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Report from Harold Templeman to Fred B. Rhodes re: Templeman's recent swing around country. Includes brief state-by-state recaps of '70 mid-terms, '72 prospects. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Letter], 1/4/1971
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WHSF: Contested, 4-18
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WHSF: Contested, 4-18
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This file contains:
Report from Harold Templeman to Fred B. Rhodes re: Templeman's recent swing around country. Includes brief state-by-state recaps of '70 mid-terms, '72 prospects. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Letter], 1/4/1971
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Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
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Richard Nixon Presidential Library
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4
18
1/4/1971
Campaign
Letter
Report from Harold Templeman to Fred B.
Rhodes re: Templeman's recent swing around
country. Includes brief state-by-state recaps
of '70 mid-terms, '72 prospects. 3 pgs.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Page 1 of 1
Dear Fred:
Following your suggestion I am recording here some rough
notes on my recent swing around the country.
Ohio: Observers say they have never seen the State GOP in
such poor shape - organizationally.
Indiana: Roudy was badly hurt by the Governor's attitude and
by the fact of his several marriages. It was felt the Governor should
have made efforts to insure an honest vote count in Lake County.
Illinois: All agree that Smith was a dead duck from the start.
Iowa: Spoke to three grain elevator operators who said, "Why
does the Department of Agriculture always pick the most inopportune
time to dump grain on the market". They jumped all over Hardin for
his grain policies and lack of political sense.
Nebraska: Word was around that Senator Hruska was making
more money from his outside activities than as a United States Senator.
Serious question was raised as to how well he was representing Nebraska's
interests. State-wide tax program was a drag on the whole ticket.
Wyoming: The election was lost the day John Wold brought in an
outsider to run his campaign. 100, 000 unfortunate letters were sent
out in mid September asking for suggestions and contributions. Bad
news stories and editorials were generated, which hurt so badly that
Governor Hathaway's "pulling power" was of no avail.
Utah: Burton's campaign was run by the same man who ran Wold's.
Similar letters were sent out with equally bad results. One example was
a letter addressed to the National Bank and Trust Company with the
salutation, "Dear Mr. Trust". The President of the bank made copies
and placed them on bulletin boards for all to see.
Nevada: People claimed Fike was a crook because of alleged
shady real estate deals. Raggio's campaign never really got off the ground
and he never gave Cannon any trouble. The latter treated the campaign as
though it was a picnic.
Oregon: Warne Nunn, former Hatfield aide, said he could not raise
$10 for Mark today. This is a maverick State and it is questionable
whether McCall would do any better than Hatfield. Wendell Wyatt may well
be the best bet for the Senate in 72.
-2-
California: George Murphy was badly hurt by his age and by the
film money which was never explained away. A younger man might
well have taken Tunney.
Arizona: Organization and campaign management left much to
be desired. Victories should have been by much greater margins.
New Mexico: Never have seen such a poorly run headquarters.
The Senate race was hurt by the Governor's efforts to cut Carter's
throat.
Texas: Generally agreed we lost the election with the Yarborough
defeat in the Primary. Considerable anti-Administration comment
expressed to the effect it is against the farmer and unsympathetic to poor
people.
Oklahoma: Needed hard work. Over confident feeling abroad that
governorship would fall into Republican laps. Opinion expressed that
Harris can be beaten in 72 if good, attractive candidate can be found.
Arkansas: This race never got off the ground. People were not
ever really pro-Rockefeller.
Missouri: This is one that might have been turned around. Again
better organization was needed.
Back to Iowa: Jack Miller will have trouble with Culver in 72,
especially if Hardin is still Secretary of Agriculture. Question raised,
"Why can't Republicans do better than Benson and Hardin? Why can't
we have a Secretary of Agriculture who has some political sense"?
Minnesota: No one could have beaten Hubert. Republican successes
here were due to good organization and the efforts of attractive candidates,
notably the Secretary of State and the State Auditor.
Wisconsin: This campaign was a mess, and we lacked good candidates.
Farmers here hate Hardin. Anti-Administration feeling expressed as well
as the opinion that the Vice President carried his attacks too far.
In conclusion, I feel that the economy was the big issue across the
country and the people voted their pocketbooks. Our losees were often
in areas where we had poor candidates. The most serious situation I
-3..
noted in every State I visited was the breakdown of State GOP organiza-
tions. This extended down to County - Precinct and block organization.
We just didn't deliver the vote we could have. This organization Imust
be rebuilt now if it is to do us any good in 1972. My report is a grim
one and I feel deeply we must do something right away.
Sincerely,
Horold