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From Chapin to Haldeman RE: political travel of PN, Julie Nixon, and Tricia Nixon. 4 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 7/24/1970
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: political travel of PN, Julie Nixon, and Tricia Nixon. 4 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 7/24/1970
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This file contains:
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: political travel of PN, Julie Nixon, and Tricia Nixon. 4 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 7/24/1970
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: political travel of PN, Julie Nixon, and Tricia Nixon. 4 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 7/24/1970
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Richard Nixon Presidential Library
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2
18
7/24/1970
Domestic Policy
Memo
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: political
travel of PN, Julie Nixon, and Tricia Nixon.
4 pgs.
2
18
7/24/1970
Domestic Policy
Memo
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: political
travel of PN, Julie Nixon, and Tricia Nixon.
4 pgs.
Friday, March 05, 2010
Page 1 of 1
July 24, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. H. R. HALDEMAN
FROM:
Dwight L. Chapin
RE:
Political Travel - Mrs. Nixon, Julie and Tricia
You had asked for a program prior to our leaving for California
of how we could effectively use Mrs. Nixon, Julie and Tricia to
help candidates but not in a blatantly political way. Although we
are still developing ideas on this, we have a few thoughts which
I am listing below. When we met on this subject, Dent, Chotiner,
and Rumsfeld were unable to meet with us since they were in a
political session with the President at the time. Those contributing
to the thoughts below are Safire, Keogh, Magruder, Nofziger,
Ruwe, Howard, Minor and Chapin. No consultation has taken
place with the East Wing and everyone understands that we were
just developing some thoughts for the President to contemplate.
MRS. NIXON
It was suggested that Mrs. Nixon take a swing into those States
with large Mexican-American populations such as Arizona,
California, Texas, New Mexico, and perhaps Arizona. This trip
would take place after the President and Mrs. Nixon's visit to
Mexico. There would be a natural tie from the publicity and press
received on the State Visit to Mexico and the tour of the large
Mexican-American populated States which Mrs. Nixon could visit.
(If we take your guidelines, then Mrs. Nixon should not be used
extensively in States where the President will campaign. However,
perhaps we should make an exception for Texas and California.)
It is felt that if Mrs. Nixon is going to take this Mexican-American
tour that we should start feeding information in to her now in order
to have her become well-educated on Mexican-American problems, etc.
2.
It is also suggested that when she makes the trip, Martin Castillo
travel with her. Obviously, the candidates would be worked in on
the appropriate occasions and would be along with her on various
parts of the journey.
In order to get Mrs. Nixon's interest and also to build legitimacy
into her concern for Mexican-Americans, it is suggested that
perhaps we should consider having her visit some kind of Mexican-
American project in Southern California, perhaps next week while
we are out there.
All of the above States mentioned have Mexican-American populations
which outnumbers the Negro populations in those States.
Another minority which she could concentrate on and which would
take her into some of the Northern Plains States where we have
races are Indians. The percentage of Indian populations, however,
is not as key as that of the Mexican-Americans. Also, it may be
that Mrs. Nixon would rather concentrate on one minority group
rather than trying to hit two. It should also be kept in mind that
the Vice President has been concentrating and will continue to do
so on the Indian problem.
JULIE AND TRICIA
1.
It is felt that we should do a study immediately to determine
what large ethnic groups which correspond to the type of
people whom we are trying to reach (Poles, Italians, Catholics,
Yugoslavs, etc.) have key events or celebrations between now
and election time. The idea would be to have the girls attend
very colorful festivals, bazaars, Columbus Day Parades, and
other ethnic cultural-related events. These would obviously
b
be chosen in such a way as to insure that good television would
be possible. This whole idea is felt to be very important;
in
however, it is one that is going to take some research. We
are asking Murray Chotiner and Harry Dent to survey their
key States for a list of activities which would fall into the
3.
above-mentioned category.
2.
It has been suggested that perhaps Tricia take an environmental
tour to stress not only the interest of the President but of the
young in the environmental problem. The candidate could
accompany Tricia as she surveys new undertakings to either
III
improve or preserve the environment which the candidate has
hopefully been responsible for initiating or could take credit
for. Again, we would try to find activities which would be
suitable to television coverage.
3.
It is felt that either one of the two girls should make a point of
touring some plants in major cities within our key State group.
For example, they could visit a shipyard, walk through it,
talk to some of the blue-collar workers, evisit a stell plant
in Indiana, visit a defense plant in Texas or a defense plant
supplier in Minnesota. In other words, the point is to have
the girls walk through a plant and talk to some of the workers.
It is felt that although they may consider this to be awkward
they would do a very good job and it would have a tremendous
effect almong the blue-collar type workers.
We obviously have some great press opportunities nationally and in
those States which the girls will visit. For example, there could be
national stories on the history of the girls' campaigning -- this
might be magazine-type material, and it obviously has good newspaper
possibilities also. We should shoot for some special network reports
on the campaign activities of the girls as it gets closer to election
time. The subtleties of their persuasive campaign abilities without
being blatantly political is the tone which we should try to set.
In those States which Mrs. Nixon and the girls visit, we would arrange
to have them interviewed on talk-type television shows, newspaper
interviews with those papers which tend to be friendly to us, and
perhaps in some special cases, we would do radio.
4.
Finally, it is understood that television is the key factor. It is felt
that the visit to fairs would be fine and we are going to survey promptly
to see what late fall fairs are taking place in our key states.
In regard to visiting "good States like Kansas" where the President
and Vice President will not be able to go, it is felt we should only
do this where absolutely necessary. In other words, we should con-
centrate on those States where there is something to be accomplished.
