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This file contains:
From Henry C. Cashen II to Colson RE: notes from a telephone conversation with Cardinal Krol on the election. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 9/20/1972
From Cashen to Colson RE: conversations with Bishop McManus and Father Koob on the election. Handwritten note added by unknown. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 9/20/1972
Record of a conversation between Colson and Al Capp on various voter-related subjects, such as the overall trend of college students to suppot Democrats and David Merrick's endorsement of RN. Handwritten notes added by unknown. 6 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 9/11/1972
Record of a conversation between Colson and Harris RE: McGovern's deficit at the polls. Handwritten note added by unkown. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 9/8/1972
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26144575
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WHSF: Contested, 3-46
description
This file contains:
From Henry C. Cashen II to Colson RE: notes from a telephone conversation with Cardinal Krol on the election. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 9/20/1972
From Cashen to Colson RE: conversations with Bishop McManus and Father Koob on the election. Handwritten note added by unknown. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 9/20/1972
Record of a conversation between Colson and Al Capp on various voter-related subjects, such as the overall trend of college students to suppot Democrats and David Merrick's endorsement of RN. Handwritten notes added by unknown. 6 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 9/11/1972
Record of a conversation between Colson and Harris RE: McGovern's deficit at the polls. Handwritten note added by unkown. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 9/8/1972
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collections
Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
Contested Materials Files
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26144575
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Richard Nixon Presidential Library
Contested Materials Collection
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Document Type
Document Description
3
46
9/20/1972
Campaign
Memo
From Henry C. Cashen II to Colson RE:
notes from a telephone conversation with
Cardinal Krol on the election. 2 pgs.
3
46
9/20/1972
Campaign
Memo
From Cashen to Colson RE: conversations
with Bishop McManus and Father Koob on
the election. Handwritten note added by
unknown. 1 pg.
3
46
9/11/1972
Campaign
Other Document
Record of a conversation between Colson
and Al Capp on various voter-related
subjects, such as the overall trend of college
students to suppot Democrats and David
Merrick's endorsement of RN. Handwritten
notes added by unknown. 6 pgs.
3
46
9/8/1972
Campaign
Other Document
Record of a conversation between Colson
and Harris RE: McGovern's deficit at the
polls. Handwritten note added by unkown. 1
pg.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Page 1 of 1
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 20, 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR:
CHARLES W. COLSON
FROM:
HENRY C. CASHEN II Her
SUBJECT:
Telephone conversation with Cardinal
Krol
During the course of the conversation with Cardinal Krol, he made the
following points:
1) He feels that McGovern's statement should be interpreted
as the highest compliment that could be paid to President Nixon,
that he has finally found his way clear to agree with the position
that the President has advocated for 2 1/2 years.
2) He feels the Republicans clearly advocated that aid to non-
public schools should be included in both party platforms and
be considered a bi-partisan issue. He feels that the President
should take the position that it is too bad that the Senator's
position was not included or adopted in the Democratic platform
but is glad that it is now an issue which has been placed above
partisan politics.
3) He feels that the hierarchy of the Church will very clearly see
this as a straight political play by McGovern. The NEA is currently
up in arms because of McGovern's position in that he recently
received money and an endorsement from the NEA when he was
speaking to them in Atlanta and avoided the non-public school issue.
However, when he appears before a Catholic school audience, he
chooses at that time to advocate aid to non-public schools, It was
the Cardinal's feeling that it will be clear to most people as a result
of the NEA reaction that McGovern agrees with the audience to
which he is currently speaking.
4) Krol feels very strongly that the President should not get into
a rough political argument on this issue but rather use White House
spokesmen to thank McGovern for finally being able to realize what the
President has been advocating for the past 2 1/2 years.
-2-
I have tried to contact Koob and Cooke but they will not be available
until this afternoon. I will get you comments on their reaction as
soon as I have talked with them.
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 20, 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR:
CHARLES W. COLSON
FROM:
HENRY C. CASHEN II
Relevant to conversations with Father Koob and Bishop McManus,
their reaction is similar to that of Cardinal Krol.
