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:
From Buchanan to Haldeman and the Attorney General RE: political notes from a meeting of the "Manhattan Twelve." 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 12/3/1971
From Colson to Buchanan RE: focusing on conservatives going into the election season. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 12/29/1971
From Buchanan to Colson RE: happenings involving Ashbrook. 1 pg. [Subject: White House Staff] [Memo], 12/14/1971
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
26144595
label
WHSF: Contested, 3-56
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
26144595
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
WHSF: Contested, 3-56
description
This file contains:
From Buchanan to Haldeman and the Attorney General RE: political notes from a meeting of the "Manhattan Twelve." 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 12/3/1971
From Colson to Buchanan RE: focusing on conservatives going into the election season. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 12/29/1971
From Buchanan to Colson RE: happenings involving Ashbrook. 1 pg. [Subject: White House Staff] [Memo], 12/14/1971
citationUrl
collections
Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
Contested Materials Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
26144595
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
91a934e22322f33e
ocrText
Richard Nixon Presidential Library
Contested Materials Collection
Folder List
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
No Date
Subject
Document Type
Document Description
3
56
12/3/1971
Campaign
Memo
From Buchanan to Haldeman and the
Attorney General RE: political notes from a
meeting of the "Manhattan Twelve." 3 pgs.
3
56
12/29/1971
Campaign
Memo
From Colson to Buchanan RE: focusing on
conservatives going into the election season.
1 pg.
3
56
12/14/1971
White House Staff
Memo
From Buchanan to Colson RE: happenings
involving Ashbrook. 1 pg.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Page 1 of 1
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 3, 1971
DETERMINED TO BE AN
ADMINISTRATIVE MARKING
CONFIDENTIAL / IMMEDIATE
E.O.
By ylu Date
MEMORANDUM TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
H. R. HALDEMAN
FROM:
PATRICK J. BUCHANAN
The Manhattan Twelve gathered again Wednesday. From the White
House point of view, the convocation was the least constructive to date.
They were nct dissatisfied with the Administration (Colson, Buchanan)
response to their list of "demands;" they were outraged. For some.
the meeting served as a catharsis, a point of final departure from the
Nixon Administration. My friend, Bill Rusher, the most hawkist, leader
of the group and designated spokesman, would tell me nothing other than
they were heading off, and "you are welcome to join us." Rusher, as
inc will soine time ago, made a personal commument to sever any
remaining ties with the Administration, if Taiwan were expelled. By
written memorandum, Rusher has urged upon the twelve the case for
the defeat of Richard Nixon "at all costs" as they put it even if it
carries with it the certainty of electing Teddy Kennedy. His memorandum,
which argues the case that this is the last best hope for conservatives, is
reportedly witty and well-written but badly argued. Have been unable
as stated, to lay hands upon a copy, so that I could write a rebuttal for
the next meeting.
The Twelve have maintained an utterly close-mouthed attitude about
both proceedings and decisions. From outside sources, however, have
learned the following.
1) A number of options are being explored; they run from an open
challenge to the President in the New Hampshire, Florida and California
primaries to a Third Party effort in the General election. My source
indicates that they have already made contact with Bill Loeb of the
Union-Leader; their political man, Jerry Harkins, has explored the
possibility of running a primary candidate against the President.
2) Some of them are now so anti-Nixon that they cannot, under conceivable
circumstances, be brought back into the fold. Among the twelve and
their other colleagues assembled, the following are the anti-Nixon hawks:
DETERMINED TO BE AN
ADMINISTRATIVE MARKING
-2-
E.O. 12065, Section 6/102
By
NARS, Dat
William Rusher (Publisher, NR)
M. Stanton Evans (Indianapolis Trib Ed Page Editor; ACU Chief)
James Burnham (Columnist, NR)
Frank Myer (Vice Chairman, N. Y. Conservative Party)
Ron Docksai (YAF Chairman)
Neil McCaffrey (Conservative Book Club)
Jerry Harkins (Political Operative -- Crane's Campaign Manager)
John Jones (ACU Exec -- was not present Wednesday)
3) In the middle, those perhaps amenable to an accommodation, but
still disenchanged, are Dan Mahoney of the N. Y. Conservative Party,
and Jeff Bell, Editor of ACU publication. Anthony Harrigan was not
present; don't know where he stands.
