Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
This file contains:
Statement by Richard Nixon re: Republican prospects for 1964. 1 pg [Report], 10/14/1961
To Haldeman re: being the "proper depository" for the attached memo concerning voters registration. 1 pg. [Letter], 10/25/1961
To "all unions, councils and delegates" re: voters registration from W. J. Bassett, Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Council On Political Education. 2 pg. [Memo], 10/18/1961
Statement of Richard Nixon concerning Robert Welch and The John Birch Society. 1pg. 2 copies. [Report], 03/n.d./1962
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner article titled "Brown Compares CDC, Birch Group; Defends Warren." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 10/16/1962
Associated Press article from unknown newspaper titled "Jordan Against Endorsing by GOP Assembly." 1pg. Not Scanned. [Newspaper], n.d.
Evening Outlook articles entitled "Nixon Aide Sees Victory By 400,000 Vote Margin," "Anti-Red But… Brown Hurls Birch Issue At Nixon Again," "Nixon Beats Brown-In Campus Vote," and "Poll Result Ridiculed By Brown." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 10/16
R. Woods to RN, Bob Haldeman, Bob Finch, and Pat Hillings re: copy of a letter sent to Hawaiian Senator Vince Esposito from James Michener. 4 pgs. [Memo], 12/11/1961
Newsweek articles titled "Diary of a Hard Decision… The Road Ahead for Nixon" and "Three Men-Who Will Lead GOP?" 5 pgs. Not Scanned. [Other Document], 10/9/1961
Dick Nolan article from unknown newspaper re: the campaigners including "The Nixon Campaign." 1pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 2/13/1962
Gladwin Hill article from unknown newspaper titled "Nixon Is Seeking A Campaign Staff." 1 pg. Not scanned [Newspaper], n.d.
Los Angeles Times article by Carl Greenberg titled "Finance Leader Named for Nixon's Campaign." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 2/4/1962
Los Angeles Times article by James Bassett titled "The Amateurs Keep Up With Pros in Politics." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], n.d.
Outlook article by Reed McClure titled "Nixon Mapping Campaign Move." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 01/11/n.d.
Blank letterhead with heading "for your information from Pat Hillings" attached to Los Angeles Examiner articale by George Dixon titled "Nixon's Still Inaccessible." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Letter], n.d.
Los Angeles Examiner article by George Dixon titled "Nixon's Still Inaccessible." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 12/17/1961
San Francisco Examiner article by George Dixon titled "Nixon's Retainers Still Holding the Fort." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 12/14/1961
Newspaper article by Al Capp titled "Nixon Candidacy Brings Back Fun and Mud to Politicking." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], n.d.
San Francisco Examiner article by Sydney Kossen titled "GOP Splits Over Nixon 'Time Gift'" and "Powers and Knight Blast Hagerty 'Time Gift' to Nixon." 3pgs. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 9/26/1961
Los Angeles Herald & Express article titled "Nixon Free TV Time Stirs Row." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 9/27/1961
Time article titled "On the Road" re: Nixon in California. 1 pg. Not scanned. [Other Document], 2/23/1962
Los Angeles Times article by James Bassett titled "Convention Delegates Startled by Proposal to Drop All Members" under headline titled "Nixon Gambles on GOP Anti-Birch Resolution." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 4/4/1962
Los Angeles Times article by Carl Greenberg titled "Republican Committee Hits Welch." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 4/4/1962
Newspaper article titled "California GOP." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], n.d.
