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 Haldeman to Keogh RE: RN's views on Jeff Hart. 2 pgs. [Subject: White House Staff] [Memo], 11/16/1970
From Haldeman to Keogh RE: RN's views on Jeff Hart. 2 pgs. [Subject: White House Staff] [Memo], 11/16/1970
From Haldeman to Klein RE: working with Buckley in New York. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 10/26/1970
From Moynihan to Haldeman RE: John Price's engagement to Victoria Pohle. 1 pg. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 11/18/1970
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
26144991
label
WHSF: Contested, 6-66
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
26144991
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
WHSF: Contested, 6-66
description
This file contains:
From Haldeman to Keogh RE: RN's views on Jeff Hart. 2 pgs. [Subject: White House Staff] [Memo], 11/16/1970
From Haldeman to Keogh RE: RN's views on Jeff Hart. 2 pgs. [Subject: White House Staff] [Memo], 11/16/1970
From Haldeman to Klein RE: working with Buckley in New York. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 10/26/1970
From Moynihan to Haldeman RE: John Price's engagement to Victoria Pohle. 1 pg. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 11/18/1970
citationUrl
collections
Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
Contested Materials Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
26144991
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
a9723c504afa0ec6
ocrText
Richard Nixon Presidential Library
Contested Materials Collection
Folder List
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
No Date
Subject
Document Type
Document Description
6
66
11/16/1970
White House Staff
Memo
From Haldeman to Keogh RE: RN's views
on Jeff Hart. 2 pgs.
6
66
11/16/1970
White House Staff
Memo
From Haldeman to Keogh RE: RN's views
on Jeff Hart. 2 pgs.
6
66
10/26/1970
Campaign
Memo
From Haldeman to Klein RE: working with
Buckley in New York. 1 pg.
6
66
11/18/1970
Domestic Policy
Memo
From Moynihan to Haldeman RE: John
Price's engagement to Victoria Pohle. 1 pg.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Page 1 of 1
November 16, 1970
fir
MEMORANDUM FOR :
MR. KEOGH
The President seems to have been fairly well impressed by
Jeff Hart with regard to intelligence and general ability.
He does feel that Hart is completely missing the point on the
book, at least as far as what we would want done.
In this regard, the President got the distinct impression that
Hart's whole approach is based on his total obsession with the
political stuff instead of the personal nature of the comeback.
Thus, he's missing the really good story which is the personal
comeback. Instead, he's concentrating on the development of
the Conservative movement in America with his whole emphasis
on politics.
The President feels that this will be a very good book - that Hart
is an honest reporter, etc. but that it will not be a good book for
us because it misses the whole mystique of the Nixon character
and the fascinating story of how he lost and then came back.
The point arises now as to whether it would be possible and
profitable to try to switch Hart to a more personal and less
political approach. The argument could be made that the political
stuff that he's going after has already been written and that it is
a waste of his time. On the other hand, he's had access to all of
us in complete depth and could do a superb job of writing the personal
story if he would do so.
One thought the President had was to have Hart talk with Henry
Kissinger regarding the way the President has dealt with the
difficult situations that have come up during the Administration
such as the Cambodia decision, etc. He could also give him some
background on the bombing halt just before the election, which,
apparently Hart was trying to pursue with the President.
2
The key though, is to try to get him to go for Nixon, the man,
the character, etc., rather than the dry political stuff.
An analogy could be made here to the deGaulle statege. The point
with deGaulle was not that his policies were 80 great, but that the
man and his ability to survive and to pull others up with him is a
fascinating story - especially fascinating to people - but most
authors seem to miss it.
Also, maybe Hart could get more of the feel of Nixon the person
from Rose Woods, getting into depth on how tough it was during
the period from 1962 - 1968 in New York, where he was working
without any political staff and had to survivisthe deliberate snhbs
of the Administration, the National Committee, and many others.
Another point of concern is that Hart is apparently working on the
isolation line and the theory that the President doesn't get any input.