1) They believe that McGovern's statement is clearly
political and the President should not concern himself
with getting into an attack on McGovern with respect
to this issue. The reaction from the White House or the
campaign committee should be one of acknowledgement of
the fact that McGovern has finally realized the validity of
the position which the President has advocated over the past
2 1/2 years.
2) Neither Bishop McManus nor Father Koob were concerned
that McGovern's late statement would be read as a deterrent
to any substantial degree from the President's support with
the Catholics on this issue. Both emphasized the fact that
McGovern would be adversely effected by the NEA.
(A)
Conversation with Al Capp, September 11, 1972
C: You don't think what?
A: I don't think it's made the slightest impression on the average voter.
Not at all. People are now sophisticated enough to know that politics is
a kick them in the balls game and the ITT thing I don't think switched one
vote. The only thing that can keep switching votes is for McGovern to keep
getting more and more hysterical. I've he's the best campaigner you've
got. He really is.
C: That's an interesting point. I'll tell you the reason I'm calling, relates
very much to this and that is that the Presidentis asking me for your views
on the campaign. Are we doing it right or wrong or
A: Well, you know, I began
you're doing it absolutely right, don't let the
President, don't let the President get into any discussion. even of McGovern.
Let him be President and what he's been doing has been absolutely perfect,
the speech in which he obliquely referred to McGovern I thought gave dignity
to McGovern.
C: You mean the welfare ethic VS. the work ethic.
A: That's alright.
C: That's the only one he even obliquely referred to him. He said there are
those who would prefer to have a country in which it's better
A: I don't even want him to say there are those
the hell with them. McGovern
gets dignity only if the President mentions him. This is
C: Are you finding this as you go around, Al?
A: Oh, good, Lord, you have no idea of the Democrats who are switching.
By the way, I don't know if you caught this in the New York Times, but David
Merrick has taken an ad to announce that he's going to vote for Nixon, that
he feels Nixon is the most liberal guy
Merrick is the epitomy of the New
York ass-hole liberal. But he's had enough of McGovern and I'm going to write
you a note about that because you can use
see, the talk shows are afraid
to use anybody that may possibly say a kind word for the President, because
the big whigs in show business have been Democrats. Well, here is the
biggest big whig on Broadway announcing that he's for the President. Get to
him, use him, get him to the White House, shake his hand, flatter him
he's a very important guy. Not he in himself, but the effect he has on show
people is very very important.
2.
C:
Now what about the rest of us, A1. The Cabinet members and the Congress-
men and the Senators
?
A: I think you're doing absolutely right. I think the total, absolutely total
ignoring of McGovern by the President and the Vice President
he's fine
C: But the rest of us should go
A: The rest of you go for the groin, the throat, slaughter, get in there, get
him mad, get him hysterical, throw buckets at him. Let the others fight
like wild cats, but let the President not say one word. Now, the other thing
and I made some notes over the weekend, I read some bits and pieces bout
the President, sort of to chittering appearing at a college and wondering
whether there was a safe college. Well, I think
first I'm against it, but
I have another way he can do it, but let me give you my thinking. First,
there is no such thing as a safe college. Two maniacs ;in an audience of
4, 000 can render it unsafe. However, if he is indeed, he wants to appar
at a college, I would pick what seems to be the most unsafe college in
America, Yale. And let me tell you why. Now, Yale is ideally, madness,
black pantherns, all that business. Nonetheless, I went down there a little
over a year ago, in fear and trembling. I thought this was the last goda amend
placed I ought to go. 90% of that audience hated every word I said. They
gave me the gravest attention, there was an ovation at the end from about
1/2 of them. The half who hated my guts made absolutely no demonstration
at all,
the curious thing about Yale is that somehow they have some
manners there. It's almost a secret. Now, I would never advise the President
to appear at Harvard, but if he's determined to appear at a college, choose
what seeems to be the most unsafe school. Now, Yale, would seem to be the
most unsafe school, in my opinion of them all, it's the safest. However, I
would advise him not to go to New Haven, but to invite 4 or 5 Yale people
let the President talk to Yale, but let them come to the White House
might
even pick Yale or Harvard, but I'd pick Yale because something happens to
the kids there. They have good manners, they're poisoness, but they have
good manners and the President can handle any kind of poisonness. But
he today, is, by the Gallup poll, the leader of American youth. Now, that's
the goddamnest thing I've ever heard of. It's something I've always know,
I know that he is and that his views were the view of most youth, but
and it's so comforting to see that the figures favor that. I'd bve to see
him as
because he does have youth's ear now. If he should combine
a talk withyouth and Yale by inviting the kids to theWhite House. Just
being there gives them very good manners and if the President spends an
3.
