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This file contains:
To Republicans, re: California Republican Assembly's reasons for endorsing Nixon. 3 pages. [Letter], n.d.
From Oscar A. Bigler to Nixon, re: Bigler's discussion with Senator Taft and the Republican party. 1 page. [Letter], 5/9/1962
To Bigler, re: The concerns of the Republican party. 1 page. [Letter], 5/8/1962
From Oscar Bigler to Conservative Americans, re: Opposition against meeting with Republicans. 1 page. [Letter], 5/1/1962
Nixon and California - 1962. 2 pages. [Memo], 5/14/1962
The Sacramento Bee: Editorial page and "Depends on Audience." 1 page. [Newspaper], 9/25/1962
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26127700
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WHSF: Returned, 54-9
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26127700
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WHSF: Returned, 54-9
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This file contains:
To Republicans, re: California Republican Assembly's reasons for endorsing Nixon. 3 pages. [Letter], n.d.
From Oscar A. Bigler to Nixon, re: Bigler's discussion with Senator Taft and the Republican party. 1 page. [Letter], 5/9/1962
To Bigler, re: The concerns of the Republican party. 1 page. [Letter], 5/8/1962
From Oscar Bigler to Conservative Americans, re: Opposition against meeting with Republicans. 1 page. [Letter], 5/1/1962
Nixon and California - 1962. 2 pages. [Memo], 5/14/1962
The Sacramento Bee: Editorial page and "Depends on Audience." 1 page. [Newspaper], 9/25/1962
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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
54
9
n.d.
Letter
To Republicans, re: California Republican
Assembly's reasons for endorsing Nixon. 3
pages.
54
9
05/09/1962
Letter
From Oscar A. Bigler to Nixon, re: Bigler's
discussion with Senator Taft and the
Republican party. 1 page.
54
9
05/08/1962
Letter
To Bigler, re: The concerns of the
Republican party. 1 page.
54
9
05/01/1962
Letter
From Oscar Bigler to Conservative
Americans, re: Opposition against meeting
with Republicans. 1 page.
54
9
05/14/1962
Memo
Nixon and California - 1962. 2 pages.
54
9
09/25/1962
Newspaper
The Sacramento Bee: Editorial page and
"Depends on Audience." 1 page.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Page 1 of 1
Dear fellow Republican:
As members of the California Republican Assembly, which last
March 4 endorsed Nixon for the Republican nomination for Governor, the
undersigned have been occasionally asked for the reasons why we support
Dick Nixen. The undersigned in no way purport to speak for the California
Republican Assembly as an organisation, preferring to let that endorsement
speak for itself, but de keenly feel that developments since that endorsement
force us to speak candidly to our colleagues in the Republican Party.
The undersigned Republicans are for Dick Nixon for the following
reasons:
1. His proven leadership and integrity in the field of government,
coupled with a proven vote getting ability in never having lost
an election in California;
2. His clear-cut and consistent political philosophy as spelled
out day in and day out in public office by votes, speeches and
conduct;
3. The recognition that Nixon is the best candidate to beat Brown
and thereby assist in restoring the Republican Party, as well
as the two-party system, in California and the nation;
4. Because Nixon, in announcing for Governor, pledged himself
to a four-year term and removed himself as a potential
Presidential candidate.
5. Because it is obvious that the Communists clear goal is to
remove Richard Nixon from public life. (See attached clipping).
The undersigned Republicans reject Mr. Shell's bid for the following
reasons:
1.
Because Mr. Shell has one of the worst records for unexcused
absences from the Assembly floor for any Republican member
of the Legislature in modern times. This despite the fact that
he was the Republican minority leadery
2. Because, as the Republican legislative leader, Shell was the
only Republican in California in a position to actually do some-
thing about the excesses of the Brown Administration. At all
times in the last four years the Republican minority has had the
votes required to prevent budget passage and achieve needed
economies.
As floor leader during these four years, Shell was unable
to organize the legislators who had elected him to make such a
stand and state expenditures during the period of his leadership
are now 45% higher than they were in 1958.
-2-
The only time economies have been affected in state
government due to Republican action, was this year when a
group of freshmen Republican assemblymen took over the
leadership in Mr. Shell's absence and forced Brown to
capitulate on the budget.
