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From Dave Gergen to Chapin RE: a statement written for Graham. Hadwritten notes added by unknown. 1 pg. [Subject: White House Staff] [Memo], 10/30/1972
Statement drafted for Billy Graham to deliver in support of RN. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 10/30/1972
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WHSF: Contested, 3-66
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26144615
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WHSF: Contested, 3-66
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This file contains:
From Dave Gergen to Chapin RE: a statement written for Graham. Hadwritten notes added by unknown. 1 pg. [Subject: White House Staff] [Memo], 10/30/1972
Statement drafted for Billy Graham to deliver in support of RN. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 10/30/1972
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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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Document Description
3
66
10/30/1972
White House Staff
Memo
From Dave Gergen to Chapin RE: a
statement written for Graham. Hadwritten
notes added by unknown. 1 pg.
3
66
10/30/1972
Campaign
Other Document
Statement drafted for Billy Graham to
deliver in support of RN. 3 pgs.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Page 1 of 1
MEMORANDUM
HRH WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
fill
October 30, 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR:
DWIGHT CHAPIN
FROM:
DAVE GERGEN
sp
SUBJECT:
Statement for Dr. Graham
Here's the proposed statement which we discussed this morning.
It was drafted by John Andrews and comes with editings from Pat
and me.
CC: Chuck Colson
John Andrews
Attachment
October 30, 1972
STATEMENT BY DR. BILLY GRAHAM
My province is religion, not politics. But when the statements
of a leading political figure run counter the the basic religious principles
on which the United States was founded, I cannot refrain from an expres-
sion of deep concern both as a Christian and as an American citizen.
America's soul our moral and spiritual unity as one Nation
under God -- is surely more precious than the ambitions, however
noble, or the personal convictions, however sincere, of any one
among us. I was shocked, therefore, to learn of Senator McGovern's
recent statement to an interviewer that if he loses the election, he could not
"in good conscience" ask the American people to rally around a re-elected
President Nixon, nor could he lead any call for national unity.
It is difficult for me to see how any defeated candidate for the
Presidency could in good conscience withhold an appeal for national
unity and for wholehearted acceptance of the majority verdict. Would
the Senator really prefer to rend this country permanently into bitter
opposing camps as the penalty for his defeat?
The contrast with the past is inescapable. Never in my lifetime
can I remember a losing Presidential candidate -- from Wilkie to Dewey,
- 2
Stevenson to Humphrey -- turning his back on his responsibilities
after an election. Perhaps the most vivid contrast was Richard
Nixon in 1960 when -- gracious in defeat -- he insistently called a
halt to journalistic investigations which hinted at massive vote frauds
costing him the election. "Our country can't afford the agony of a
constitutional crisis, " he told one of the reporters involved, "and I
will not be a party to creating one just to become President. "
The defiant post-election stance favored by Senator McGovern
would precipitate not a constitutional crisis but a time of moral and
spiritual recriminations which could be far more damaging to the
fabric of national unity. I appeal to the Senator, should he lose, to
choose a course more in keeping with his own Christian heritage.
"Holy wars" have no place in a democracy. This election is
=
not the apocalyptic choice between good and evil which the
Democratic candidate has increasingly portrayed it as being.
George McGovern, son of a minister and once a minister himself,
surely seeks the right as God gives him to see the right. But no
less so does our President son of devout Quakers and heir to
their passion for peace -- seek the right.
3 -
One of the most deplorable features of this campaign has been
the intensive effort to Richard Nixon's opponents -- whether in malice
or honest conviction I cannot judge -- to portray as "satanic" this
faithful public servant whom I know to be a man of the highest
integrity, principle, patriotism, self dedication, and faith.
Let all Americans pray that these final days of campaigning
will see the lifting of this miasma of character assassination, and
that election night, whatever the outcome, will bring words and
gestures of healing from all who aspire to moral leadership over
the American people.
# # #