hour or two before that charming them, if he has them to dinner, wow, you're
going to get some damn nice kids and you're going to get the President
talking to kids. The Presient
and he czn do it. All he has to do is like
the kids, know that no matter what kindof little shits, they're shits out
of ignorance and he could teach them. Because the reason they loathe
him, is because they don't know anything and he can spend an hour
teaching them something about civics. Actually, as it's going now,
I would advise no change whatever. Keep Dole at him, keep everybody
at
McGovern. et McGovern debate with these guys.
and single idea
that McGovern has by discussing it, by attributingit to him. I haven't
mentioned two ideas, two opposing ideas and identify himself with one.
I would even identify
don't give the guy any speace at all. But I think
the way it's going is
every morning I wake up there's some other
indication that somehow everything is so goddamned right I can't believe
it.
C: Well, I know, and I just wish we could compress the 8 weeks into 8 hours
and
A: Look, they're not going to come up with anything. There
it's a very
curious thing. The Saturday Review of 11terature, way out left, called me
the other day to ask me to do a piece along with several other people on
McGovern's economics. So, I'm not an economist and I can't juggle figures,
but I did it from a broad
I'll send you a copy
but what I saidwas this,
literally, if the President and George McGovern were to swap economic
policies today, it wouldn't effect a single vote. The reason for that is
people don't believe McGovern any more and they believe Nixon. He
simply has lost all trust, it really doesn't matter what kind of economics
I'm saying this to you. However, I keep up that radical stuff
scare
the shit out of them because what he wants to do is what they fear. He'll never
be able to do it, even if he's elected, but what he wants to do is something
to let them know and let them fear. The point I made was that you can't
win millions of votes by saying you're going to tax people after they reach
$12, 000 beause every one of those people is on their way to reaching $12, 000
and they don' want it taxed away from them. They goddamn well want that
$12, 000 and when he raises the figure to $22, 000, thatisn't out of sight of a
hell of a lot of people. They don't want that redistributed. Gee, I've got
a great quote from a guy in California I'll put it in the mail to you this
afternoon. On the whole, the thing is going.
it couldn't go better. It's
going so goddamned well that I hestiate to even talk bout it. How can you
improve on perfection.
C: Jesus, tell us that and you'll make us over confident.
4.
A: Oh, keep it up. Everytime Hugh Scott says somthing, or Bob Dole
de livers a kick in the groin, and those things work, they really work. One
of the things I pointed out in the piece, was that when Teddy Kennedy
gravely agreed with the policy of George McGovern that fortunes over
$500, 000.
should be taxed to extinction and that tax
were unfair, I
nearly choked.
the Demorratic Party for all their troubles can still
take a joke. Goddamn Teeddy Kennedy going around and endorsing that.
It
really
by the way, you couldn't have a better friend than Sargetn
Shriver. You know, I knew him a little bit in Washington, but I never
knew what a hysterial horse's ass he was.
C: He's a total bafoon.
A: He is
C: Read Time magazine today. My God, they treat this guy it's incredible
the way they treat him.
A: Really?
C: You know it talks about what fun he has out sailing and playing tennis
on the weekends and then Sarge comes on and he says, "well we had a good
t ime at Hyannis Port this weekend, but darne't I just got started a little late
and wemissed our game of Pirate. 11 and the reporter apparetly says, what
is Pirate. and He says oh Pirate is a fun game, you go out and sail and sail
next to you friend and you throw a tennis ball into his boat and if you get it
into his boat, you win and boy, Pirate is just a neat game.