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner articles titled "Shell Invites Nixon Debate" and "Nixon Warns on Defense Job Plan." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 2/23/1962
Los Angeles Times article titled "Nixon Gambles on Birch Resolution." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 3/4/1962
Press-Telegram editorial page article titled "GOP Group Gives Right Answer on Welch Test." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 3/6/1962
San Francisco News Call Bulletin article titled "Nixon vs. the Birchers." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 3/6/1962
Newspaper article titled "Nixon Forthright on Birch Issue." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 3/6/1962
Newspaper article by Pearson titled "$61,000 for Nixon's Campaign." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 3/7/1962
Fresno Bee article by John M. Bernier titled "Nixon Hits Move To Abolish unAmerican Activities Unit." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 3/7/1962
Los Angeles Times article by Richard Berghol titled "Renews His Attack on Birchers" under the headline "Nixon Confident on Uniting Republican Party This Year." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 3/6/1962
The Salt Lake Tribunne article by Relman Morin titled "Nixon: Once So Near-Now Fighting for 'Life.'" 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 11/26/1961
Newspaper article by Jack S. McDowell titled "Nixon's Draw Puzzles." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 2/28/1962
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
26128167
label
WHSF: Returned, 65-1
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
26128167
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
WHSF: Returned, 65-1
description
This file contains:
Statement by Richard Nixon re: Republican prospects for 1964. 1 pg [Report], 10/14/1961
To Haldeman re: being the "proper depository" for the attached memo concerning voters registration. 1 pg. [Letter], 10/25/1961
To "all unions, councils and delegates" re: voters registration from W. J. Bassett, Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Council On Political Education. 2 pg. [Memo], 10/18/1961
Statement of Richard Nixon concerning Robert Welch and The John Birch Society. 1pg. 2 copies. [Report], 03/n.d./1962
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner article titled "Brown Compares CDC, Birch Group; Defends Warren." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 10/16/1962
Associated Press article from unknown newspaper titled "Jordan Against Endorsing by GOP Assembly." 1pg. Not Scanned. [Newspaper], n.d.
Evening Outlook articles entitled "Nixon Aide Sees Victory By 400,000 Vote Margin," "Anti-Red But… Brown Hurls Birch Issue At Nixon Again," "Nixon Beats Brown-In Campus Vote," and "Poll Result Ridiculed By Brown." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 10/16
R. Woods to RN, Bob Haldeman, Bob Finch, and Pat Hillings re: copy of a letter sent to Hawaiian Senator Vince Esposito from James Michener. 4 pgs. [Memo], 12/11/1961
Newsweek articles titled "Diary of a Hard Decision… The Road Ahead for Nixon" and "Three Men-Who Will Lead GOP?" 5 pgs. Not Scanned. [Other Document], 10/9/1961
Dick Nolan article from unknown newspaper re: the campaigners including "The Nixon Campaign." 1pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 2/13/1962
Gladwin Hill article from unknown newspaper titled "Nixon Is Seeking A Campaign Staff." 1 pg. Not scanned [Newspaper], n.d.
Los Angeles Times article by Carl Greenberg titled "Finance Leader Named for Nixon's Campaign." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 2/4/1962
Los Angeles Times article by James Bassett titled "The Amateurs Keep Up With Pros in Politics." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], n.d.
Outlook article by Reed McClure titled "Nixon Mapping Campaign Move." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 01/11/n.d.
Blank letterhead with heading "for your information from Pat Hillings" attached to Los Angeles Examiner articale by George Dixon titled "Nixon's Still Inaccessible." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Letter], n.d.
Los Angeles Examiner article by George Dixon titled "Nixon's Still Inaccessible." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 12/17/1961
San Francisco Examiner article by George Dixon titled "Nixon's Retainers Still Holding the Fort." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 12/14/1961
Newspaper article by Al Capp titled "Nixon Candidacy Brings Back Fun and Mud to Politicking." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], n.d.
San Francisco Examiner article by Sydney Kossen titled "GOP Splits Over Nixon 'Time Gift'" and "Powers and Knight Blast Hagerty 'Time Gift' to Nixon." 3pgs. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 9/26/1961
Los Angeles Herald & Express article titled "Nixon Free TV Time Stirs Row." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 9/27/1961
Time article titled "On the Road" re: Nixon in California. 1 pg. Not scanned. [Other Document], 2/23/1962
Los Angeles Times article by James Bassett titled "Convention Delegates Startled by Proposal to Drop All Members" under headline titled "Nixon Gambles on GOP Anti-Birch Resolution." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 4/4/1962
Los Angeles Times article by Carl Greenberg titled "Republican Committee Hits Welch." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 4/4/1962
Newspaper article titled "California GOP." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], n.d.
