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From Chapin to Haldeman RE: Gallup Poll. 2 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 11/23/1970
Third page of a memo or letter regarding use of the media and the vice president. Author and recipient unknown. 1 pg. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Other Document], no date
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: RN and the vice president. 1 pg. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 11/5/1970
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: Gallup Poll. 2 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 11/19/1970
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: Harry Byrd and RN. 1 pg. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 11/5/1970
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26144373
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WHSF: Contested, 2-26
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This file contains:
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: Gallup Poll. 2 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 11/23/1970
Third page of a memo or letter regarding use of the media and the vice president. Author and recipient unknown. 1 pg. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Other Document], no date
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: RN and the vice president. 1 pg. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 11/5/1970
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: Gallup Poll. 2 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 11/19/1970
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: Harry Byrd and RN. 1 pg. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 11/5/1970
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Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
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Richard Nixon Presidential Library
Contested Materials Collection
Folder List
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
No Date
Subject
Document Type
Document Description
2
26
11/23/1970
Domestic Policy
Memo
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: Gallup Poll.
2 pgs.
2
26
>
Domestic Policy
Other Document
Third page of a memo or letter regarding use
of the media and the vice president. Author
and recipient unknown. 1 pg.
2
26
11/5/1970
Domestic Policy
Memo
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: RN and the
vice president. 1 pg.
2
26
11/19/1970
Domestic Policy
Memo
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: Gallup Poll.
2 pgs.
Friday, March 05, 2010
Page 1 of 2
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
No Date
Subject
Document Type
Document Description
2
26
11/5/1970
Domestic Policy
Memo
From Chapin to Haldeman RE: Harry Byrd
and RN. 1 pg.
Friday, March 05, 2010
Page 2 of 2
November 23, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. H. R. HALDEMAN
FROM:
DWIGHT L. CHAPIN
RE:
Gallup Poll
The results of the Gallup Poll to be published this coming Sunday
are contrary to what we had all expected. I know from my brief
involvement with the President last week that he expected the poll
to be down "several points."
It may be that nothing will serve us better in answering the media's
charges that the President lost ground during the campaigning
period as will this poll. Therefore, I recommend we game plan the
exploitation of the results of this poll.
SOME SUGGESTIONS
In order to protect ourselves with Gallup, I believe that all of our
efforts should take place on Sunday - the day the poll is released
and the first part of next week.
11
Sunday morning, November 29, Chairman Morton should
call a press conference at the National Committee for early
in the afternoon that same day. Doing it on a Sunday will
add an element of cubtosity plus if done properly should
give us the Chairman on the Sunday evening news shows,
as well as the play in the Monday morning papers. The
Chairman should use some of the media's quotes about
the damage done to the President's popularity by his
actively campaigning and then use the Gallup figures in
attacking the critics. Obviously, some good lines should
be developed for this press conference and If you approve
of this idea, we will put Safire, Nofziger and Klein to work
in preparing some material for the Chairman to use at
the press conference, as well as to have a plan for program-
ming the Chairman so that he holds the press conference
2.
the twenty-ninth.
Approve
Disapprove
2.
I believe that the people generally want to know that a President
is sensitive to public opinion. The President should be very
philosophical about this Gallup Poll. For example, the criticism
in the media has not bothered him since be feels it did not
accurately register how the people feel. This is a subtle point
but it reflects a good attitude and a "Presidential way" of looking
at things. Therefore, Monday would probably be a good day to
have in one or two of the more friendly columnists. I am thinking
of someone like Dick Wilson or William White. The President
could do a superb job of getting across the attitude which would
serve him well if a column were to be written on it.
3.
Herb Klein should suggest that an editorial be written for
Monday evening's Star. Herb could suggest this to some
senior person at the Star Sunday after he reads the poll.
Having an editorial pointing out the President's 57% approval
rate in the Star would help get the point across to Congress
that perhaps the President's campaigning efforts did not hurt
his popularity in the country.
4.
Herb Klein should call William Randolph Hearst, Jr. and have
him write a column taking on the critics of the President within
the media by using the Gallup poll to clobber those prophets of
doom who were already predicting a Nixon defeat in 1972.
Approve
Disapprove
This Saturday at Herb Klein's morning meeting, I will give the
group the results of the poll and we can crank some additional
ideas.
DLC:ny
3.
extent which we have in the last two to three months.