3. It is a matter of record that Shell was unable to organize any
united Republican effort in 1961 which might have prevented
the Democratic #errymander.
Because the Republican assemblymen broke ranks and
did not make a determined stand with the threat of a blocked
budget, many Assembly and Congressional seats including
those of Congressmen Rousselot, Mailliard, Hiestand and
McDonough have much more unfavorable ratios of registration
and are now in jeopardy.
4. Because we resent the acceptance by Mr. Shell in his Guberna-
torial bid, of the endorsement of Mr. Robert Welch, a non-
Californian, who is the leader of the John Birch Society;
5. Because we resent Mr. Shell's commitment to, and acceptance
of the endorsement of the organization called "Californians for
Goldwater". We believe that all California Republicans should
be allowed in the Presidential primary of 1964 to name the
candidate of their choice and should not be committed to one
potential Presidential candidate at this early date.
6. Because we resent Joe Shell publicky urging Democrats to
register as Republicans for the sole purpose of voting against
Richard Nixon in the primary election (see attached letter and
editorial).
7. Because it is clear that Democratic professionals hope for
Shell's nomination. As one Democrat said, "if we could just
have Shell as an opponent we could wrap Keck, Morton and "big
oil" right around the neck of the Republican Party".
8. Because Mr. Shell has not spelled out a constructive program
as to what he would accomplish if he would be elected Governor.
Mr. Nixon has spelled out in much greater detail programs
concerning the future of California.
9. Because we resent Shell's intemperate attacks such as accusing
Nixon of leading us to "socialism" when elected Governor.
We are firm believers in a free and open primary system. We
believe, however, that a primary election can be conducted in such a way as
to allow Republicans "as a minority party" to rally together again after the
primary and go forward to victory in November. We believe Dick Nixon is
conducting this kind of campaign. Unfortunately, Joe Shell clearly is not.
-3-
These are the reasons why the undersigned supported Nixon last
March and the California Republican Assembly endorsed Mr. Nixon, and
why we are working even harder for him today.
Very truly,yours,
OSCAR A. BIGLER
BUSINESS CONBULTANT
7076 LA JOLLA BOULEVARD
LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA
May 9, 1962
Hon. Richard Nixon
Post Office Box 6539
Los Angeles 55, California
Dear Mr. Nixon:
Thank you very much for your May 8 letter. Perhaps I can
help my OWD poor power of expression by quoting part of a discussion
with the late Senator Taft, whom I had the privilege of knowing slightly
when I resided in my native state, Ohio, We were fellow Republicans,
and were talking about the merits and weaknesses of the party system.
We agreed that it wasn't a perfect system, but that it was
better than any other system if it was a two party system. Senator
Taft said that the first requisite for preserving a two party system
was for the leaders of each party to publicly criticise only the acts of
members of the opposing party,
1 asked him what would he do if, in a convention or primary
contest, he was opposed by a Republican candidate who criticized his
record or views, He replied that he would spend will of his time pointing
out to the voters the faults of the Democratic party, plus quoting what
the opposing Democratic candidates had said about each other, if they
had indulged in criticism.
He also said that noparty can be effective unless it wins
elections, and the surest way to lose elections is for members of the
same party to criticize each other
Yours for an effective Republican party,
/s/ Oscar A. Bigler
handwritten: My vote always goes to Republican candidates like your good self,
who criticize only the opposition.
b-am
May 8, 1962
Rigler, scar A.
Dear Mr. Rigler:
This La fuel & sete to tell you best
fully I eletro your concern DE the medessity for
cupy X
all Espablicans to nourestrate on beating the
casl opposities -- the CDC which gives the orders
to the present Dowrone Had controla the
Party organdzation La our State - not orde other.
California support
1 approciate your thoughtfulsess La
smaling me 8 copy of your letter is which you -
effectively expressed your views is this regard,
with every good wish,
Maneraly,
Mr. Oscar A. Rigler
7676 Ls Jells beaieved
is Jells, California
100:0p
OSCAR A. BIGLER
I
LA JOLLA CALIFORNIA
7676 La Jolin Blvd.
May L 1962
Conservative Americans
4433 11 Cajon Doclevard
Sab Dlogo 15, California
Dear Size:
1 received in today's mail some material concerning
a meeting to be hold Sunday, May 6, in the interest of
certain listed Republican candidates. I'am a Republican
and DU such I wish to specify why I am not interested is
supporting any Republican candidate for any office oho has
devoted any Name to attacking the record or actions of any
other Republican candidate for the came office.