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner articles titled "Shell Invites Nixon Debate" and "Nixon Warns on Defense Job Plan." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 2/23/1962
Los Angeles Times article titled "Nixon Gambles on Birch Resolution." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 3/4/1962
Press-Telegram editorial page article titled "GOP Group Gives Right Answer on Welch Test." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 3/6/1962
San Francisco News Call Bulletin article titled "Nixon vs. the Birchers." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 3/6/1962
Newspaper article titled "Nixon Forthright on Birch Issue." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 3/6/1962
Newspaper article by Pearson titled "$61,000 for Nixon's Campaign." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 3/7/1962
Fresno Bee article by John M. Bernier titled "Nixon Hits Move To Abolish unAmerican Activities Unit." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 3/7/1962
Los Angeles Times article by Richard Berghol titled "Renews His Attack on Birchers" under the headline "Nixon Confident on Uniting Republican Party This Year." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 3/6/1962
The Salt Lake Tribunne article by Relman Morin titled "Nixon: Once So Near-Now Fighting for 'Life.'" 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 11/26/1961
Newspaper article by Jack S. McDowell titled "Nixon's Draw Puzzles." 1 pg. Not scanned. [Newspaper], 2/28/1962
citationUrl
collections
Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
Returned White House Special Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
26128167
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
b00dcd89d53e0bff
ocrText
Richard Nixon Presidential Library
White House Special Files Collection
Folder List
Box Number Folder Number Document Date
Document Type
Document Description
65
1
10/14/1961
Report
Statement by Richard Nixon re: Republican
prospects for 1964. 1 pg
65
1
10/25/1961
Letter
To Haldeman re: being the "proper
depository" for the attached memo
concerning voters registration. 1 pg.
65
1
10/18/1961
Memo
To "all unions, councils and delegates" re:
voters registration from W. J. Bassett,
Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Council
On Political Education. 2 pg.
65
1
03/n.d./1962
Report
Statement of Richard Nixon concerning
Robert Welch and The John Birch Society.
1pg. 2 copies.
65
1
10/16/1962
Newspaper
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner article titled
"Brown Compares CDC, Birch Group;
Defends Warren." 1 pg. Not scanned.
65
1
n.d.
Newspaper
Associated Press article from unknown
newspaper titled "Jordan Against Endorsing
by GOP Assembly." 1pg. Not Scanned.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Page 1 of 5
Box Number Folder Number Document Date
Document Type
Document Description
65
1
10/16/1962
Newspaper
Evening Outlook articles entitled "Nixon
Aide Sees Victory By 400,000 Vote
Margin," "Anti-Red But Brown Hurls
Birch Issue At Nixon Again," "Nixon Beats
Brown-In Campus Vote," and "Poll Result
Ridiculed By Brown." 1 pg. Not scanned.
65
1
12/11/1961
Memo
R. Woods to RN, Bob Haldeman, Bob Finch,
and Pat Hillings re: copy of a letter sent to
Hawaiian Senator Vince Esposito from
James Michener. 4 pgs.
65
1
10/09/1961
Other Document
Newsweek articles titled "Diary of a Hard
Decision The Road Ahead for Nixon" and
"Three Men-Who Will Lead GOP?" 5 pgs.
Not Scanned.
65
1
02/13/1962
Newspaper
Dick Nolan article from unknown newspaper
re: the campaigners including "The Nixon
Campaign." 1pg. Not scanned.
65
1
n.d.
Newspaper
Gladwin Hill article from unknown
newspaper titled "Nixon Is Seeking A
Campaign Staff." 1 pg. Not scanned
65
1
02/04/1962
Newspaper
Los Angeles Times article by Carl Greenberg
titled "Finance Leader Named for Nixon's
Campaign." 1 pg. Not scanned.
65
1
n.d.
Newspaper
Los Angeles Times article by James Bassett
titled "The Amateurs Keep Up With Pros in
Politics." 1 pg. Not scanned.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Page 2 of 5
Box Number Folder Number Document Date Document Type
Document Description
65
1
01/11/n.d.
Newspaper
Outlook article by Reed McClure titled
"Nixon Mapping Campaign Move." 1 pg.
Not scanned.
65
1
n.d.
Letter
Blank letterhead with heading "for your
information from Pat Hillings" attached to
Los Angeles Examiner articale by George
Dixon titled "Nixon's Still Inaccessible." 1
pg. Not scanned.
65
1
12/17/1961
Newspaper
Los Angeles Examiner article by George
Dixon titled "Nixon's Still Inaccessible." 1
pg. Not scanned.
65
1
12/14/1961
Newspaper
San Francisco Examiner article by George
Dixon titled "Nixon's Retainers Still Holding
the Fort." 1 pg. Not scanned.
65
1
n.d.
Newspaper
Newspaper article by Al Capp titled "Nixon
Candidacy Brings Back Fun and Mud to
Politicking." 1 pg. Not scanned.
