in a tight
race over the next three weeks.
Implicitly contradicting the opinion polls, buoyed by an
apparent increase in campaign contributions and still convinced
that Mr. Nixon is vulnerable on some key issues, Mr. Humphrey let
fly some of his sharpest attacks of the campaign.
He demanded that Mr. Nixon join him and George C. Wallace in
a televised debate next Sunday and promised a further announcement
tomorrow night if they continued to ignore the invitation
Mr. Wallace said later in California that he would accept
Mr. Humphrey's offer to debate if Mr. Nixon agreed to appear, too.
Mr. Nixon has said repeatedly, however, that he will not take part
in a three-sided debate.
The Vice President also issued a statement on anti-inflation
policy calling for a new attempt to bring management and labor
into accord on a "realistic" figure for annual wage increases,
thus keeping prices stable without slowing the economy.
He vowed that if none of the three candidates won a majority
in the Electoral College he would refuse to bargain with Mr. Wallace
and would try to maneuver Mr. Nixon into letting the House of
Representatives choose among them.
HUMPHREY INSISTS HE STILL CAN WIN
Page 2
The crucial choice on Nov. 5, Mr. Humphrey said at a
news conference, will be between the continuation of "sensible,
progressive liberalism" and a 'return to reaction. "
Mr. Nixon's election, he said, would serve special moneyed
interests, would raise a real "threat" to the future composition
O the Supreme Court and would stimulate a legislative "conservative-
reactionary coalition the likes of which you haven't seen since
the 80th Congress 20 years ago.
It is because the choice is SO clear, Mr. Humphrey said,
that he relished the combat of the next three weeks. He said
he planned to work harder. rejecting staff advice that he rest
regularly along the way.
It was the prelude to a hectic schedule of campaigning
actitivies this week in Indiana, Missouri, Connecticut, Michigan
and New York City.
Tentative plans call for a journey to California and Texas
among other places next week and a further effort in the North-
eastern quarter of the country during the final week.
Aides to Mr. Humphrey said funds had become available for
a respectable television advertising campaign for the final
push - nothing like Mr. Nixon's they emphasized, but enough for
a fair showing.
"We're going down to the wire, " Mr. Humphrey insisted, pointing
to the come-from-behind wizardry of the Detroit Tiger's star world
series pitcher: "My name is not Mickey Lolich, but I can pitch. "
And pitch he did, high and wide and low and inside Mr.
HUMPHREY INSISTS HE STILL CAN WIN
Page 3
Humphrey said it was time for Mr. Nixon to come out from "behind
the bushes' or, if he preferred, from "under the covers" where
he has been sleeping with Senator Strom Thurmond, the segregationist
Republican of South Carolina.
Mr. Thurmond is the "lifeline" between the Nixon and Wallace
forces, the Vice President contended, suggesting the the Carolinian
would be the intermediary to unite their forces in the Electoral
College in case no one achieved the required majority of 270
e lectoral votes there.
Pointing to statements by Mr. Wallace that he would not in
that event let the decision pass to the House of Representatives
as stipulated in the Constitution, Mr. Humphrey said this implied
a move to "bargain" for the Presidency with one of the major-party
contenders.
He would make no deal with Mr. Wallace, Mr. Humphrey said;
and he called upon Mr. Nixon to make a similar pledge
The Vice
President's apparent preference for a decision in the House
suggested that he and his aides had thought a little more about
post-election tactics since he last commented on the subject
on Friday.
Asked then whether he might instruct his electors to support
Mr. Nixon
i
theRepublican candidate led in popular votes but
lacked electoral votes, Mr. Humphrey said that would depend on
his own showing in the bigger states. But he was
prone to think"
he added, that whoever obtained the most popular votes should be
chosen President
]
If Mr. Humphrey acted on that precept, then he rather than
HUMPHREY INSISTS HE STILL CAN WIN
Page 4
Mr. Wallace could be the "kingmaker" in the Electoral
College. The Vice President said he would not let selfish intersts
lead to a "constitutional crisis" and paralysis.
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla., Oct. 14
Herbert G. Klein, speaking for Mr. Nixon, said today that
Mr. Humphrey's call for a pledge against bargaining with Mr. Wallace
was "strictly a gimmick. "
"As Mr. Humphrey knows " Mr. Klein said, "Dick Nixon was the
first candidate to speak out against making a deal with George
Wallace, of for that matter with anyone on the electoral college
votes. If
Press Club Offer Accepted
Mr. Humphrey has accepted an invitation by the Overseas
Press Club in New York to debate Mr. Nixon under the club's
auspices, the club said last night.