A: Just like a comic strip. I hope they give him all the space, all the time
on television they possible can. Every time it's worth it if ;you buy
this guy time. He really
and there's something that's happened to McGovern
there's a kind of nagging, nastiness about McGovern that certainly nobody
should remain unaffected by disasters, but it is beginning to show. It's
really begining to show. But, what's happening is so damn perfect, that
I would just keep it up until.
and then you get some indication that it isn't
working.
C: No, no indication at all. 1 n fact, the polls to our complete consternation
because it's awfully hard to follow
believe it. The private polls that we're
conducting show us still gaining and I can't figure it up. There's got to be
a place where you stop sometime, but
A: Well, there's still 30 odd percent of McGovern's votes to eat up.
C: I guess you're right. Here's the delightful paragraph that you'll have
some fun with when you speak: "and then he walked down the aisle of his
plane toward where the press were drinking. Gave them his one-two
grin, "which is described earlier "and started talking about the weekend
from Time"
5.
ci It's bizarre. You can imagine the Archie Bunkers of this world thinking
what, the guy's out there trying to throw a tennis ball into somebody else's
sail boat!
'
A: Just is not to be believed.
C: Obnoxious elite isn't it?
A: Yes. Do you know him at all?
C: Yes, I know him.
A: He's a really pleasant guy.
C: It probably would be fun to play Pirate with him, but.
A: Well, there's nobody else I would play pirate with.
C: Much rather with him than anybody else.
A: But, it actually is going so well, Chuck, that I wouldn't change it, if
the President is indeed considering a
table, don't go to ta college,
bring the college to the White House and make it Yale and that shows
total fearlessness, and yet, my hunch is that they will be the most
polite kids, they may be tough, but he can handle all that. They're
toughness comes from ignorance and all we have to do is be their teacher.
And give them dinner first and have them no where they are and who
they're with and thenyou'll have a delightful hour. But, if he insists
on going to a college and I don't think he should. too nuts. and you've
created an embarrassment. Yea, don't go to a college, bring the college
there.
C: Al, I appreciate this.
A: I'll send you that thing.
C: I wish you would. The President has enormous respect for your judgment
on things.
A: I'll tellyou, he has given me more fun in these last few months than
anybody. To watch his manipulating and to watch his non-camp aiging,
feedingthe Bejesus out of is his savage MX campaign is just a delight.
C: We're out to win and we're out to beat the living hell out of those guys.
6.
A: And by God you might get Congress.
C: God bless you. We appreciate it and if you don't mind, I'll call you
once in a while I was going to say bug you, but I won't say that word,
call you to get your thoughts. Thanks a million, Al.
Conversation with Lou Harris, September 8, 1972
H:
and he said it shows 30-35 behind.
C: In all the big states?
H: So there you are.
C: So he called you to get your data and you ended up getting his.
b eautiful. When did they poll?
H: He said it was around the last week in August, the first week
in September.
C: 30 to 35 behind in all the big states.
H: Well, that bears it right out. The other thing he said was that their
strategy was to stay on 3 issues and no others. It was very interesting.
One, the economy or cost of living mostly. Two, the tax reform without
the welfare and three was the fat cats benefitting from the Nixon
Administration.
C: That's logical.
H: He said they were all praying he could go 10 days without a goof.
C: What did he say about the staff disappearing.
H: Oh, he said it's a mess.
C: Thompson quit yesterday and Wilde quit today.
H: Yea, Wilde's interesting because I think he wanted to make Vietnam
a bigger issue sincehe's been the guy I know
and I think the decisions
made. O'Brien's strategy that McGovern's going to go for the Demorats
and go over on the economic issue, which is alright if he wants to leave
the rest to you you wanted to take it.
C: God yes.
H: How many charts do you think we can use?
C: Let me put you on