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This file contains:
From Colson to Haldeman RE: union affairs, particularly those concerning the Teamsters. 1 pg. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 6/23/1971
From Colson to George Bell RE: the results of recruiting prominent political figures in key election states. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 7/26/1971
Unsigned letter to Joseph Tauro, possibly drafted by Colson, involving an attached document. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Letter], 7/16/1971
From Colson to Haldeman RE: Harris polls comparing RN to Kennedy, Muskie, and other presidential hopefuls. 2 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 7/12/1971
From Colson to Haldeman responding to a previous memo by laying out strategies on various issues so as to prepare for the 1972 election. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 7/6/1971
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26144691
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WHSF: Contested, 4-28
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26144691
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document
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WHSF: Contested, 4-28
description
This file contains:
From Colson to Haldeman RE: union affairs, particularly those concerning the Teamsters. 1 pg. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 6/23/1971
From Colson to George Bell RE: the results of recruiting prominent political figures in key election states. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 7/26/1971
Unsigned letter to Joseph Tauro, possibly drafted by Colson, involving an attached document. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Letter], 7/16/1971
From Colson to Haldeman RE: Harris polls comparing RN to Kennedy, Muskie, and other presidential hopefuls. 2 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 7/12/1971
From Colson to Haldeman responding to a previous memo by laying out strategies on various issues so as to prepare for the 1972 election. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 7/6/1971
citationUrl
collections
Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
Contested Materials Files
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26144691
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nara-archive
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Richard Nixon Presidential Library
Contested Materials Collection
Folder List
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
No Date
Subject
Document Type
Document Description
4
28
6/23/1971
Domestic Policy
Memo
From Colson to Haldeman RE: union affairs,
particularly those concerning the Teamsters.
1 pg.
4
28
7/26/1971
Campaign
Memo
From Colson to George Bell RE: the results
of recruiting prominent political figures in
key election states. 1 pg.
4
28
7/16/1971
Campaign
Letter
Unsigned letter to Joseph Tauro, possibly
drafted by Colson, involving an attached
document. 1 pg.
4
28
7/12/1971
Domestic Policy
Memo
From Colson to Haldeman RE: Harris polls
comparing RN to Kennedy, Muskie, and
other presidential hopefuls. 2 pgs.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Page 1 of 2
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
No Date
Subject
Document Type
Document Description
4
28
7/6/1971
Campaign
Memo
From Colson to Haldeman responding to a
previous memo by laying out strategies on
various issues so as to prepare for the 1972
election. 3 pgs.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Page 2 of 2
July 23, 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR:
H. R. HALDEMAN
FROM:
CHARLES W. COLSON
SUBJECT:
Teamsters
I have in accordance with your instructions stayed out of the
Teamsters political activities. I can't help, however, but continue
to be fed with information. George Bell has to hold Frank
Fitzsimmons hand at least 3 times a week.
One point has come up which could be terribly significant politically.
I think you should perhaps best raise it with the AG. I am sure you
will leave me out of the discussion.
The AFL/CIO badly wants the Teamsters to rejoin and a major
effort will be shortly undertaken to bring the Teamsters back into the
AFL/CIO. The alliance formed between the Teamsters and the UAW
has now been broken completely. There are no funds and both the Team-
sters and the UAW are ripe for rejoining the ranks. It is in the
interest of all 3.
Meany's one desire before he steps down or dies with his boots
on is to reunite the labor movement. My information is that he will
work at this intensively with a view to doing it before next year's
elections.
As far as the UAW is concerned, We couldn't care less. In fact,
from some standpoints it would be better for us politically to have
them in the AFL/CIO fold because they will create political division
within the ranks. The Teamsters is as you can well imagine quide
a different story. My opinion is that the Teamsters will remain officially
neutral but quietly work very hard for us, With money and organi-
zational support. If they are merged into the AFL/CIO before then,
however, they will probably be unable to do this. Hence it is in our
interest to see that the merger does not take place. Fitz has it within
his capacity to block it provided it is made clear to him that that
is what we want. This agreement should be obtained very soon.