The press club, whose members include 3,400 foreign corre-
spondents and newsmen, telegraphed its invitation to both candi-
dates on October 1. Hal Lebrman, the club's president, said that
no response had yet been received from Mr. Nixon.
will
appropint H oply
you under
will
UPI - Detroit
October 17, 1968
(News Summary)
In a TV interview HHH conceded, "we behind
in Illinois. But I intend to fight for it and we're
going to go down/fighting.' He also admitted Democrats
are behind in California, but refused to concede the
state to RN. He insisted his private polls and
independent polls show him ahead in Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania,
and New York.
"We know we're ahead in Pa.," he said, but
admitted New York is "a real battle -- up for grabs
Reaching Detroit after four this morning HHH cancelled
a motorcade through a Ford assembly plant, setting back
the day's first appearance to a noon rally in JFK Square.
He also decided to spend the night in Detroit instead
of leaving very late for the next stop, Hartford, Conn.
Done
3
LE
The Boston Globe
October 17, 1968
AP
BROOKE URGES HH VOTE PLEDGE
Washington - Two Republican Senators urged
Hubert H. Humphrey today to match Richard Nixon's declaration
that if the House has to elect a President if should be the
candidate who receives the largest popular vote.
Senators Edward W. Brooke of Mass. and Charles
Goodell of New York., said in a statement that Hubert Humphrey,
as the Democratic nominee, should "make his position on this
critical issue explicit and unequivocal."
They cited Nixon's declaration Tuesday that "the
House of Representatives should elect the man who wins the pop-
ular vote."
The election would be thrown into the House if no
candidate gets 270 electoral votes, a possibility because of
the third-party candidacy of George C. Wallace of Alabama.
Brooke and Goodell urged candidates for the House to
pledge themselves to the principle that the winner of the pop-
ularity vote should be chosen as President.
T.ll # B and goodell
tall a then to Keep
Hamming the
Buchan
The New York Times
Thomas A. Johnson
October 18, 1968
Youngstown, Ohio - 10/17/68
AGNEW SOLICITS WALLACE VOTES
In Youngstown, He Attacks 'Supersimplistic Solutions'
Spiro T. Agnew stepped up his campaign to win
pro-Wallace votes for Republicans today by mounting the
strongest attack so far on the third-party candidate before
a noon-time rally of 1,200 supporters here.
Mr. Agnew, the Republican nominee for Vice President,
accused the third-party Presidential candidate, George C.
Wallace, of pushing "super-simplistic solutions." He said
Mr. Wallace and his running mate, Gen. Curtis LeMay, were
"frightening" in their statements on the Vietnam war and
nuclear warfare.
At one point Mr. Agnew said: "And I would say this
about Mr. Wallace, I guess he's alright to some people, but
a
I wouldn't want my daughter to marry him."
Mr. Agnew has often made low-key remarks about the
Wallace candidacy, a sort of "by the way" reference that
tells voters they would throw their vote away by voting for
Mr. Wallace. Then he suggests they vote the Nixon-Agnew
ticket.
Joy the personal CW.
RN
bkged
October 18, 1968
MEMORANDUM
file
TO:
BUCHANAN
FROM:
BELL
RE:
Catholic Vote
School Statement
I recommend that we go with the attached statement
of sympathetic consideration for the parochial schools --
in effect, a hand signal that they will get a better break
from us -- for the following reasons:
1) It is right. At a time when massive new funds
seem necessary to keep any school system afloat, a denial
of relief to Catholic schools is little short of a death
warrant to the second largest school system in this country.
This would be a disservice to American education as well as
to the Catholic taxpayer who has to pay more and more to
get the same educational benefit for his children -- little
or nothing.
2) If properly publicized, this can have a sig-
nificant and possibly decisive effect on the Catholic vote,
without antagonizing very many Protestants. While a public
opinion poll might still show a plurality against aid to
parochial schools, it 1s well known that most Catholics will
change their vote on this issue, while most Protestants will
not. The gun-control analogy is apt -- the anti-control
minority is willing to shift votes, while the lukewarm majority
- 2 -
is not. The election of Kennedy largely defused this as
a big issue among Protestants -- remember, ten years ago
intelligent people were asking whether a Catholic President
might have to take orders from the Pope -- and the textbook
provision of the school-aid bill, together with the Supreme
Court decision which upheld it, have at least partially
removed the "constitutional" issue.