65
1
09/26/1961
Newspaper
San Francisco Examiner article by Sydney
Kossen titled "GOP Splits Over Nixon "Time
Gift" and "Powers and Knight Blast Hagerty
"Time Gift' to Nixon." 3pgs. Not scanned.
65
1
09/27/1961
Newspaper
Los Angeles Herald & Express article titled
"Nixon Free TV Time Stirs Row." 1 pg. Not
scanned.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Page 3 of 5
Box Number Folder Number
Document Date
Document Type
Document Description
65
1
02/23/1962
Other Document
Time article titled "On the Road" re: Nixon
in California. 1 pg. Not scanned.
65
1
04/04/1962
Newspaper
Los Angeles Times article by James Bassett
titled "Convention Delegates Startled by
Proposal to Drop All Members" under
headline titled "Nixon Gambles on GOP Anti-
Birch Resolution." 1 pg. Not scanned.
65
1
04/04/1962
Newspaper
Los Angeles Times article by Carl Greenberg
titled "Republican Committee Hits Welch." 1
pg. Not scanned.
65
1
n.d.
Newspaper
Newspaper article titled "California GOP." 1
pg. Not scanned.
65
1
02/23/1962
Newspaper
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner articles titled
"Shell Invites Nixon Debate" and "Nixon
Warns on Defense Job Plan." 1 pg. Not
scanned.
65
1
03/04/1962
Newspaper
Los Angeles Times article titled "Nixon
Gambles on Birch Resolution." 1 pg. Not
scanned.
65
1
03/06/1962
Newspaper
Press-Telegram editorial page article titled
"GOP Group Gives Right Answer on Welch
Test." 1 pg. Not scanned.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Page 4 of 5
Box Number Folder Number Document Date
Document Type
Document Description
65
1
03/06/1962
Newspaper
San Francisco News Call Bulletin article
titled "Nixon vs. the Birchers." 1 pg. Not
scanned.
65
1
03/06/1962
Newspaper
Newspaper article titled "Nixon Forthright on
Birch Issue." 1 pg. Not scanned.
65
1
03/07/1962
Newspaper
Newspaper article by Pearson titled "$61,000
for Nixon's Campaign." 1 pg. Not scanned.
65
1
03/07/1962
Newspaper
Fresno Bee article by John M. Bernier titled
"Nixon Hits Move To Abolish unAmerican
Activities Unit." 1 pg. Not scanned.
65
1
03/06/1962
Newspaper
Los Angeles Times article by Richard
Berghol titled "Renews His Attack on
Birchers" under the headline "Nixon
Confident on Uniting Republican Party This
Year." 1 pg. Not scanned.
65
1
11/26/1961
Newspaper
The Salt Lake Tribunne article by Relman
Morin titled "Nixon: Once So Near-Now
Fighting for "Life." 1 pg. Not scanned.
65
1
02/28/1962
Newspaper
Newspaper article by Jack S. McDowell
titled "Nixon's Draw Puzzles." 1 pg. Not
scanned.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Page 5 of 5
October 14, 1961
Statement by RICHARD NIXON
in answer to questions regarding Republican prospects for 1964
As of today, President Kennedy is riding high politically. The polls indicate
that he would win by a decisive margin if the election were held at this time, but
anyone would be foolish to assume this would be the situation in three years.
President Kennedy is sitting on twin powder kegs -- one international, and the
other domestic. All Americans hope that neither explodes. But realistically, the
prospects for trouble for Mr. Kennedy cannot be underestimated.
For example, if Mr. Kennedy makes another blunder like Cuba, the Republican
nominee will be a shoo-in in 1964. Kennedy's present popularity would go down faster
than it went up.
A great majority of economists believe that the Kennedy Administration's policies,
based on deficit spending, are unsound, and if continued will catch up with him
inevitably. The only question is when.
Some believe that by massive government spending Mr. Kennedy will be able to
see that the economy reaches a peak in November 1964, but an increasing number
believe that the inflationary bubble will break late in 1953 or early in 1964. This will
mean disaster for the country and for the Kennedy Administration politically.
It is the responsibility of Republicans to do everything possible to see that neither
of these eventualities occur. That is why a Republican victory in 1962 is so essential
to the peace and prosperity of the American people.
A Republican victory in the Congressional and State elections next year will assure
the election of a Republican President in 1964.