Teamsters
July 26, 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR:
GEORGE BELL
FROM:
CHARLES COLSON
I am quite impressed by the attached. We have done a much
better job than I had thought with respect to accumulating the
names of powerful local leaders in key states who may be
counted upon for support the next time around. What we have
got to do at this point is see that all of them get stroked,
letters from the President, dinner invitations, church services,
etc. Perhaps a few key leaders should be brought in for
meetings with the President as we did with the people from Pen-
nsylvania. Certain key states are not included in the enclosed
and we should go back to those states and ask again. And in those
states where we do have the names, we had better get started.
For example, we have 83 names from Illinois and that's going
to take us a while to get through the stroking process. Addition-
ally these lists whould be made available to the Citizens Committee
across the street as soon as theyhave an ongoing labor operation,
so that after the stroking process is complete, the political
operators can move in for the kill. In the case of Pennsylvania,
we are in very good shape, In New York, we're in good hhape
and the political people can start working there now. Illinois,
California and Ohio should be given maximum attention as early
as possible. Also, New Hampshire should be hit for other reasons
and Indiana picked up as soon as possible. Please give me reports
from time to time on the progress you are making.
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
July 16, 1971
J6seph Tauro, Esq.
Jaffe & Tauro
One Center Plaza
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
Dear Joe:
Attached is a letter which I would very much like to have you get
Mr. Waite, the state chairman, to sign and release to the press.
I am sending it to you as my old reliable cut-put. You perhaps
should deal with someone else, if Waite objects. I would be willing
to wager that Lloyd Waring would do it -- or even better, you might
get John McCarthy to sign it.
What I would like is to have it mailed with copies sent to AP, UPI
and, of course, all Massachusetts newspapers, radio and TB stations.
I am sure there is one paper in particular where you can arrange for
a rather extensive reprint of the letter.
There is no pride of authorship here. Feel free to toughen it -- just
don't tone it down. This could make a pretty good national story. I
am sure, by the way, that McCarthy would do it if you can get to him.
Best personal regards.
Sincerely,
CONFIDENTIAL BE AN
July 12, 1971
MARKING
E.O.
12065, Section 6-102
By you NARS, Date 2/11/82
MEMORANDUM FOR:
H.R. HALDEMAN
FROM:
CHARLES COLSON
SUBJECT:
Harris Polls
You have copies of the Harris polls on Kennedy for this week.
Next week will be the Muskie trial heats, based on the same field
survey of June 9-15. The figures are identical to May. In a 3-way
race, the President trails Muskie, 42-40, Wallace gets 13, 5
undecided. But in a 2-way race, it's 46-46, 8 undecided. Harris
intends to play this as "the President has closed the gap on Muskie's
earlier lead" -- at least that's the way he's described it to me.
Harris points out that there is an enormous contrast between
Muskie and Kennedy. The President still does well in the South,
40% to Wallace's 27 to Muskie's 26. But, in the West, Muskie
beats us 51-43, in the Mid-West 49-41 and in the East 48-35.
Harris believes that the difference turns on the vote in suburbs
and among independents. Interestingly, we do better against Muskie
on the raw data than when the unlikely voters are eliminated (the
opposite is true with Kennedy). This again illustrates that Muskie
does best with high income, better educated suburbanites. In the
$15,000 per year and over category, the President beats Kennedy
52-36, but loses to Muskie 54-41. With the independent vote,
however, the President beats Muskie 44-37 (on the last poll in May,
Muskie won the independent vote 45-36 but he has offset this loss by
increasing his lead in the suburbs.
Harris attributes Muskie's strength to the fact that he is bland,
has a neutral image and does not really come across as a partisan
Democrat. The lack of controversy with respect to Muskie is at
this time his great strength, but will in due course tend to wear thin.
The risk to him is that he will become boring and uninspiring.
2.
Lou's close friend, Howard Stein, tells him that there is at least
a 50/50 chance that McCarthy will enter the Presidential race as
a fourth party candidate. As a result, Harris has done a 4-way
poll showing the President at 37, Muskie 35, Wallace 12 and
McCarthy 10.
By way of incidental intelligence, Lou says that the Kennedy people
believe that Humphrey is absolutely dead as a result of the Kennedy/
Johnson papers, that Muskie has been badly hurt but, that Kennedy
has not been affected. I have to assume from this that they feel
there is no ruboff from JFK to Teddy.