3) Those Protestants who would tend to react neg-
atively are for the most part in states (e,g,Kansas and
Oklahoma) where RN is safely ahead. - Moreover, the Bible
Belt-Fundamentalist types who would react most negatively
are the least likely to hear of RN's statement.
4) The states where this statement is likely to
have a net favorable impact tend to include the large in-
dustrial states regarded as marginal. The statement, pro-
perly publicized, could help substantially in Michigan,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut. These 1960 Kennedy
states, close this year, have a total of 75 electoral votes.
5) The statement could move Massachusetts from the
Humphrey to the Marginal column.
6) In New York -- which, I admit, is the big prob-
lem because it is the only state with a heavy Jewish vote --
I believe the gains among Catholics would outweigh the losses
among Jews. At the outset, it should be remembered that about
- 3 -
one-third of the Jewish community -- the Orthodor Jews
heavily concentrated in Brooklyn -- have long been in favor
of religious schools, and RN's stand would not only not
hurt, but ought to be publicized in these areas. These
also tend to be the "law and order" Jews among whom
Humphrey has suffered the greatest RN inroads to date.
7) Because of a number of events, Jewish faith
in the public school system, and in the rigidly secularist
approach to church-state relations, has been eroded. In a
long Commentary article last year, Milton Himmelfarb chided
his fellow Jewish intellectuals for practicing secularist
anti-Catholicism in the name of constitutionalism.
Furthermore, the present New York school crisis
has caused many of the non-Orthodox Jews to re-evaluate their
support of the pub,ic schools, and their opposition to
private religious-affiliated schools. My information is
that even some Reform congreations are considering starting
schools to avoid the current chaos. From the point of view
of potential New York Jewish backlash, the present is the
most propitious opportunity in quite a while to chance it.
8) This is a direct thrust at Humphrey's most
important strength. Gallup (38-36-20) and Harris (43-33-15)
agree in giving Humphrey the edge among Catholics, If
Humphrey cannot maintain or increase his present lead among
- 4 -
Catholics, he cannot carry Michigan, Pennsylvania, New
York, or Connecticut.
9) This diverts some attention from the debate
issue and tends to defuse the "Nixon won't speak out" issue.
10) It puts Humphrey profoundly on the defensive.
What can he say? He can't attack the statement as irrespon-
sible, since all it really does is call for a new look.
He can't come out against parochial schools, or he is dead
among Catholics. And yet if he does not, he will alienate
the liberal ideologues he has been trying to WOO with a
softer Vietnam line. He would probably wind up either me-
tooing (which interrupts his self-righteous posturing as
the "issues candidate") or making a serious political mistake.
11) The injection of an important new domestic issue
into the campaign diverts attention to some extent from
Vietnam. Given the present peace offensive, the less the
campaign is preoccupied with Vietnam, the less the Democrats
will tend to be helped.
The genesis of this draft is as follows: it was
drafted by Thomas Patrick Melady, passed on for approval
by Chotiner, seen and/or edited by Anderson, Bell, Buchanan,
Gavin and Price.
Chotiner's feeling is that this should be secretly
- 5 -
prepared, and dropped at the parish level the Sunday
before election.
I disagree, and think it should be dropped as soon
as possible for the following reasons,
1) The New York school strike -- and difficulties
in other school systems across the country -- defuse to
some extent the state-school partisans. Some of these
disruptions may be settled by November 3.
2) Dropping at the parish level on November 3
allows HHH to attack RN via the "sneakiness" issue, a la
the securities statement.
3) Few voters change their minds in the last
two or three days of the election. Most will have decided
by then.
4) Humphrey might get to this one first. If so,
any political advantage RN would reap as the pioneer on
this issue would be gone, and it is we who would be awkwardly
on the defensive.
# # #
For
MEMO TO RN
From Buchanan
October 18, 1968
Day to Day battle casualties is not q good figure. A big
battle one day might send them up and te next daythere might
be next tonone. I am having Agnes telecopy the weekly casualties
since January, which would include Tet and the Bombing Pause,
and Post Bobming Pause.