I have never known a time when the morale ()/ of the Republican workers was
higher than it is today in all parts of the country.
10/25/61
Bob Haldeman:
my speech file
I am assuming you are the proper depository for
items like the attached which we come across in
the mail which might be of interest to the
strategists
right?
1gg
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Los Angeles County
c
c
P
E
AFL
CIO
A Department of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
Address All Communications to W. J. Bassett,
108 West Sixth Street, Los Angeles 14, California
MAdison 7-9181
October 18, 1961
TO ALL UNIONS, COUNCILS AND DELEGATES:
VOTERS REGISTRATION
The backers of Nixon for Governor of California are already mobilizing
a huge registration program in the so-called silk-stocking districts to
insure his election. Richard Nixon as a candidate for Governor presents
a threat which is every bit as serious as the threat of right-to-work
legislation. His sponsors and supporters are the same groups who have
been sponsoring anti-labor legislation throughout the years.
In Congress, the U. S. Senate, and as Vice President of the United States,
Mr. Nixon took the lead in the adoption of such destructive laws. For
instance, his personal support and his one vote as Chairman of the Senate
put the Landgrum-Griffin Bill on the books.
The outcome of the 1962 Election for Governor could very well destroy
all of the gains organized labor and working men and women made during
the last few years. If Nixon is elected, he will assist in also electing
labor-hating Congressmen and State Assemblymen. On the other hand, his
defeat would make it possible for COPE to elect three new liberal Con-
gressmen, as well as a large number of State Assembl ymen.
WHAT CAN BE DONE? The AFL-CIO Unions through Los Angeles County COPE
can offset and defeat these activities by mobilizing our own registration
program in districts made up of working men and women. If workers are
not registered, they cannot vote!
Therefore COPE is calling upon each local union to (1) have a registrar
available in union offices and at meetings, and (2) recruit as many active
members as possible to become deputy registrars, and assist in the over-all
registration program of COPE in the areas where wage-earners reside.
HOW CAN WE DO IT? Any registered voter is eligible to become a deputy
registrar, if they will follow this procedure:
1) Write a letter on plain paper IN YOUR OWN HANDWRITING
(typewritten letters, or letters on union letterhead,
are not acceptable).
(Continued)
113
The letter should read as follows:
Benjamin S. Hite, Registrar of Voters
808 North Spring Street
Los Angeles 12, California
I would like to apply to become a Deputy Registrar.
I understand that I will have to attend a single session
of instruction.
2) Sign the letter with your full name and home address.
3) Mail letter to: W. J. Bassett
108 West 6th Street, Suite 920
Los Angeles 14, California
4) We will deliver the letters to the Registrar of Voters
and upon acceptance the member will be notified by
Mr. Hite's Office as to the time and date he or she
should report for instructions and to be deputized.
Please note: Deputy Registrars receive 20¢ for each name they register.
Active members, who become deputy registrars to assist COPE, will be
required to cover union meetings, register at plants, supermarkets, or
door-to-door campaigns. Members who will not perform these duties will
be useless as deputy registrars.
If your organization has members who are already registrars, will you
please advise us of their names, home addresses, and telephone numbers
in order that we may request their assistance when needed.
Sincerely and fraternally,
W. J. BASSETT, Treasurer
oeiu30
afl-cio
March 1962
Statement of RICHARD NIXON
concerning Robert Welch and The John Birch Society
I believe the California Republican Assembly at this meeting has a unique
opportunity to provide leadership for our Party as a whole, not only in California
but the nation as well.
In my meetings with the leadership of the Assembly, I am urging that this
convention go beyond the endorsement of candidates to the higher ground of principle.
It is clear that one of the major issues in this campaign will be which of the
candidates for Governor will develop the most effective and responsible program
for fighting Communism within California. I believe that on this issue I have a re-
cord and the experience to lead this state as it should be led in this fight. Without
going into that record, I have learned through long experience how to fight Commu-
nism and how not to fight it. I have learned, for example, that no greater disser-
vice can be done to the effort of combatting Communism than to demagogue and
overstate or misrepresent the case you are making. I agree with the views J. Edgar
Hoover has so often expressed in this regard.
In this discussion I am referring specifically to Robert Welch and The John
Birch Society. Two Sundays ago I visited with the Republican President with whom
it was my privilege to serve for eight years. Welch has described this great
American as a "dedicated conscious agent of the Communist conspiracy" and he has
said that "treason" was the only word to describe Eisenhower's "purposes and his
actions.
