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This file contains:
From Colson to Haldeman RE: senior citizens in the 1972 election. 5 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 12/12/1971
From Kehrli to Haldeman RE: meeting with Bob Dole and theAttorney General. 1 pg. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 2/24/1971
Copy of a memo from Colson to Haldeman RE: shaping the public image of Muskie. Handwritten note on original added by unknown. 2 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 2/11/1971
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WHSF: Contested, 6-85
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WHSF: Contested, 6-85
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This file contains:
From Colson to Haldeman RE: senior citizens in the 1972 election. 5 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 12/12/1971
From Kehrli to Haldeman RE: meeting with Bob Dole and theAttorney General. 1 pg. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 2/24/1971
Copy of a memo from Colson to Haldeman RE: shaping the public image of Muskie. Handwritten note on original added by unknown. 2 pgs. [Subject: Domestic Policy] [Memo], 2/11/1971
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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
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Subject
Document Type
Document Description
6
85
12/12/1971
Campaign
Memo
From Colson to Haldeman RE: senior
citizens in the 1972 election. 5 pgs.
6
85
2/24/1971
Domestic Policy
Memo
From Kehrli to Haldeman RE: meeting with
Bob Dole and theAttorney General. 1 pg.
6
85
2/11/1971
Domestic Policy
Memo
Copy of a memo from Colson to Haldeman
RE: shaping the public image of Muskie.
Handwritten note on original added by
unknown. 2 pgs.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Page 1 of 1
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
February 12, 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR:
H.R. HALDEMAN
FROM:
CHARLES W. COLSON
SUBJECT:
Senior Citizens and 1972
Sometime ago you asked for a memorandum outlining steps that might
be taken to improve our relationship with senior citizens.
The political importance of this is clear. There are approximately 30
million people over 60, 70% of whom generally vote in Presidential
elections. This compares with roughly the same number under 30, of
which 37% typically vote. (this percentage will be even lower with the
addition of 18-20 year olds).
On every sampling we do badly with the under 30 category but reasonably
well with the over 60 category. The Republican share of the over 60
vote, however, has steadily declined in the last five Presidential elections
(up in 1968 over 1964, however). This trend continued in 1970. Based
on a sampling of voting patterns in 1970 in selected precincts and districts,
it appears that large numbers of retired citizens deserted the Republican
ranks (especially evident in Florida and California).
The judgment of those with whom we have discussed this seems to confirm
that this group, very much like the farmers, is highly emotional and
enormously affected by rhetoric and outward demonstrations of concern.
It is just as bad not to say the right things as it is not to do the right
things. (the classic example is Goldwater's comment about Social
Security in 1964; he got 41% of the over 60 vote).
It is obvious that one thing we must do is publicize the President, his
concern for senior citizens and our accomplishments in this area much
more effectively than we have. Substantively we have not done badly for
this group (Social Security increases, etc.) - PR-wise we have done very
poorly because the prevailing thought is that we have ignored them.
H. R. Haldeman
- 2 -
The following specifics should be considered:
1.
Presidential meetings with senior citizen organizations.
The five major groups are shown at Tab A. The officers
of 1, 2, and 5 should be brought in for meetings.
2.
Need for fulfilling the President's campaign pledge on
Recomputation of Retired Military Pay. During the 1968
campaign (also during the 1960 campaign), the President
unequivocally pledged his support for Recomputation of
Retired Military Pay. We have subsequently come out in
opposition to Recomputation because of the budget cost
involved. Defense is now undertaking a study at our
request to determine whether a moderate-cost compromise
can be proposed before the 1972 election. The retired
groups are particularly angry over the fact that we
promised to do something and haven't. We know that large
numbers of them voted Democratic last fall as a protest.
Clark MacGregor said it hurt him severely in Minnesota.
Cramer feels it might have made the difference in
Florida (where there are 60, 000 retired military).
Apparently it also hurt seriously in California where there
are 140, 000 retired military. This is a highly organized
lobby group and we are in serious trouble over this issue.
3.
Demonstration of Presidential concern with problems of
Aging.
We should consider:
a) Publication of a statement outlining the accomplishments
of the first two years of the Nixon Administration
involving programs of concern to senior citizens.
b) Consider a special Presidential Message covering all
of the legislation which we have proposed in this area
that has not been acted upon.
c) Schedule a Presidential speech concerning the problems
of senior citizens before a senior citizens group.
d) Consider a Presidential visit to a senior citizens project
in California or Florida.
H.R. Haldeman
- 3 -
4.
White House Conference on the Aging. This Conference,
established as one of the recommendations of the Report
of the President's Task Force on the Aging, April 1970,
is headed by John B. Martin, a nominal Republican, who
was at one time at the University of Michigan and was
Romney's Commissioner on Aging. He seems to have
no political instincts whatsoever, and has turned over
the operation to staff people mostly recruited from the
University of Michigan who are either apolitical or
Democrats. He wears three hats as Special Assistant
to the President for Aging, Director of the 1971 White
House Conference on Aging, and Commissioner,
Administration on Aging, HEW.
