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This file contains:
Copy of a memo from Magruder to Haldeman RE: using a group of Republican women to blame the Democrats for inflation. Handwritten note on original added by unknown. 1 pg. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 12/23/1970
From Safire to Strachan RE: potential "Price Fighters League." 2 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 12/21/1970
From Haldeman to Magruder RE: McGovern's finances. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 12/16/1970
From Colson to Haldeman RE: party-based spending. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 12/14/1970
Analysis of Democratic and Republican spending for 1972. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Report], 12/12/1970
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26145011
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WHSF: Contested, 6-76
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1
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26145011
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WHSF: Contested, 6-76
description
This file contains:
Copy of a memo from Magruder to Haldeman RE: using a group of Republican women to blame the Democrats for inflation. Handwritten note on original added by unknown. 1 pg. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 12/23/1970
From Safire to Strachan RE: potential "Price Fighters League." 2 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 12/21/1970
From Haldeman to Magruder RE: McGovern's finances. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 12/16/1970
From Colson to Haldeman RE: party-based spending. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 12/14/1970
Analysis of Democratic and Republican spending for 1972. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Report], 12/12/1970
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Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
Contested Materials Files
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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
6
76
12/23/1970
Domestic Policy
Memo
Copy of a memo from Magruder to
Haldeman RE: using a group of Republican
women to blame the Democrats for inflation.
Handwritten note on original added by
unknown. 1 pg.
6
76
12/21/1970
Domestic Policy
Memo
From Safire to Strachan RE: potential "Price
Fighters League." 2 pgs.
6
76
12/16/1970
Campaign
Memo
From Haldeman to Magruder RE:
McGovern's finances. 1 pg.
6
76
12/14/1970
Campaign
Memo
From Colson to Haldeman RE: party-based
spending. 2 pgs.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Page 1 of 2
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
No Date
Subject
Document Type
Document Description
6
76
12/12/1970
Campaign
Report
Analysis of Democratic and Republican
spending for 1972. 3 pgs.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Page 2 of 2
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 23, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR:
H.R. HALDEMAN
FROM:
JEB S. MAGRUDER
SUBJECT:
Price Fighters Jon League
Last summer Safire proposed the creation of an outside
group of Republican women to assist in nailing inflation
to the Democrats.
Klein contacted Pat Hitt and a preliminary organization
developed.
A newspaper advertising campaign under the auspices of
the Price Fighters League was submitted, but rejected
during Campaign 70.
After discussing the project with Safire (copy of his
memorandum is attached) we believe the Price Fighters
League should be developed.
Approve
Disapprove
Comments
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 21, 1970.
MEMORANDUM FOR: GORDON STRACHAN (cc: Magruder)
FROM:
BILL SAFIRE
The Price Fighters League was suggested last January 9 and re-
capped in a memo on July 22 as follows:
The Price Fighters League -- a group of
Republican women with a separate letter-
head who send out releases condemning
spending that will contribute to higher
prices.
In this way we make certain inflation is our
villain and not the Democrats' villain in the
coming campaign. Women are the most
conscious of prices, most susceptible to an
attack of "Nixon said he would stop inflation
and he didn't. 11 If women are used to blame
inflation on big spending by Democrats, they
will be far more effective than the RNC.
The objection to this idea (from Colson, mainly) was that it would
get out of hand -- that the women would wind up blaming inflation
on the Administration. This is a realistic caution, which is why
the group must be made up of women whose judgment we trust.
At any rate, now is the time to follow this plan up by making the
President's call for responsible wage and price behavior in his
NAM speech the keynote. The central line should be "Fighting
Inflation is Everybody's Business. "
Step One: Form the group, not more than a dozen women, well-
spaced geographically, some of whom should know one another.
Not all wives of fat cats, not all WASP. Include at least a couple
who speak well for television interviews.
-2-
Step Two: A statement of principles, letterhead, and the announce-
ment of it formation.
Step Three: The denunciation of a specific industry's price rises,
pèrhaps as reflected in a current Inflation Alert (but getting a lot
more punchy than that understandably sobersided document).
Careful: Be evenhanded about price and wage increases.
DETERMINED TO: BE AN
ADMINIS RKING
E.O. 12085, Section 6-102
By EMP NARS, Date 12-10-81
CONFIDENTIAL
December 16, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR :
MR. MAGRUDER
FROM :
H.R. HALDEMAN
Please follow up with the ideas Chuck Colson has presented
in the attached regarding planting some columns on the kind
of money that was funneled through the McGovern, NEEC,
CLW and COPE. Let me see some of the results.
Attachments
HRH:
BK:pm
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 14, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR:
H. R. HALDEMAN
are
FROM:
CHARLES W. COLSON
SUBJECT:
Republican vs. Democrat Spending
As you will see from the enclosed, according to reported figures we
outspent the Democrats in the last campaign approximately two to one,
(if all affiliated Democratic groups are included--th McGovern fund,
Council for a Livable World, COPE, and National Committee for an
Effective Congress and if some of our affiliated groups, like AMPAC
and BIPAC are excluded). Excluding all groups other than party
organizations, there is a 3 to 1 ratio which Congressional Quarterly
will shortly report.