"
No responsible candidate, member, or unit of the Republican Party can traf-
fic with this viewpoint.
It is not a case of "right or left" or "extremism" which presents a problem
in our society today.
Every American is entitled to have "extreme" feelings about his religion, his
country, his political beliefs and the threat of Communism. Every American has
a right to express his viewpoint.
However, responsible Republicanism abhors demagoguery and totalitarianism
wherever and however it appears.
Any organization, creed, or "ism" which totally subordinates the individual
citizen to the arbitrary dictatorship of any single person must be combatted, what-
ever label it carries.
The Blue Book of The John Birch Society specifically states that: "The men
who join The John Birch Society during the next few months or few years are going
to be doing so primarily because they believe in me (Robert Welch) and what I am
doing and are willing to accept my leadership anyway. Those members who cease
to feel the necessary degree of loyalty can either resign or will be put out before
they build up any splintering following of their own inside the Society."
This statement leaves no doubt that every individual member of the Birch
Society is obliged to approve and support the viewpoints of Robert Welch. Where
they disagree with his views they have no choice but to resign from the society.
The California Republican Assembly, acting in the great tradition of our
Party for individual liberties and civil rights, should use this opportunity to repu-
diate, once and for all, Robert Welch and those who accept his leadership and
viewpoints.
These are the views which I trust will be the consensus of this convention and
which I am asking be expressed formally by resolution.
No Republican organization can compromise with the demagoguery and the
totalitarian views of Robert Welch.
*********
December 11, 1961
MEMORANDUM
TO:
RN
Bob Haldeman
Bob Finch
Pat Hillings
FROM:
RmWoods
The attached letter was sent in to RN by Randolph
Crossley from Hawaii. I think you will find it most interesting.
COPY
Letter to Hawaiian State Senator Vince Esposito
From: James Michener
Pipersville, Pennsylvania
November 9, 1961
Dear Vince,
I hope you'll let some of the gang see the carbon, because we've just
ended an election which was most exciting and which they would have enjoyed
participating in.
In New Jersey Bob Meyner was disqualified by the constitution from
running again, and after a lot of pulling and hauling failed to nominate his
choice as his successor. An attractive unknown was chosen by the besses,
Richard Hughes, and the big guns of the Republicans persunded Jim Mitchell
to capitalise upon his Washington experience. The race began, and up to the
time of voting all the agencies of public opinion prodicted a Mitchell landslide.
In the meantime the New Jersey people made what 1 thought was a mistake.
They asked me to come across the border and campaign for Hughes. I pointed
out the dangers of this carpet-bagging, but they said we could make a virtue of
it, and because I was willing to participate in another fight, 1 reluctantly accepted
their counsel. At every meeting I said, "We will now pause for all leyal New
Jerseyites to throw eggs at me, because I have no right in the world to be here,
and if I were a New Jerseyan I'd resent it."
1 met Hughes eften during the campaign, and never once did I really
believe that be had even an outside chance of winning. Me was really documed.
But he was a real great guy, in the old-fashiened Democratic sense of the
word and he always said, "I am going to talk to you about the issues, and no
matter how much they yawned--and I was semetimes among the yawners--he
plugged away, and I noticed that whereas nine-tenths of what he said was of
interest to nobody, he always unemed to strike one note that was of tremendous
interest, and this changed from night to night.
At this point President Eisenhewer entered the fray and allowed as how
his boy Jim Mitchell was the greatest. (1 suppose you heard about his fantastic
benediction for Lefkewits in New York? "I don't know the candidate and I don't
know anything about him, but I suppose he's all right. ") Ike did help his side
in New Jersey, and JFK refused to come to our aid. At this point the polls
were strongest against Hughes.
But at this point Hughes began to work hardest in a Harry Truman sort of
way, and although I still had no faith that he could win, I noticed that he was
hitting a much higher per centage of telling points in each talk. And Mitchell
COPY of letter to Senator Vince Esposito
Dated: November 9, 1961
Page 2
was beginning to look pretty stodgy, refusing to argue the basic issues. A group
of Princiton professors convened a brain trust to help out, and after a good many
hours of argument they found that the bread-and-butter issues were precisely
those that Hughes had instinctively been hammering at throughout the autumn.
