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This file contains:
Record of a conversation between Colson and Al Sindlinger on subjects such as RN's polling numbers after the State of the Union address and the automotive industry. Handwritten notes added by unknown. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 1/26/1972
Record of a conversation between Colson and Al Sindlinger RE: theoretical polling information generated based on RN's possible opponents in the 1972 election. Handwritten notes added by unknown. 5 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 1/27/1972
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26144565
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WHSF: Contested, 3-41
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26144565
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WHSF: Contested, 3-41
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This file contains:
Record of a conversation between Colson and Al Sindlinger on subjects such as RN's polling numbers after the State of the Union address and the automotive industry. Handwritten notes added by unknown. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 1/26/1972
Record of a conversation between Colson and Al Sindlinger RE: theoretical polling information generated based on RN's possible opponents in the 1972 election. Handwritten notes added by unknown. 5 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 1/27/1972
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Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
Contested Materials Files
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Richard Nixon Presidential Library
Contested Materials Collection
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Subject
Document Type
Document Description
3
41
1/26/1972
Campaign
Other Document
Record of a conversation between Colson
and Al Sindlinger on subjects such as RN's
polling numbers after the State of the Union
address and the automotive industry.
Handwritten notes added by unknown. 3 pgs.
3
41
1/27/1972
Campaign
Other Document
Record of a conversation between Colson
and Al Sindlinger RE: theoretical polling
information generated based on RN's
possible opponents in the 1972 election.
Handwritten notes added by unknown. 5 pgs.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Page 1 of 1
Converstion with Al Sindlinger, January 26, 1972
S
vote for us is over 50% now. Yea, it was down to 46 and I,
the funny
thing that I had before or after it ;didn't move.
C: In other words, you were running the Presidential popularity before
and after the State of the Union ?
S: Yea, I ran it just before and after and I was going to stop it yesterday
and then, of course, last night I decided to continue it.
C: And it wasn't moving beyond
S: It didn't move after the State of the Union. I was surprised.
C: Today it went up to 50% ?
S: It's over 50 now, it could be 51 or 52. And I've got some other questions
on.
I thought I'd listen tonight and let things cool down for a couple days and
then do a real study.
C: Well, you know what would be helpful, if you would throw in there "Do
you think the President is really trying to get the war over
11
S: Well, I've got my standard questions here, "Do you thinkthe President
is doing all he can to end the war in Vietnam", that one's in. I used that
even with Johnson, you know.
C: What does that normally come out with the President ?
S: Well, wait aminute. The one I have here, I've got a couple since this,
but I can't put my hands on them. But the one here was made in, following
the Nixon November 3, his Vietnam talk in 1969. The first two days
following on November 4 and 5, we got a yes, 68.1. No of 17.5, and no
opinion of 14. 4. Then the four days following November 4 through the 7,
the yes jumped to 72.1, the no was 15. 7 and no opinion was 12. 2 and then
taking 8 days from November 4 what did he do on November 4?
C: November 3, 1969, was when he announced he wasn't going to surrender.
The kids were out in the streets.
S: Then for the full 8 days, November 4 through 11, it was 79.2 yes, and 12. 8
no, and 8. 0 no opinion. I can't find it quickly, but I've had two since and if
I remember, it ran down to around 50% yes and the current ones run at least
2.
75 to 80.
C: After last night. I would think so. I would be amazed if it weren't over
80 because anybody for one thing, we've just learned that it got us 64%
rating, which means 64% of all TV sets in the United States were tuned into
it.
S: Oh, I wouldn't be surprised at all, because I imagine all the people that
read or heard about it
it's going to be astronomical.
C: Oh, yea, it's fantastic. But, what I'm interested in is your observation
that it's raised his rating up over 50. I think that's really impressive.
S: And the no's are still 14, or 15 percent.
C: That's amazing. Okay, my friend, I'll be very eager to hear from you
when you get something.
S: Ithoug t I would wait until tomorrow. I wanted to listen tonight. I thought
I'd wait until tomorrow and then do
C:
Democrat?
S: Yea.
C: Well, you'd feel a little bit without a place to turn to.
