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From Dean to Haldeman RE: A request from Reeves Bunting for financial assistance for Tacher Longstreth in his Philadelphia mayoral campaign against Frank Rizzo. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 10/20/1971
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From Dean to Haldeman RE: A request from Reeves Bunting for financial assistance for Tacher Longstreth in his Philadelphia mayoral campaign against Frank Rizzo. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 10/20/1971
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Richard Nixon Presidential Library
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5
1
10/20/1971
Campaign
Memo
Memo from Dean to Haldeman RE: A
request from Reeves Bunting for financial
assistance for Tacher Longstreth in his
Philadelphia mayoral campaign against
Frank Rizzo. 2 pgs.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Page 1 of 1
October 20, 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
H. R. HALDEMAN
FROM:
JOHN W. DEAN, III
COUNSEL TO THE PRESIDENT
SUBJECT:
Longstreth-Rizzo Campaign -
Philadelphia
Rose Mary Woods referred to my office a call from Reeves
Bunting, who works for the Republican State Finance Committee
of Pennsylvania and is currently involved in the mayoral race
between Thacher Longstreth and Frank Rizzo.
Bunting is requesting financial assistance from the "White House"
for Longstreth's campaign, stressing the importance of a
Republican victory in Philadelphia to the President's chances
in the state in 1972. He advises that he does not want to approach
Tom Evans and the Republican National Committee with such a
request at this time, but I suspect from our conversation that
such a request may have already been made to Evans. Nor does
Bunting feel that the Republican State Committee is a viable
source of needed funds, because that group is having financial
difficulties. He did not even suggest the amount of money he felt
was needed.
Bunting advises that this will be a very difficult contest but he
feels that Longstreth is gaining steadily and has a realistic
chance of winning, the margin of victory to probably be determined
by a 20,000 vote swing. I have heard independently of this
conversation that Longstreth's position has greatly improved
after a recent television debate with Rizzo, the latter coming off
to many observers as being very ill-equipped to handle the complex
problems of a large city, but that his chances are still not that good.
- 2 -
However, I suppose a Longstreth victory is possible.
Although the Democrats have an overwhelming registration
advantage in Philadelphia, as you know Arlan Spector was
able to win by a very respectable margin in the off-year
race for District Attorney after having been soundly beaten
by Mayor Tate two years before. The instant contest is an
interesting one, since Rizzo will gain some support from
blue-collar Republican registrants but Longstreth has the
liberal and reform Democrat vote in Center City. The
large black vote, traditionally turned out by the Democratic
ward leaders, may be some source of Republic votes in this
election since many black leaders and segments of the
black community oppose Rizzo and feel his election would
generate racial problems and polarize the city.
Of course, I am not intimately aware of the entire situation
in Philadelphia, and realize the sensitivity of strongly opposing
a candidate who is so closely identified with law and order
(and unfortunately Longstreth's people have apparently not
been successful in also so identifying him and negating the
issue). However, I thought I should pass along the foregoing
for your information and whatever action you deem appropriate.