These figures do not include individual campaigns although the money
raised nationally would, of course, in large part have been spent in
individual campaigns. The one analysis we have of campaign spending
on a state by state basis shows Republicans outspending Democrats in
all races except the California, Maryland and possibly Texas, Senate
races. I am afraid that a state by state analysis would not be particularly
helpful.
The item you marked in the news summary noting the Democratic claim
that they were outspent 10 to 1 is, of course, preposterous. On the
other hand, the actual figures when analyzed still show us spending
substantially more. Their charge is, therefore, a question of degree.
I am sure also the general public impression is that the Republicans
vastly outspent the Democrats, an impression that would be difficult to
overcome.
Where the Democrats are really vulnerable and one point which can be
exploited, however, is the kind of money that was funneled through
McGovern, NCEC, CLW and COPE. This is where some friendly
columnists could make points for us and I am suggesting by a copy of
this memo that Herb's office might be able to plant some helpful columns.
-2-
This issue will be back with us early in the next session of Congress
when the various campaign spending limitation bills are debated. At
that time we should make a concerted effort to have our people on the
Hill attack the McGovern fund particularly. We should be prepared
also to try to show the actual expenditure figures in the most favorable
light as we have tried to do on the attached pages A-1 and A-2. With
this target in mind, I am sending a copy of this to Lyn.
cc: Jeb Magruder
Lyn Nofziger
A.
Advertising
It is too soon to know exactly how we will want to set up
the advertising for 1972. I'm not sure at this point
whether we want to go with one small agency as you suggest,
or actually build up our own agency within an agency
somewhere. The thing that concerns me is the need for the
really top advertising decisions to be made by key staff of
trained, political people such as we had with Treleaven,
Garment, et al, rather than with your office. However,
certainly it would not hurt us to be examining some of the
offices but we can hold off awhile on this and there really
is no rush.
B.
Scheduling
Certainly you can play, as you did in 1970, a major role in
setting up a scheduling apparatus for the First Family,
Cabinet Members, etc. Also, it would be extremely valuable,
as you suggest, to begin to put emphasis on the key states
now and you should proceed with this at once. Colson can
probably be of help in outlining many of the groups that we
should be in touch with.
C.
Celebrities
While you certainly would be right in scheduling celebrities for
1972, we need to develop a whole separate program on
celebrities that starts now and uses them in building their
identity and loyalty. We need a person that is high-level, full-
time on the outside as well as a high-level contact here on the
inside, and I don't think your office provides the best answer
for this problem.
⑉ 2 -
D.
Broadcast Scheduling and Liaison
Obviously you should be tied in here since, as
you mention, it is a crucial part of any speakers'
program.
E.
Attack and Response Desk
The attack and response desk is something that
you've already been handling and, of course,
would continue to handle as appropriate.
F.
TV Library
Your idea on developing the library - particularly
of stump speeches, is good. This is something
that probably should be worked out separately with
our TV man.
G.
Republican National Committeel organization
The entire research and communications function
at the RNC obviously needs to be completely rebuilt.
Most important here, Itbink, is getting our man,
and making sure it's the right phirson heading the
job. Tom Huston is doing some work on a retrieval
operation system and we should probably get his
complete thinking before making any final decisions
in that area. Beyond this we need to set up a political
planning apparatus that should include people like
Hustbn, Moore, Lyn Nofziber, Safire, that work purely
on producing ideas for attack and have all this research
available to them. Let's see what Huston comes up
with in deciding how best to proceed here.
- 3 -
H. Citizens for Nixon/Agnew and the Youth Operation
These are items that we need to have set up on the outside.
They can't be run internally other than reporting internally
at the highest devel. We can offer guidance, but this is
something that has to wait until we've developed our plan
completely. Specifically, looking at youth, we need to get
a full-time youth man here on the inside and another one
here on the outside to work on building our whole youth
apparatus. The first and most important point and
probably something that you can help with - is finding the
right men.
J.
Print Media Liaison
Your points on printed media liaison are obviously correct,
but just barely begin to scratch the surface. There's a lot
of work to be done here.
J. Polling
We're not sure exactly what the polling plan is yet. Some
suggestions are into o the President, but I would like to
withhold doing anything here until we have a firmer fix
on what's going to be done. Apparently the relationship
between you and Larry is working out fine now and I would
agree that we would probably want to continue in this
direction.
K. Convention
Most of the items you mention under the convention section
are good, but should probably be handled by the RNC. These
are something we will probably want to discuss in more
detail at a later time once we have a man assigned as our
convention coordinator.
L /H
12/ 12 /-70