There are undoubtedly several people within the media who
could be won over or at least neutralized to a far greater degree than
we might think possible. One example which serves as a good
lesson is what happened when the President met with Barbara
Walters. You will recall that one day when Tricia was doing an
interview with Barbara Walters the President asked her to step
into his office. They talked for ten to fifteen minutes and as
you know since that time, Barbara Walters has spoken highly of the
President in personal interviews and I have heard her say compli-
mentary things about the President on television. The untapped
charm and persuasiveness of the President obviously influenced
Mrs. Walters very much. It was the form that we know the
President is best at the head-to-head. I am convinced it can
have its effect on others. Prime targets would be Harry Reasoner,
John Chancellor, Howard K. Smith, and perhaps Mike Wallace
again.
In any case, it would seem to me that a change in the handling
of our relationships with the media would be in order. Especially
realizing that we will undoubtedly end up having to attack them again,
just as hard as we have in the past, is in itself probably the best
reason for pulling back a little at this time.
4.
Use of the Vice President
We need to build a broader base for the Vice President. He
should remain controversial only on a very calculated basis. I would
suggest the obvious which is for him to take on more prestigious types
of assignments for the President and also to make sure that his speeches
are higher-level and concentrate more on issues than personalities.
I would imagine that if the velocity of attacks waged by the Vice
President during the 1970 campaign were to continue, that the left-
wing faction in the GOP would make Agnew the primary issue at the
1972 Convention. I cannot see what purpose is served over the next
few months in having the Vice President continue to be an issue within
the Party.
DETERMINED IJ B.S AN
November 5, 1970
CONFIDENTIALG
E.O. 12085, Section 6-102 so
By
MCL
MEMORANDUM NARS Date 7/27 FOR MR. H. R. HALDEMAN
FROM:
DWIGHT L. CHAPIN
I have noticed from the telephone log that the President has not
talked to the Vice President since the election. It would seem to me
that it would be a very good idea for the President to call the Vice
President prior to leaving for Florida, or to invite him over for a
short meeting.
Maybe the President will ask to see him after today's Cabinet
Meeting and that will solve the problem. Or perhaps he will make
reference to the Vice President in the Cabinet Meeting this morning
which would serve the same therapeutic purpose as a meeting. In
any case, I think something is in order.
It probably seems ridiculous to you but something which would probably
well-remembered would be if you would drop the Vice President a very
short hand-written note commenting on the job he has done for the
President in the last several weeks. It is only a suggestion.
DLC:ny
November 19, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. H. R. HALDEMAN
FROM:
DWIGHT L. CHAPIN
RE:
Gallup
The following is a preliminary report on the Gallup Poll which
was taken last weekend.
The poll is not yet completely tabulated. Out of a sample of 890,
the best guess that they can come up with is that the President's
approval rate will be 58%. John Davies warns that it could
fluctuate anywhere from 56 to 60% but that his best educated guess
is 58%.
For the poll they took October 9 - 13, 1970, the President's
approval rate was 58% and the disapproval rate was 27%.
Therefore, it can be said that there has been no change in the
President's popularity in light of the President's efforts during
the election.
John Davies and I discussed why the President's popularity did not
drop in light of the criticism he has taken in the media. It is
Davies' opinion that all the "experts" would guess that the President's
popularity would drop. However, Davies maintains the reason the
President did not drop in popularity is the reaction of the public to a
visible President. He feels that when they see a man in action like
during a campaign, a crisis, an international conference or when he
goes on television a lot, it serves to keep his popularity up. Davies
feels that the President's campaign efforts reflected an energetic
President and one who stood up for what he believed in and therefore
the public is willing to give him a vote of confidence.
Davies added his own personal comment that no matter what the media
and the Democrats say, it was obviously a victory for the President
was able to hold a possible Republican slide to a minimum. If it had
not been for the economy, the President would have undoubtedly defied
tradition and It would have been a banner year for the Republicans.
CC: Mr. Bull
DLC: ny
2.
According to John Davies, the results of this poll will be published
a week from Sunday. Davies will be writing it this weekend. The
promotion has already gone out so they are locked into Issuing it.
November 5, 1970
DETERMINED TO BE AN
ADMINISTRATIVE MARKING
E.O. 1206H, Section 7/27/80
By
men
NARS,
Date
CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. H. R. HALDEMAN
FROM:
DWIGHT L. CHAPIN
Harry Dent met with the Harry Byrd people yesterday and says
he needs to see the President for fifteen minutes prior to his
going to Key Biscayne. The subject is a very touchy one and
involves whether Senator Byrd goes back to the Democratic Party
or whether he comes into the Republican Party and some of the
ramifications.
Harry says he does not feel that he should put the subject into
writing.
If we try to work Harry in, it should be this afternoon.
Shhedule Harry in this afternoon
Other
DLC:ny