This, we certainly need to shoot down, and I'd be glad to talk with
him further - show him the news summary - the memoes that the
President gets from various people - such as, for example, the
whole series of memoes on the analysis of the election so that he
knows what the President sees. He's apparently buying the Marcus
Childs line to some extent at least.
Let's consider what we do on this because it could be quite important.
The President did agree to take a set of written questions Hart might
want to submit and give him thoughtful answers on them. I'd be
interested in Hart's reaction to his interview with the President and
how he felt it went.
H.R. HALDEMAN
HRH:pm
November 16, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR ;
MR. KEOGH
The President seems to have been fairly well impressed by
Jeff Hart with regard to intelligence and general ability.
He does feel that Hart is completely missing the point on the
book, at least as far as what we would want done.
In this regard, the President got the distinct impression that
Hart's whole approach is based on his total obsession with the
political stuff instead of the personal nature of the comeback.
Thus, he's missing the really good story which is the personal
comeback. Instead, he's concentrating on the development of
the Conservative movement in America with his whole emphasis
on politics.
The President feels that this will be a very good book - that Hart
is an honest reporter, etc., but that it will not be a good book for
us because it misses the whole mystique of the Nixon character
and the fascinating story of how he lost and then came back.
The point arises now as to whether it would be possible and
profitable to try to switch Hart to a more personal and less
political approach. The argument could be made that the political
stuff that he's going after has already been written and that it is
a waste of his time. On the other hand, he's had access to all of
us in complete depth and could do a superb job of writing the personal
story if he would do so.
One thought the President had was to have Hart talk with Henry
Kissinger regarding the way the President has dealt with the
difficult situations that have come up during the Administration
such as the Cambodia decision, etc. He could also give him some
background on the bombing halt just before the election, which,
apparently Hart was trying to pursue with the President.
2
The key though, is to try to get him to go for Nixon, the man,
the character, etc., rather than the dry political stuff.
An analogy could be made here to the deGaulle stataye. The point
with deGaulle was not that his policies were so great, but that the
man and his ability to survive and to pull others up with him is a
fascinating story - especially fascinating to people - but most
authors seem to miss it.
Also, maybe Hart could get more of the feel of Nixon the person
from Rose Woods, getting into depth on how tough it was during
the period from 1962 - 1968 in New York, where he was working
without any political staff and had to survivisthe deliberate snisbs
of the Administration, the National Committee, and many others.
Another point of concern is that Hart is apparently working on the
isolation line and the theory that the President doesn't get any input.
This, we certainly need to shoot down, and I'd be glad to talk with
him further - show him the news summary - the memoes that the
President gets from various people - such as, for example, the
whole series of memoes on the analysis of the election so that he
knows what the President sees. He's apparently buying the Marcus
Childs line to some extent at least.
Let's consider what we do on this because it could be quite important.
The President did agree to take a set of written questions Hart might
want to submit and give him thoughtful answers on them. I'd be
interested in Hart's reaction to his interview with the President and
how he felt it went.
H.R. HALDEMAN
HRH:pm
PJS
Dran
October 26, 1970
EYES ONLY
MEMORANDUM FOR: MR. KLEIN
It is suggested that there is a need for developing a closer
identity with Buckley. It is not possible, of course, for
the President to take any further steps, although there is
strong urging from New York that he openly endorse
Buckley, which he cannot do.
The suggestion is made that you could go in to New York, get
on a television program, and endorse Buckley at that time
your self on a personal basis.
You could say that the President, of course, as party leader,
cannot go against his party, but I, Herb Klein, would have to
say that if I had a choice and were voting in New York and
felt I wanted to help the President, I would certainly cast my
vote for Buckley.
You would have to state this as your personal view, and it is
strongly felt that it would be a good idea for you to do so.
H.R. HALDEMAN
EYES ONLY
HRH:cg
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
November 18, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR
H. R. HALDEMAN
I am sure the President would want to know that
John Price has become engaged to Miss Victoria
Pohle, a member of the Ash Commission staff,
and reportedly an excellent cook.
Daniel P. Moynihan