Unloss the leaders of the Republican Party La Califor
nia have enough brains to present a united front against the
motley group which constitutes the Democratic Instruction
I have enough broins to ignore their réforts.
Sincerely,
(Sign) Occur A. bigler
Copy to will Republican condidates for officia listod.
b-cm
5/14/02
Background Memo
NIXON AND CALIFORNIA 1962
When he announced for Governor of California last year, Dick Nixon
had no illusions about the odds against him on the Democratic side: a heavily
swollen Democratic margin in registration, a Democratic strangle-hold on
in the State Legislature, Congressional Delegation and constitutional offices,
and a pitifully weak Republican statewide organization. What he could not
have anticipated was the paradoxical attack he was to receive within his own
party from the extreme right.
During the 1960 Presidential campaign, probably no one was more
hopeful of Nixon's election to the Presidency than Joe Shell, 43 year old
Republican minority leader in the State Legislature. For several years he
had been planning and working for the Republican nomination for Governor in
1962. Following the 1958 election which swept most of the big name Republicans
out of office, Joe busily made himself indispensable to his fellow assemblymen
dispensing his largess as chairman of the Legislative Campaign Committee.
Despite his generally undistinguished record of leadership of the minority
Republicans in the Legislature and his frequent absences while campaigning
up and down the state, Shell, with the heavy financial backing of his father-in-
law, Harold Morton, managed to assemble a typical California personal
organization within the party oriented to his conservative philosophies.
Following Nixon's announcement and the withdrawal of former Governor
Knight (because of illness) and Lt. Governor Powers as candidates for
Governor, many assumed Shell would drop out as well. Not so. But as filing
closed in March, few gave Shell any appreciable opportunity against Nixon.
In the last eight weeks, however, Shell has climbed from 7% of the
Republican vote to 20% in the polls and some observers now feel with the
amount of money he is spending particularly on television, he may approach
35% of the vote. What has brought about this upturn in Shell's fortunes?
Shell's main pitch turns on his unabashed arch-conservatism. He has
been endorsed by the Californians for Goldwater and eagerly accepts their
support. He has been endorsed by Robert Welch, leader of the John Birch
Society and says he welcomes the assistance of this group. He accuses Nixon
of "middle of the roadism" and worse yet, says that Nixon as Governor would
lead the state to socialism. He joins forces with Pat Brown in disputing
Nixon's disdainer of any interest in the 1964 Republican Presidential nomination.
Nixon, under this attack from the far right, must occasionally muse
on having his conservatism and his credentials as an anti-Communist questioned.
Against the advice of his friends, he struck out at Robert Welch, head of the
John Birch Society because of his attack on Eisenhower "as a conscious agent
of the Communist conspiracy." Nixon has questioned the constitutional amend-
ment initiative to be voted upon by the voters of California which would outlaw
-2-
the Communist party on the basis that in his opinion it might jeopardize
individual civil liberties through its poor drafting. Shell has seized on these
two positions to appeal to the active anti-Communist groups. Beyond that,
with the demands of his law practice and the months he spent in seclusion
writing his book, many of his old California friends felt that Nixon had been
too inaccessible in the period before he began his active campaigning.
On the active campaign trail since February Nixon is concentrating
heavy fire on Brown and scrupulously avoiding any comment on national and
international issues. He is pleased with the large crowds he draws and the
general reaction to his "person to person" campaigning.
As one observer put it, "what the California elections will decide is
the direction of the Republican party for at least the next decade. Shell's vote
will be a measure of the Goldwater-Birch strength in California. But beyond
that, can you imagine what the effect on the party nationally would be if Nixon
lost California. The GOP would become a dwindling rear guard."
Shell supporters argue that General Walker's poor showing in Texas
was no adequate test since he was a political novice and he was never able to
mount any kind of organized campaign. They point out that in the Presidential
preferential primary of 1952, arch-conservative Congressman Werdel picked
up better than 30% of the vote against then incumbent Governor Earl Warren.
In the meantime, jovial Pat Brown joyously watches the proceedings
from the sidelines, well financed and smugly contemplating the polls which
show him for the first time enjoying a slight lead over Nixon.