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 Jim Allison, Jr., to Rogers C.B. Morton, John Tower, Lee Nunn, Dent, and Chotiner RE: thoughts on the U.S. Senate race in Vermont. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 10/8/1970
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
26144633
label
WHSF: Contested, 3-75
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
26144633
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
WHSF: Contested, 3-75
description
This file contains:
From Jim Allison, Jr., to Rogers C.B. Morton, John Tower, Lee Nunn, Dent, and Chotiner RE: thoughts on the U.S. Senate race in Vermont. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 10/8/1970
citationUrl
collections
Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
Contested Materials Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
26144633
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
ea21bfd8dd823a93
ocrText
Richard Nixon Presidential Library
Contested Materials Collection
Folder List
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
No Date
Subject
Document Type
Document Description
3
75
10/8/1970
Campaign
Memo
From Jim Allison, Jr., to Rogers C.B.
Morton, John Tower, Lee Nunn, Dent, and
Chotiner RE: thoughts on the U.S. Senate
race in Vermont. 3 pgs.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Page 1 of 1
Committee.
a Allison, Jr., Deputy Chairman
October 8, 1970
MEMORANDUM TO: Chairman Rogers C.B. Morton
Honorable John Tower
Lee Nunn
Harry Dent
Murray Chotiner
FROM: Jim Allison, Jr.
SUBJECT: U.S. Senate - 1970 - Vermont
I. General
Lee Nunn and I went to Vermont, October 1 and 2, to meet with
Senator Prouty and his campaign staff. This state by all rights should
stay in the Republican column but my personal opinion now is that we're
losing the seat. Senator Prouty didn't begin to organize his effort
until mid-July and only last weekend started campaigning himself. A
timid man by nature, he is scared of his opponent and will tend to react
to everything former Governor Hoff says. Additionally, the working
Vermont press feels "snubbed" by Prouty and has been charmed by Hoff.
Add to this the fact that Governor Deane Davis is running behind in his
re-election bid and we have a very loseable situation. In my opinion
the only possible way to pull this one off is for the President to visit
Vermont the last 10 days. His popularity has consistently stayed above
70% and is our one hope.
II. Evaluation
A. Organization - the Party organization is only fair and most
of the staff's time is devoted to the Governor's race. Senator Prouty
needs to campaign away from the Governor as much as possible, thus, needs
a separate organization. He has a fair one now working, under the direction
cf Frank Dion, a dedicated but inexperienced manager. In spite of the late
start, however, Dion has recruited an able group of five volunteer area
coordinators who are spending full-time on the campaign. They are working
Southeast Washington D.C. 20003. (202) 484-6500.
U.S. Senate - 1970 - Vermont
October 8, 1970
- 2 -
on voter identification and we stressed the priority of this project as
Vermont suffers the same apathy as exists nationwide. Additionally, these
coordinators are collecting mailing lists of veterans and sportsmen groups,
both of which are sympathetic to Prouty. By October 10, there will be
220 Prouty Chairmen for the 251 Vermont townships. These chairmen will
identify Prouty voters by telephone and door-to-door canvassing, and dis-
tribute literature.
One of the area coordinators, State Senator-elect John Alden, is
very popular and since he is unopposed, will lead the anti-Hoff attack,
pointing out the latter's deficit-spending record as Governor, his left-
wing associations (Duffey and Galbraith) and the tremendous out-of-state
effort to elect him ($166,000 to date plus Vermont appearances by Bayh,
McGovern, Gravel, Hughes and Eagleton). He's also organizing the sports-
men as Hoff has favored gun registration and there are more than 100,000
licensed hunters in Vermont (only 187,000 registered voters).
Both the Senator's Washington office and his in-state Representa-
tive, Arthur Dufresne, have performed poorly for the Senator. His news-
letter has come out less frequently, press releases on his legislative
record (which is impressive) often are not put out, and in-state media
relations are the worst I've seen. Dufresne, who has represented the
Senator eight years, has assisted little with the organization and, in
fact, gets in the way.
Senator Aiken is uncooperative. He recently spoke at a Prouty
testimonial dinner and didn't even mention the Senator. Additionally, he
has publically stated that he would have no difficulty working with a
Democrat Senator.
One good organizational assist has come from the College Young
Republican Federation which has sent three young men to Vermont to help.
B. Finance - one of the lesser problems. All but $30,000 of the
$130,000 budget is raised. $50,000 is allocated for media ($40,000 for
television). With a little outside help, the money will be raised.
Unfortunately, only a minute part of the funds have come from within the state,
C. Media Plan - generally good. Bob Goodman is creating the
television. We watched some of the spots and those we saw were good. This
is the best part of the campaign. All the material is 20, 30 or 60-second
spots. Radio is also being used.
D. Research - the last poll showed Prouty and lloff at 45% each
with 10% undecided. It showed Governor Davis losing 60% to 40%. The next
poll is due October 12.
U.S. Senate - 1970 - Vermont
October 8, 1970
- 3 -
The Hoff research is fairly complete. The problem has been to get
Prouty to attack Hoff. However, he indicated to Lee Nunn and I that he
would try to get on the offense. But he'll have to be pushed.
E. Use of the Candidate - there wasn't any until October 1st. Now,
however, he will visit each of the 14 counties and campaign.
His greatest asset is Mrs. Prouty. She has been campaigning since
Labor Day and the people love her. She is the inspiration to the Prouty
organization and has been trying to cultivate some of the press corps.
Bob Finch made a successful appearance in Vermont last month and
Al Capp was there (for the ticket) in early October, Senator Baker will
appear for Prouty.
F. Opposition - Hoff is tough. He is young, attractive and
articulate. He has received more outside money than any Democrat opponent
we've got. They've reported $80,000 from Labor and $25,000 each from
McGovern, the Committee for an Effective Congress and the Council for a
More Livable World. He's challenging Prouty to debates and has a heavy
appearance schedule. His rumored drinking problem is not well-known to the
public and it will be hard to expose.
III. Recommendations
A. President Nixon to appear around October 25th. They'd like
an airport rally and a lunch at the College Field House in Burlington.
B. Some financial support.
C. Insistence on taking the offense against Hoff.
JA/jof