Also, daily figures are unavailable
unless we want to
try to get them out of the Pentagon with a direct call in.
Buchanan
what 2 want
is not the Host Jujures
But if there is a
-femb pause or clase fin.
F & current figures
new casuation to
thow on Chs was C noteres your
tone Surneyote his made properly and not New Washington Max October York Frankel 21,
that Ellent tal
Times
1968
- 10/20/68
HUMPHREY BACKS HOUSE ELECTION
Contends He Could Govern Well Even if He Failed to Capture
Popular Vote
file
Hubertt H. Humphrey said this evening that he
thought he could govern effectively if elected President
by the House of Representatives| even if he did not
obtain the largest number of votes in the election Nov. 5.
Asked whether he shared the view of Richard M.
Nixon, his Republican rival, that the man who got the
most popular votes ought to be President, Mr. Humphrey
said not necessarily.
If none of the three candidates gets 2709 electoral
votes as a result of the election, the Constitution
stipulates that one of them be chosen President by the
House of Representatives, with each state delegation in
the House casting a single vote.
A majority of 26 votes in the House is needed for
election.
Mr. Humphrey, appearing on the Columbia Broad-
casting System's "Face the Nation," said that he was
going to "stand by constitutional processes" and not
rule out his election in this manner, even if he trailed
Mr. Nixon in the popular vote.
- 2 -
Humphrey Backs House Election - continued
He said that there should be no deals in the
way the electors vote, and if no one got a majority
of the electors then the members of the House should
sit, not as representatives of their districts but as
free-thinking citizens selecting the man they regarded as
the best President.
He said that he thought he could govern
effectively, even if Mr. Nixon received more popular
votes, because of his good connections with both business
and labor, because of the "rapport" that he enjoyed in the
nation's Negro community and because of his "rapport"
with Congress and with young people.
Mr. Humphrey also used his appearance on the
television interview show to taunt Mr. Nixononce again
for refusing to appear on such shows or in direct debate
with his rivals.
He said that the Republican candidate "is playing
games by hiding behind balloons and confetti and not
engaging in the kind of debate that he once said was the
"duty of Presidential candidates."
The Vice President went on the show after having
spent the afternoon arranging for a one-hour television
program seen later this èwening, also on the Columbia
Broadcasting System.
- 3 -
Humphrey Backs House Election - continued
This was the hous that he had reserved for a
debate with Mr. Nixon and the third-party challenger,
George C. Wallace. Mr. Nixon never answered the
invitation, and Mr. Wallace agreed to appear only if
the Republican candidate joined him.
As a result the Humphrey entourage spent the
entire week debating how to use the hour -- possibly to
stage its own mock debate against the other two candidates.,
But in the end, it was decided to bring together
several elements -- a half-hour documentary film on
the Democratic party, with which Mr. Humphrey seeks to
appeal to traditional loyalties among the electorate.
A brief appearance by Senator Edward M.
Kennedy, of Massachusetts, was also arranged. The Senator
has endorsed Mr. Humphrey but not moved out of his home
state on his behalf.
One section is devoted to a brief appearance by
Mr. Humphrey's running mate, Senator Edmund S. Muskie,
of Maine; another shows Mr. Humphrey answering the questions
of several citizens recruited for the paid political
broadcast.
The Vice President also spoke briefly about what
he called the current "sensitive" negotiations with North
Vietnam for a possible halt in the bombing and other
moves toward a settlement.
- 4 -
Humphrey Backs House Election - continued
He said that President Nguyen Van Thieu of
South Vietnam, while obviously concerned with the
issues, should not be given a "veto" over the American
decision of whether and when to halt the bombing.
The bombing was in any case a peculiarly
American tactic in the war, Mr. Humphrey said.
He also said that all leaders and groups should
realize that the Americans have borne the "heavy burden"
for a long time, and that the American people "have
been faithful to the point of pain."
October 21, 1968
MEMORANDUM
hold
TO:
RN
FROM:
Jim Keogh
We are under
pressure to drop this
statement while in this area. It comes from Senator
Baker's office with the approval of Key Issues and
Hyde Murray.