S. How would you advise them?
C: Well, you know what they're saying ?
S: Oh yea, oh the hell with the advise.
C: Well, Humphrey has the classic statement of all time: He said, "Well,
if this helps the President politically, it's just the price we'll have to pay".
Isn't that wild. What a partisan son of a bitch. Well, Al, I appreciate it
and if
S: Sometimes he's honest anyway.
C: Exactly. Well, if you'll inform me when you have some definite figures
out of this
S: I should have something by this time tomorrow.
3.
C: Okay, and I'm working on setting up a meeting with Connally. I don't
know why the hell my staff hasn't done it yet, but we'll have it.
S: The real sore spot in the election is the industrial mid-west. The
steel and automotive areas.
C: Amazing because automobiles are going like gangbusters.
S: Well, you see what is happening to them and this is why I think you're
not hearing any too much rubbles from labor right now, and I don't know
whether you've thought about this
C: They're all getting overtime.
S: Well, that's it.
C: Sure, there's nobody being hired. They're just all working 40
S: See, the point I'm making is that in our response in the automotive areas
over the, particularly, the last four or five years, when you had, when you
asekd the income question, only in those areas would people say, well, do
you mean including my overtime or without my overtime? and it's perfectly
clear to me that these autobmotive and steel workers, those two together
and they're probably some Teamsters, but not many, but most of those
specialties, have been living for the past 5 years on, not on their base pay
but take-home overtime pay. And this is what they're feeling. WXXXXX
But they're adjusting to it.
C: Well, that makes it a tough crunch because they're all getting fat and rich
but the unemployed aren't getting hired.
S: That's right, but the amazing thing is they seem to be adjusting to it.
Which is very very interesting.
C: Adjusting to it, you mean in the sense that they're adjusting to the fact
that there's the unemployment.
S: They know there isn't going to be any overtime for a while. They've
adjusted to the fact that their base pay is not going to be their pay for a while.
You see, they talk in these plants. Don't underestimate the knowledge that
the worker has of what the profits are. Don't ever underestimate that.
C: I don't for a minute. Well, very helpful myfriend and I'll look forward
to hearing from you as soon as some of these results are in.
Conversation with Al Sindlinger 1/27/72 on Q&A
S:
X Qe
The first question is:On Tuesday evening over nationwide TV, President
Nixon outlined an eight point plan to end the war in Vietnam. Have you
read or heard about this or did you see itx the President on TV ?
CX The TV audience is going to be fantastic -- probably 70 or 80 million
may BE
70 million, probably - and the knowledge is about 85-90%
C: Jesus.
The second question is:Since Presiden't Nixon's TV announcement on
Tuesday, have you had any conversations or discussions with anyone about
the President's peace plan or what is being said about it by anyone ?
And the conversation on this will be over 65%.
C: uh-huh.
And the remarks at the and of the question are: If yes, what was dis-
cussed and it's running all over the place. The general agreement is
about time he should have done it sooner he's pulled the rug out
what will the Democrats do now - the Democrats are befuddled He
had to do it great, excellent about time things like that.
The next question is a repeat question I used some time ago and it is:
President has three choices on the Vietnam problem: 1 is an extreme
choice to admit defeat and give up. give the North Vietnamese whatever
they want and get out to get our prisoners back. The other choice is to
continue to do what he is doing and try to negotiate and the other extreme
choice is to step up the war for a total victory -- go all out and win it.
Now if you were the President of the United States or you were to advise
the President on what to do would you tell him to give up - continue
as he is -- or go all out and win.?
I'd say that the give-up is around 20% or less -- the continue is going to
be about 60 and 70% - and around 25-30% are hawks.
C: You mean
S: Yep, goo all out -- and they are in the midwest and the unions hardhats
C: Is that right ?
S: Yep. - these fellows they want to fight too
Next question is: Is President Nixon doing all he can to settle the war in
Vietnam ?
And that is running very, very high.
C: Is that right ?
S: Yes.
2
The next W question is our standard question on if the next year's
President
garbled(?)
election
It's running about 52-53%
C: 52-53.