On the subject of the New York Times controversy, Harris believes
we should layoff the issue as far as the press issue is concerned;
as he puts it we have come out very well, that the real thrust has
been against the Democrats and Kennedy and Johnson. He is in
the field right now determining what the partisan fallout has been.
Based on what he said I can pretty well surmise what he will come
up with.
He advises that we should be careful not to appear to gloat over the
Democrats' problems, especially LBJ, nor should we on the other
hand appear overly concerned about the recent revelations. We
should stay above the battle; he believes that the Pentagon Papers
controversy will continue while the press issue fades and that our
job is to keep the focus on the Democrats. Harris does not believe
that the press issue is a gut issue, that it doesn't really affect people
or motivate them. The feeling that they have been duped and deceived,
however, is a strong emotional point that will endure.
July 6, 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR:
H.R. HALDEMAN
FROM:
CHARLES COLSON
SUBJECT:
Your Memo of June 29 --
Key Issues of 1972
A.
Presidential Image
I would hope that through our efforts, the public would have
three perceptions of the President by the Fall of 1972:
1. A Man of Peace. He got us out of the war. Through
his enormous diplomatic skill, he is keeping us out of
war and building a generation of peace.
He is skilled and experienced in foreign affairs. Other
nations respect him and will deal with him (particularly
the Soviets). He best understands and can handle the
enormous foreign policy issues of the nuclear age.
2. A Strong President. He is courageous, tough and
self-confident a leader who can cope with any crisis --
who is thoroughly professional in his handling of the
Presidency who knows what he is doing at all times and
most importantly is fully in charge (coupled with this
obviously is the credibility question; a self-confident leader
to engender public confidence must also be trusted and
believed). The fact that the President is viewed today
more as a politician than a statesman (according to ORC)
is not all bad. A tough, even ruthless, politician can be
perceived as a strong, tough leader in some respects better
than a statesman (remember HST).
2.
3. A Dignified Man with a High Moral Purpose. In an era of
social permissiveness, the President is fighting to preserve
the fundamental moral values and beliefs; he is successfully
fighting the moral decay in our society. He will not tolerate
permissiveness on crime and drugs; he is defending the
country's old-fashioned virtues.
B. Issues
It should be noted that the issues we want may not necessarily be
the issues of the campaign. Some will undoubtedly be out of our
control. The first two we want are so obvious that they hardly need
be stated for there is nothing better than peace and prosperity. The
following are in order of priority:
1. Peace. The war is over. Progress is being made towards
disarmament and a more secure world order is being achieved
(we do not want it to be fully accomplished. We should argue
that with 4 more years, we can indeed make it a more secure,
safer world).
2. Times are Good. Jobs are secure and rising prices have
been brought under control. The economy is moving forward
on a solid, strong foundation. In this regard, jobs are more
important than the environment; I also agree firmly with
Connally that we must develop a solid record as a tough inter-
national trader.
3. Drugs and Crime. Hopefully we can run against permissive-
ness, at the same time pointing to a solid record of accomplish-
ments in these 2 key areas,
4. Reduction of Property Taxes. If we have revenue sharing in
any form or if we have in anyway called for a revised tax
structure, we can develop a real "gut" issue. There are
$66 million homeowners. Especially in a race against Muskie,
the suburbs may well hold the key to victory (according to
Harris, at least, this is where Muskie runs unusually strong
for a Democrat). This issue alone could lock up this key vote.
We must be the ones fighting ever-increasing property taxes.
3.
5. A Series of Special Issues Aimed at Special Interest
Pocketbooks.
a. Farmers
b. Senior Citizens
C. Conservative Labor (hard hats, Teamsters and Longshoremen)
d. Veterans
In each of these we can build a solid record on the issues
specifically tailored to each group. We are well on our way
with senior citizens; we are beginning to make progress with
the veterans; a little more money will solve the farm problem
and as to the "hard hats" and Teamsters, we can win them on
the social issues and lower property taxes, if we just pick up
one or two specific economic issues aimed at their pocketbooks
(we know what they are).
6. Welfare Reform. We have a real opportunity here, particu-
larly if we have succeeded in the enactment of our legislation.
Everybody is against welfare loafers and we are well out front
on this issue.