Nevertheless they came up with one bright new concept: that Republicans had voted
and acted against education and that the Democrate hadn't. New Mitchell made a
classic blander. ("It isn't that our schools are too crowded. It's that too many
are seeking a college education who don't need it. ")
We arranged a series of dinners in upper New Jersey which caused hilarious
comment. A real side-winder Demecrat named Masters decided that if the Demos
were't going to win, they might as well lose in style, and working on the announced
principle that "Democrate too know how to use a fork, he had strictly black-tie
dinners with---get this--- a string quartet playing classical music. Champagne
was served and the mob had to pay between $8. and $10. even to get inside
the door. Hughes appeared briefly and 1 gave usually about higher
education, thetstate of the New York theater, or the purposes of abstract art.
I also made a big pitch about the fact that if one lived in a county where the
Republican majority was around 80%, that was the time to get out the few swing
votes that might win the election. We did a hell of a lot of good, but if anyone
had asked, me, I would still have said that our side couldn't win.
Apparently nobedy else thought we could either, because a let of newspaper
stories came out to the effect that Ike was exhilarated by the campaigning and that
the fact that he had been able to put one of his men into the governership of
New Jersey had encouraged him to ask others of his cabinet to try for the
governorships of their states. Gates was to win Pennsylvania and Seaton Nebraska.
There was another sure winner, but I forget his name. You probably saw the
stories in Hawaii, for they were handsomely accented in all the papers 1 saw. (An
additional aspect was that since Mixem was sure to win California and Gates
Pennsylvania, the Republicans would centrol the major capitals.)
Hawas at this point that everybody started to work. 1 can't recall that anybody
triggered the activity in so many words. At least nobedy spoke to me, nor did I
speak to anybody else. The idea just seemed to happen. (It was somewhat like
Gonsales' victory in Texas. He says that not until Eisenhower made his statements
about that election did anybody really take it seriously.) At any rate, either
Eisenhower's bland assumptions or the unfortunate manner in which they were
reported in the press get the citizeary on the ball.
In Philadelphia, which was worried about the huge Republican victory in
New Jersey, Ike's prediction that Gates would carry Pennsylvania next year
arcused some real apprehension, and the professionals there hired a real tough
analyst and said, "Tell us who's gonna win, " and about tem days before the election
this character spits out his tobacco juice and reports, "Hughes, by 50.8 per cent,
COPY of letter to Senator Vince Esposito
Dated: November 9, 1961
Page 3
but only if you can get Kennedy to stump for him." 1 would not admit that
our curly-haired champion in Washington had decided to stay out of the New
Jersey race because his side was bound to lose, and that he was persuaded
to change his mind only when he saw the secret poll---it was later leaked to
the newspapers to offset the Republican ground swell---but I suspect Kennedy
did rise to the fighting challenge presented by an outside chance to win a major
state. At amy rate, he laid his reputation on the line and accomplished much.
He deserves major credit for the victory, and believe me it wasn't a sure
thing when he stepped into the fight.
A few nights before the election Mari and 1 had a good meeting with
Betty and Dick Hughes--they think she's a real scrowball, with her vigerous
Demecratic sentiments; I tell everybody in northern New Jersey she's a
Buddhist, which they find doubly exotic until Mari says she's a Presbyterian--
and 1 was deeply impressed with the man's extraordinary growth during the
campaign. He was a real walking tribute to the Democratic process and 1
remember thinking, "Dama it all, he ought to be governer. No knows what
it's all about, and the other guy doesn't. N Hughes kept plugging away on basic
issues and would have been, even in defeat, a real tribute to our system of
finding leaders among the people. I was really proud of him.
I think that during the last week I had a glimmer of hope that our side
might win. Surely Kennedy's arrival was one hell of a shet in the arm; but
like mest of the Democrate I knew, we were mere scared by Ike's eruption
than hopeful that our team would win.
Then last night we heard the terrific news. It was really a bembshell.
Even yesterday morning all papers were sticking with their predictions of a
robust Republican victory if not a landslide. When the news came in, we were
both astonished and delighted. Kennedy's score: wine in Texas, New York,
New Jersey. Ike's score: three leases. And don't you underestimate the significance
But I worked just as hard to help elect a woman to Pennsylvania's Supreme
Court and lost. Dama, damn, damn, it hurts to loss.
Jim Micheler
for your information
from PAT HILLINGS