I started to talk with Bob Finch yesterday and he indicated a desire
to talk about the use of Mrs. Nixon, Tricia, and Julie. Before we
could get to the subject, we were interrupted so this is still pending.
I intend to follow up on this whole subject further, but the above is a
status report on what has been contemplated so far.
In terms of the scheduling and commitment of schedules for Mrs.
Nixon, Tricia and Julie, it has not been discussed with me as to how
this should be organized. It is a subject on which we spenid spend
some time soon.
July 24, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. H. R. HALDEMAN
FROM:
Dwight L. Chapin
RE:
Political Travel - Mrs. Nixon, Julie and Tricia
You had asked for a program prior to our leaving for California
of how we could effectively use Mrs. Nixon, Julie and Tricia to
help candidates but not in a blatantly political way. Although we
are still developing ideas on this, we have a few thoughts which
I am listing below. When we met on this subject, Dent, Chotiner,
and Rumsfeld were unable to meet with us since they were in a
political session with the President at the time. Those contributing
to the thoughts below are Safire, Keogh, Magruder, Nofziger,
Ruwe, Howard, Minor and Chapin. No consultation has taken
place with the East Wing and everyone understands that we were
just developing some thoughts for the President to contemplate.
MRS. NIXON
It was suggested that Mrs. Nixon take a swing into those States
with large Mexican-American populations such as Arizona,
California, Texas, New Mexico, and perhaps Arizona. This trip
would take place after the President and Mrs. Nixon's visit to
Mexico. There would be a natural tie from the publicity and press
received on the State Visit to Mexico and the tour of the large
Mexican-American populated States which Mrs. Nixon could visit.
(If we take your guidelines, then Mrs. Nixon should not be used
extensively in States where the President will campaign. However,
perhaps we should make an exception for Texas and California.)
It is felt that If Mrs. Nixon is going to take this Mexican-American
tour that we should start feeding information in to her now in order
to have her become well-educated on Mexican-American problems, etc.
2.
It is also suggested that when she makes the trip, Martin Castillo
travel with her. Obviously, the candidates would be worked in on
the appropriate occasions and would be along with her on various
parts of the journey.
In order to get Mrs. Nixon's interest and also to build legitimacy
into her concern for Mexican-Americans, it is suggested that
perhaps we should consider having her visit some kind of Mexican-
American project in Southern California, perhaps next week while
we are out there.
All of the above States mentioned have Mexican-American populations
which outnumbers the Negro populations in those States.
Another minority which she could concentrate on and which would
take her into some of the Northern Plains States where we have
races are Indians. The percentage of Indian populations, however,
is not as key as that of the Mexican-Americans. Also, it may be
that Mrs. Nixon would rather concentrate on one minority group
rather than trying to hit two. It should also be kept in mind that
the Vice President has been concentrating and will continue to do
so on the Indian problem.
JULIE AND TRICIA
1.
It is felt that we should do a study immediately to determine
what large ethnic groups which correspond to the type of
people whom we are trying to reach (Poles, Italians, Catholics,
Yugoslavs, etc.) have key events or celebrations between now
and election time. The idea would be to have the girls attend
very colorful festivals, bazaars, Columbus Day Parades, and
other ethnic cultural-related events. These would obviously
b
be chosen in such a way as to insure that good television would
be possible. This whole idea is felt to be very important;
h
however, it is one that is going to take some research. We
are asking Murray Chotiner and Harry Dent to survey their
key States for a list of activities which would fall into the
3.
above-mentioned category.
2.
It has been suggested that perhaps Tricia take an environmental
tour to stress not only the interest of the President but of the
young in the environmental problem. The candidate could
accompany Tricia as she surveys new undertakings to either
il
improve or preserve the environment which the candidate has
hopefully been responsible for initiating or could take credit
for. Again, we would try to find activities which would be
suitable to television coverage.
3.
It is felt that either one of the two girls should make a point of
touring some plants in major cities within our key State group.
For example, they could visit a shipyard, walk through it,
talk to some of the blue-collar workers, avisit a stell plant
in Indiana, visit a defense plant in Texas or a defense plant
supplier in Minnesota. In other words, the point is to have
the girls walk through a plant and talk to some of the workers.
It is felt that although they may consider this to be awkward
they would do a very good job and it would have a tremendous
effect almong the blue-collar type workers.
We obviously have some great press opportunities nationally and in
those States which the girls will visit. For example, there could be
national stories on the history of the girls' campaigning -- this
might be magazine-type material, and It obviously has good newspaper
possibilities also. We should shoot for some special network reports
on the campaign activities of the girls as it gets closer to election
time. The subtleties of their persuasive campaign abilities without
being blatantly political is the tone which we should try to set.
In those States which Mrs. Nixon and the girls visit, we would arrange
to have them interviewed on talk-type television shows, newspaper
interviews with those papers which tend to be friendly to us, and
perhaps in some special cases, we would do radio.
4.
Finally, it is understood that television is the key factor. It is felt
that the visit to fairs would be fine and we are going to survey promptly
to see what late fall fairs are taking place in our key states.
In regard to visiting "good States like Kansas" where the President
and Vice President will not be able to go, It is felt we should only
do this where absolutely necessary. In other words, we should con-
centrate on those States where there is something to be accomplished.
I started to talk with Bob Finch yesterday and he indicated a desire
to talk about the use of Mrs. Nixon, Tricia, and Julie. Before we
could get to the subject, we were interrupted so this is still pending.
I intend to follow up on this whole subject further, but the above is a
status report on what has been contemplated 80 far.
In terms of the scheduling and commitment of schedules for Mrs.
Nixon, Tricia and Julie, it has not been discussed with me as to how
this should be organized. It is a subject on which we spenid spend
some time soon.