DRAFT
Statement of
RICHARD M. NIXON
Covington, Kentucky
October 21, 1968
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In connection with my visit to this area, a
number of members of Congress -- including Senators
Cooper and Morton of Kentucky, Senator Baker of Tennessee,
Congressman Broyhill of North Carolina and Congressman
Wampler of Virginia -- have asked me to express my views
on the tobacco industry. I know that in these states,
with their diversified agricultural economy, thousands
of farm families count heavily on the annual sale of
their tobacco crop for their livelihood. It is a major
factor in the economy of the region, and years ago, in
1960, I expressed my support for the farm program which
brings fair prices to the tobacco farmers.
It know that questions have been raised about
the report of the Surgeon General on Smoking and Health.
I would support an objective program of research,
utilizing the joint efforts of government, eminent
private scientists, and of industry itself, which I believe
can determine the facts and lead to a solution. I am sure
that this is what everyone, and certainly the farmer, wants.
I am anxious to see that the people of this
region share fully in the fruits of an accelerated farm
economy.
######
10/21/68
MEMORANDUM
From: Price
To:
NN
Subj: Endorsement
1. Pete Lisagor tells me the Chicago Daily News is endorsing
RN today. This I think is a really significant one -- Bailey
Howard (pees and chief exec officer of the Field company) is
a Democrat, as are most of the top editorial brass of the
two papers.
rp
fyr
October 21, 1968
L-
thE
MEMORANDUM
3
717
238 1054
TO:
DC
FROM:
Ellsworth
Here is a copy of the message which is being
sent to the Surrogate Candidates:
"Now is the time to launch an all-out attack on
HHH, reminding the American people of the fact that HHH is
too weak and emotional to lead this nation, that he would
only be a weak "yes-man" under the pressures of the Presi-
dency, reminding them that he has yet to specify exactly
where he differs from LBJ's programs or from the bankrupt
programs of the past. He has yet to state whether he would
continue Attorney General Clark or Agriculture Secretary
Freeman in his Cabinet. Keep reminding people that he is
so weak that he has been unable to unify his own party. Hit
him hard every day, tying the events of the day into one of
the foregoing themes."
(( H not fn Nn's signature
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to now suple in genel clu some
Ellsworth
File
NEW YORK TIMES
Phe
TEACHER PROPOSAL PRAISED
October 21, paid up 1968
Washington, October 20 - Richard A. Grakam,
director of the Teacher Corps, said tonight that there was
a "great deal of merit" in Richard M. Nixon's proposal for
a tutorial system in which high school and college students
would assist youngsters in disadvantaged areas.
"There are similar tutorial programs now under way,"
Mr. Graham said, "but the idea of banding the participants
together in a corps has definite advantages. If the kids are
working in a corps, a kind of esprit is formed which encourages
them and improves their work. The Peace Corps and our own
program have shown this."
Under the present program, a team of experienced
teachers and young graduates teach for a two-year tour of duty
in an urban ghetto or a rural poverty area. There are now
about 2,000 volunteers working in about 200 school districts
around the country.
October 21, 1968
MEMORANDUM
TO:
RN
FROM:
Jim Keogh
The nine subjects we propose to cover for
the train stops on Tuesday are:
(1) Jobs (Safire)
(2) Cost-of-living (Safire)
(3) Respect for America (Safire)
(4) Spending (Buchanan)
(5) Law and Order (Buchanan)
(6) Supreme Court (Buchanan)
(7) Peace (Harlow)
(8) Surtax (Harlow)
(9) Power in Washington (Harlow)
Confidential DETERMINED TO BE AN
ADMINISTRATIVE MARKING
MEMO TO RN
E.O. 12356 Section 1.1
From Buchanan
By RJP MARS, Date 4/6/87
October 22, 1968
In these last ten days I would argue strongly for RN present-
ing the image of both a winner and a President. I would recommend a
easing off in the number of the cheer lines, an easing back of the
shouted lines at rallies. I would recommend an increase in the depth
and substance of the speech something like Cincinnati, which I did
not see but which I heard was extremely effective.
Also, we ought not again I think to have the next President
talking about how many rapes occurred in the last five minutes. I
think that continued use of the broad figures, said not in a shrill
but in a serious fashion are fully adequate.
In hitting Humphrey, Muskie and Clark, RN ought I think to do
this more as a winner and a President, as we did in new Hamphsire
with Governor Romney. We needeed him, made several jokes about him,
but were never bitter, because we knew WE would need his support.
RN might treat Humphrey in the same manner. We can still stick it in
him, about Obedience School, etc. but do it in such a way as to deave
no impression he has stung us, no impression we are angry or bitter,
but rather jab him a few times as though he were a bumbling and inef-
fective boxer who had been unable to lay a glove on us.
