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:
Copy of a memo from Harlow to Haldeman RE: the Republican Party in Virginia. 2 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 3/16/1970
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
26144933
label
WHSF: Contested, 6-37
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
26144933
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
WHSF: Contested, 6-37
description
This file contains:
Copy of a memo from Harlow to Haldeman RE: the Republican Party in Virginia. 2 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 3/16/1970
citationUrl
collections
Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
Contested Materials Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
26144933
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
a228bafdc21c0219
ocrText
Richard Nixon Presidential Library
Contested Materials Collection
Folder List
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
No Date
Subject
Document Type
Document Description
6
37
3/16/1970
Domestic Policy
Memo
Copy of a memo from Harlow to Haldeman
RE: the Republican Party in Virginia. 2 pgs.
Monday, June 07, 2010
Page 1 of 1
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 16, 1970
DETERMINED RE AN
CONFIDENTIAL
ADMIN
E.O.
By
Cmp
11-24-80
TO:
Bob Haldeman
FROM:
Bryce Harlow
As directed, I have talked to Governor Holton. His response,
in summary form, is that even if he were to acquiesce in
supporting Senator Byrd as an "independent candidate," he would
be unable to deliver; the Virginia Republican organization
would not take it, and, therefore, the only result would be
that Holton's power base in the State would be destroyed.
Holton would gladly come up and survey this problem with the
President, if the President would like. Holton remains intensely
sensitive to the President's desires.
In more detail:
1. The entire State organization is committed to running
a Republican candidate for the Senate. If this is
stopped now, the organization would be outraged, and
the new State Chairman, Warren French, would resign.
2. Holton sent word to Byrd well before the 1968 election
that he would be guaranteed Republican support if Byrd
should switch parties, even if he should wait until
after the election to do SO.
3. Immediately after the election, when Harlow saw Holton,
he sent top emmissaries to Byrd, again telling him he
would be welcome in the Party and would be guaranteed
the nomination, but he would have to move very fast,
because the Party was going after someone else.
4. The way things are now shaping up in Virginia, both
for the Governor and the Party organization, they no
longer need Byrd.
5. The Democratic Party has now informed Byrd that he must
sign the loyalty oath if he is to run on the Democratic
ticket. Accordingly, he is in trouble.
-2-
6. Because the Senator's waffling has gotten him into
trouble, it ill behooves the Republican Party to save
him; "Indeed," says Holton, "I simply can't do it."
It is plain that if Byrd runs in a Democratic primary,
the Democrats will beat him.
7. In a three-way race -- with a Republican, a Democrat
and Independent Byrd all running --- Byrd will win.
8. If I make a deal with Byrd now, after all this delay,
it will destroy everything I have tried to do to build
a Republican Party in Virginia; moreover, we have at
least two excellent candidates to make a race.
9. I am committed to a person to make this race. He now
holds office in Virginia and has led the ticket in his
area. He will attract the same coalition that elected
me. For this to proceed, the President will have to
stand neutral at least.
10. Other Congressmen will not go independent or become
Republican based on what Byrd does. Satterfield, this
past weekend, announced that he is still a Democrat.
He may switch, however -- but if he does, it will be
because he can't win as a Democrat and not because of
what Harry Byrd does.
11. Senator Byrd would bring in the red necks if he joined
the Party now, and this would destroy what we have been
doing extremely well in Virginia. The present Republican
Party in Virginia has no desire to befoul its ranks with
white supremists.
12. Whatever the situation in Washington, I am totally unable
to deliver for Byrd. Even if I went along, my people
won't go with me, and all that would result would be the
destruction of what I have tried to create for the
Republican Party in Virginia.
13. I will gladly come up and survey all of this with the
President. I am desperately eager for him to understand
the situation.
CONFIDENTIAL