S: And the negatives are 14 13-14%.
C: Isn't that marvelous, huh.
If the election were being held today, who would be your number one
choice ?
And what's interesting here, is that * what's his name in N. Y. is
coming up
C: Lindsay ? ??
S: Lindsay's coming up for some unknown reason. But the rest of
them are running about the same. Mills is dropped almost completely
out..
C: Yep, but you are still getting Muskie number one ?
S: Yeah, Muskie's number one. Kennedy is way down.
C: Is that right.
S: Yeah. MX It's Muskie, Humphrey, (Wallace is up pretty high)
And the next question is: Are you or any member of your household a
member of a labor union?
And the last question is when you think of politics, do you think of yourself
as a Democrat, Republican or Independent?
C: Gee, that will be fascinating fascinating. Now, when, Al will you
be completed on that survey.
S: Well, I've got about 400 and I though I ought to run it about 3 cycles --
God maybe four cycles -- and get at least 1500 or 2000.
C: You'd be going through that through the weekend and
S: yes
C: And then how early could you release it. You know, nobody hasd
released a poll Frank Stanton called me from CBS very nice of
him to call yesterday and he said "Chuck, do you know anybody doing
any quick polls of on the reaction to the Presidentsthing? and I said no,
3
And he said, you know, we used to have a quick service here where
we set up and could get instant reaction and have it the next night, he
said, I wish to God we had it, because it would be a helluva
spontaneous
S: You, didn't tell him we were doing it, did you?
C: No, I didn't because I didn't dare. I didn't know whether I should or
not.
S: Yeah.
C: You know, I don't know whether to use you fellows or
S: If you talk.
call him back and tell him I'm doing one.
C: Alright. But the point would be how fast could you get it?
S: Well, I think the thing is so important, I don't know whether I can re-
lease it early or hold it.
XX What do you think?
C: Oh, the earlier you release it, the more newsworthy it will be.
S: Well, maybe I should release all of it tomorrow
what is today
Today's thurdday, isn't it.?
C: Well, if you get it out tomorrow - for the
Sunday newspapers it would be a gangbuster.
S: Alright, let me release something tomorrow afternoon.
C: On these questions we just talked about.
S: Yeah.
C: Great.
S: I won't have any of the cross-tabs but I can have the key stuff.
C: Sure, I mean you could have the fact that those supporting the
President's reelection rose from 46 to 53
S
S: It was down to 44 it did go up slightly after the State of the Union
it was 44 before and 46 after.
C: Well, it would be a helluva a good one to show that his popularity
has risen and that now 80% feel he is doing all he can to end the war
and 60-70 that
4
S;; Saturday morning would be a bad time
?
C: Well, yeah, that's a bad time. You gotta get it out Friday afternoon
with a Sunday a.m. press release time on it.
S: Yeah. That's what I'll do. Txlxex
S
C: Then, you'll get a maximum bang out of it.
S: Alright, tell Stanton we 're doing it.
C: I'll call Frank in the morning. Then call me when you have the con-
firmed results though.
S: Yeah, I'll give you something tomorrow.
C: Great. Thanks a million.
S: That's the way its running and its a very clean interview.
C: Well, its beautiful because its feally giving us a feel, isn't it?
S: Well, these extreme questions you know I asked those questions
before and at one point we were getting about 38% hawks and about 11%
doves. Now I'd say its going to be about
well, near 30% hawks and
about maybe 18-19 doves.
C: But then the most in middle thing continue ?
S: Yep.
C: fascinating.
S: I would say that from the tenor of the hawkishness that if he
gets kicked around
I think that you're gonna find that go up.
C: Yeah. I do too. You notice they didn't really turn us down today.
S: That is interesting, isn't it? Did you expect it ?
C: I expected that they would turn us down and then come around back,
but they hinting that they were flexible but we may have really flushed
them out. We took a long gamble on it but we might have flushed them
out.
S: Well, that will WELL interesting, if we did
-5-
C: Well, if we ever pull it off, God, almighty.
S: That's right.
C: It would be marvelous, wouldn't it ? Boy.
S: Yep.