Further recommendation is that RN showed a relaxed and confiden
modd
which could not be better exemplifeid than a trip through the
plane or somethingk like that to needle some of the press people. The
little things do more than anything else to show that RN feels con-
fident and thinks things are going well.
As for the stump speeches yesterday, I think they are
when RN talks at the audience, or discusses some things with
rather than sort of shouting the cheer lines to them. XXXXXX
Price points out, the cool as opposed to the "hot" comes over
Also, our campaign is judged not by what is seen of it in pers
by how cool the press judges it to be.
Thus, the presidential impressions. The aloof but frien
for Hubert the well-meaning clown, the more serious moments, th
for support, and a cutting back on anything that smacks of brage
braggadocia, and the call for people to join in a common cause.
rule out things like a vote for me is a vote for peace, and and
for Humphrey is a vote for failure. The over-simplistic things :
we can do without.
Again, a final note. The thing to maintain these last few
days I think it "our cool"x amd our "flexibility." **************
EENXMEMEX We can get on the offensive without being offensive.
I don't know if RN feels comfortable with it, but if he use
of these many occasions, just to get up before the crowd and start
about the kind of country he wanted to build, the kind of nation \
to see, and we are going to need Democrats; we know there are dif:
times ahead. Sort of Wilsonian. If it doesn't come off, we haver
lost anything but a single rally.
One last thought----I think that we ought to be now campaig
like the President of the United States campaigning for election.
the madding crowd, above Hubert Nnd George.
##$
ADD AT END
On the cheer lines and on the criticism suggest that
RN talk them or speak them into the microphone, and let
the microhone do the amplification, rather than shouting
them into the mike. Often times, ixxxppx RN can say the
same thing but if shouted it sounds like a more bitter
attack than if simply said, with the kind of
disdain for HHH that NEX he merits and that we should xpartisex
practice
IP
"
October 18, 1968
MEMORANDUM
TO:
DC
FROM:
Buchanan and Ziegler
Our early warning system is picking up signs of
real trouble in these last 18 days, trouble that can be
avoided, as it can be foreseen easily.
We talked with Mike Wallace the other day. He says
a consensus is developing in the press corps that RN
is inaccessible, that his campaign is super efficient
but bland, that we are programmed perfectly, but that we are
sort of avoiding controversy and coasting to victory. The
press, bored with therally speech and paying little attention
to radio speeches which have been committee-prepared. and
are sinking without a trace, is now looking for new angles --
and finding them. They are going out and they are going to
find it and it is going to be damaging to us -- seriously
damaging unless we counteract it. We have treated these guys
with the best of care -- but we have fed the stomach and
starved the soul -- as someone once said.
So, our thinking is this. If our controlled and
expected and programmed appearances have lost their news
value -- as they have -- then we must find some controlled
and "unexpected" appearances to get our news -- and wescan
do that job.
- 2 -
It is time for a return to the Spirit of New
Hampshire, which was one of RN openness and even occasional
camaraderie with the press, which was one of the unexpected
and the surprising. We can still do it, even with 125
reporters along as opposed to 25.
Possible suggestions:
The unexpected and the unscheduled appearance, at
a school anywhere that surprises the press and makes them
act as reporters and write it.
The unscheduled RN drop by in the planeto talk to
some reporter and too for RN to start ranging off -- on
his own -- into some subject that is of intense interest
like the New Majority that RN intends to build or the
Successor to the Roosevelt Coalition, how RN hopes to pull
together these elements of the old Democratic establishment
and put them together with the GOP for a coalition to govern
for a decade.
The point in both cases is that the press is
rightly tired and bored with rewriting our releases. RN
can make them into reporters again at the same time that he
gives his own advance thought and care and preparation to
his materials and then goes back in the plane, or finds some
surprise occasion, to deliver it "extemporaneously."
- 3 -
RN has already demonstrated with Johnny Apple that
it can be done. He was reportedly moaning and groaning until
his conversation with RN -- after which he was genuinely
elated, which report came from Wallace -- after we had had
our conversation.
If RN walks in and controls a situation -- then it
is not a press conference -- and RN can talk about any
particular subject that interests him and that is newsworthy.