4) Doves include the Human Events people, Allan Ryskind and Tom
Winter, and William F. Buckley, Jr. (Apparently, Bill regaled the
gathering with his wit; his political recommendations, however, were
themselves the subject of some humor. My guess is that since Bill is
such an
spirit.
= hit uncomfortable being yoken in
harness in a twenty-mule team whose direction he alone cannot possibly
control.)
5) The YAF leaders are reportedly anxious to make a go against the
President, both to show their youth turn-out to the media and for
organizational and other purposes.
6) The elements upon which any challenge to the President would be
raised would include the editors and writers here involved, their publica-
tions, the New York Conservative Party, the Michigan Conservative Party,
the United Republicans of California, Phyllis Schlafly and her women
supporters, and the ACU organizations that seem to be popping up, in
New Jersey and elsewhere.
7) My source indicates that they have covert support within the Republican
Party in the Congress; and that there is no problem for a money standpoint.
A number of traditional GOP moneymen, whose names I could not acquire,
are said to be willing to fund the effort, when it goes.
8) F. Clifton White was not present at this meeting.
9) Am unable to determine just who they would focus upon as a candidate,
should they decide to go either in the primaries or the General. Got a
soft not a hard -- impression that Reagan is privately concerned about
DETERMINED TO BE AN
ADMINESTRATIVE MARK ING
-3-
E.O. 12065, Section 6-102
By
NARS, Date
trends within the Administration, There was no negative word with
regard to Jim Buckley (whose defense man, Bill Schneider) was present --
but there is a feeling among them that Senator Goldwater did his job in
1964 and could not be expected or counted upon to support them now.
10) The major issues which concern them, despite the laundry list are
a) Defense and b) FAP. One source indicated that if there were some
way we could indicate something positive from the Defense Budget, that
might help create some dissent from the prevailing view within the ranks.
They are cognizant, however, that the Budget is not presented until after
the filing deadline for New Hampshire is passed.
11) From comments from those who refuse to talk, one gets the
impression that they are readying. some media-making event in the near
future. Don't know what it is or what form it will take -- but something
nice I am sure.
BUCHANAN ASSESSMENT: This seems a fairly serious problem. Right
now, we could win without these conservatives and their train; but right
now; is Schober J. 1972. So long as they continued meeting and
talking, there was no great problem. But, should they "get it all together"
and announce something rather exciting, then their efforts would take on
a new momentum of their own. A National Conservative Party in the
General election, if the threat is to be taken seriously, could be a
problem (There was talk further of canalizing efforts and running a
conservative candidate only in those states where it would be sure to
cost the President the state.)
While the possibility exists, it would be an error to write these fellows
off as bluffers or talkers without follow-through. Currently, they resemble
a milling herd of cattle, making considerable noise and doing little harm;
but if they start moving off together in one direction -- picking up every
stray anti-Nixon conservative in the country -- they could be difficult to
stop.
My hope had been that something like Child Development-OEO could be
brought down here for a Presidential veto, with a tough message, which
might then cause at least some of them to say, wait a minute, the returns
aren't all in. But that does not now seem in the cards, as the House is to
do the honors.
Any event, will keep on top of this; the ACU board is meeting Sunday;
perhaps something may come out of that.
Buchanan
EYES ONLY
December 29, 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR:
PAT BUCHANAN
FRO M:
CHUCK COLSON
In talking with the Attorney General last night, he expressed
the view that we must make a major effort now to "care and
feed" the conservatives. He believes that we must do it
regardless of Ashbrook's decision today. He thinks we have
substantively neglected our own constituency and that it's
very important that we, over the next year, strengthen and
hold on to the conservative vote or regain it as the case
may be. He has asked for a detailed plan of those things that
we might consider doing. I told him that cosmetics would not
do the trick and he agreed.
I think you and I should both give very careful thought to this and
put together a memo jointly for the AG. If he approves, I think
it can be sold to the President.
Could you put some thoughts down ? Obviously our strategy
with respect to FAP is a key item, but I am sure you can c ome
up with a number of others. If you could put together a draft
you and I could then collaborate on completing it. He would like
to see something next week.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 14, 1971
consumition file
MEMOR ANDUM TO:
CHUCK COLSON
FROM:
PAT BUCHANAN
Max Friedersdorf called to say that Ashbrook may be
thrown into a district with Wayne Hayes; the issue is
not settled yet; which could put him in a bad way; finally,
that he apparently just got a divorce from his wife of
some twenty years -- which might well mean the guy must
see his world falling in around him. These are factors
we should be aware of.
Pat