My point here is that it requires nothing on our
parts, but to start using our imagination a bit -- and to
cease running this show like a Prussian Fire Drill. Unless
we get a little of the unexpected and new, and hence news-
worthy, in this thing toward the last two weeks -- then we
are going to find these guys out searching for new and
different leads, like "Is Nixon Aloof," "Where is this
Campaign's Achilles Heel?"
The old adage about an idle mind being the devil's
workshop is especially true of the press corp, where the
devil is always close at hand. So, what I suggest and Ron
suggests, is a simple return to the philosophy of the primaries --
controlling the news by providing new and different and
exciting and newsworthy events which force these guys to
cover them -- in order to cover themselves with their
competition.
- 4 -
The point we make is that radio speeches and
rallies are old hat. They are not going to be reported
any more unless they are dramatic and unless we use our
collective imagination to find some new and different and
newsworthy thing to force them to cover -- they are going
to write their own stories and, as JFK used to say, "we
don't want that."
And close
New York Daily News
Ted Lewis
October 22, 1968
(News Summary)
"
The agreement would almost have to be, as RN
has suggested, that the candidate with the largest popular
vote should be the next President. It would then follow
that the Electoral College proceedings would be perfunctory.
If RN had the popular vote edge, he would be assured of
sufficient Democratic electors in advance.
"On that basis the 'transitional period' in the
Presidency would be protected. What has been overlooked
too long in connection with RN's proposal is that he
similarly rose above partisan politics in 1960. He refused
to be party to challenges of the questionable Texas and
Illinois votes, which gave JFK his narrow Elector vote
victory.
"RN took that stand 8 years ago, explaining to his
friends that he wanted no part in provoking 'a constititional
crisis' which could delay for months the filling of the
Presidency. And despite his present vacillation, HHH may
be expected to follow suit this time if this election isn't
clear cut, rather than let George Wallace throw his weight
around while a nation shudders. "
H any offer agree guys to what of
11
I
bio
Kg
PRESS SUMMARY
October 22, 1968
From combined sources (AP, UPI, WASH POST, and BALT SUN)
Kl wall
In Minneapolis, Oklahoma's Fred Harris predicted HHH will
win the election in the campaign's last week, and that HHH is
not disappointed by the part LBJ has played in the campaign so
far. The Senator said that the Harris survey within the next
few days will show a "significant increase in HHH's strength. "
He maintained that the margin is even closer in the major states
than indicated in the last Harris Poll, but was not specific.
Atmose H- someth this
etal should
\
as Harris endication H-H.H. is cort with
our
NEW YORK TIMES
By Roy Reed
October 23, 1968
Fort Worth, Texas Oct. 22
"HUMPHREY BUOYED BY TEXAS OUTLOOK"
"Sees Long-Feuding Leaders in Apparent Harmony and Crowd at Rally Warm"
Leaving the soot and uncertainty of New York, Vice
President Humphrey flew to Texas today and found what he wanted:
a state party united behind his banner and an increasing chance of
winning the nation's sixth largest electoral prize.
He stepped off his campaign plane at Carswell Air Force
Base into a fresh Texas breeze and blinked joyfully at the sight
awaiting him.
On the runway, standing shoulder to shoulder and smiling
peacefully, were the two antagonists in one of the nation's oldest
and bitterest political feuds, Gov. John B. Connally, Jr. and Senator
Ralph W. Yarborough.
If Texas goes to Mr. Humphrey, some of the credit
probably should go to George C. Wallace, the American Independent
party candidate.
Mr. Wallace is very popular in many parts of Texas and
is believed to have 20 to 25 percent of the state's vote.
He drew a slightly larger crowd than Mr. Humphrey at the
same downtown Fort Worth park at noon last
Has Thursday. owner this chorge at oponner Torour Text
- 2 -
"HUMPHREY BUOYED BY TEXAS OUTLOOK" (Continued)
Mr. Connally obliquely pointed out at a brief airport
news conference the significance of the Wallace vote.
Mr. Wallace has "substantial support" in the state, he
said, and many of the Wallace supporters would vote for Mr. Nixon
if the third-party candidate were not on the ballot.
Mr. Humphrey evidently got the message. He criticized
Mr. Nixon at length in his rally speech but said not a word about
Mr. Wallace.
OMITS ATTACK ON WALLACE
That meant deleting from his prepared text a long section
denouncing the former Alabama Governor for his stand on law and
order and for his assertion that he is a friend of the working man.
# # #