Martin's publication "Aging" is distributed to about 15, 000
people throughout the field. I am told that the President's
picture has never appeared in "Aging" and that he is
seldom referred to, either in the publication or in Martin's
speeches.
To get this under more effective control we might consider
the following:
a) White House liaison should be maintained with this
operation with particular attention to its political
aspects. It has been most recently under the overview
of Ed Morgan, but he is now occupied with other things,
is phasing out of it, and at the present time no one is
giving it attention.
b) Arrangements should be made through Herb Klein for
someone to maintain close liaison with the public
information activities of the Conference and generate
a continuing flow of publicity useful to the President.
H.R. Haldeman
- 4 -
c) There should be judicious inclusion in "Aging"
of pictures of the President and his statements
on issues affecting senior citizens. There
should be human interest stories on his activities,
such as his visit to the Home for Incurables, his
visit in California, and his last year's invitation
to senior citizens for Thanksgiving Dinner (I am
told these were not mentioned in the magazine).
d) John Martin should always refer appropriately to
the President in his speeches throughout the
country.
e) Martin should get messages from the President to
read at significant conferences and technical
committee meetings he addresses.
5.
Republican National Committee Activities. We need to build
up Van Rensselaer's efforts at the RNC. We should discuss
with Dole the importance of this operation and the need to
enhance Van Rensselaer's stature. Unlike a lot of other
National Committee activities, this is one where it will
benefit us to build our political apparatus in the Party name.
There is little danger of frightening off Democrats. What
we want to do here is to keep the traditional loyalties of
Republicans, which are in the majority. We should consider
the following:
a) Open Hour meeting with Van Rensselaer and Dole
with the President for a picture opportunity.
b) Get publicity in "Monday" of all pictures of Van
Rensselaer with the President and others of
significance, along with statements.
c) Mailings by the RNC to all interested groups on current
topics of interest to aged.
d) Encourage attention to senior citizens in workshop
meetings and other programs which may be held by
the RNC.
H.R. Haldeman
- 5 -
6.
White House liaison. As with Agriculture and Youth, we
need someone in the White House to assume responsibility
for our activities in this area. It need not be a full-time
job, but someone should have the responsibility of paying
attention to the problems, coming up with the ideas, and
covering liaison with Martin's office and Van Rensselaer.
One of our biggest problems, as I see it, is that no one
has had the responsibility of focusing on this specific
category and hence we do, in fact, forget the politics of
older citizens. This is a matter of assigning responsibility.
It can be done out of this office but, once again, we
would probably need some help to do a half-way decent job.
The foregoing is a very limited program. If we do these things,
however, it will at least show Presidential concern and interest.
Reviewing the statements, messages and speeches of the last two years
show quite clearly that we have not done enough, nor have we taken
advantage of our opportunities.
Getting control of Martin's operation may be the single most important
thing to do. He is totally apolitical, feels that the Administration should
take no major initiative until the completion of the Conference on Aging
and the publication of its recommendations. This would, of course, put
us off until the Spring of 1972, which is too late from a political
standpoint. If Martin is not willing to cooperate in this effort, we should
consider replacing him.
February 24, 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR H. R. HALDEMAN
FROM :
BRUCE KEHRLI
SUBJECT :
Your Meeting with Dole
and the Attorney General
As you know Chuck Colson is working on a project to nail
the "Muskie Moderate" myth. This is something that will
be master-minded here but will be implemented at the RNC.
Bob Dole is to be our big gun on this and Muskie is to be
his principal assignment. Colson has responsibility for this
project and to lay some ground work, you might tell Dole
of Chuck's responsibility and that the two of them should get
together in the very near future.
Also, Lyn Nofziger called to ask you to re-emphasize the point
that Dole is to be tougher and less "statesmanlike".
BK:pm
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
EYES ONLY
February 11, 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR:
H.R. HALDEMAN
FROM:
CHARLES W. COLSON
SUBJECT:
Muskie Moderate Myth
In response to your memo of the 9th regarding our efforts to
keep Muskie out on the left fringe, the first most important
thing is get Bob Dole lined up. I have had a very close
relationship with Bob and he is very, very friendly to me; I
don't believe, however, he will take on the assignment of
attacking Muskie from anyone except you or the President.
Lyn tells me that he is having no success and that becoming
Chairman has made him a "statesman". He has also expressed
to others some disdain for "the White House crowd". I guess
every Chairman goes through this syndrome.
We can do some things here. Lasky has taken three shots at
Muskie so far, as you know. I got Riesel worked up about a piece.
What we can do here is very limited, however, because of the
risk of getting caught. We can mastermind it, but Dole/Nofziger
have got to execute. I have asked for a meeting with Bob and I
will take a first crack at it; if it doesn't work I think you are going
to have to see him.
Some things that should be done, most of them from the Committee,
are:
1.
Complete research - we should be reading every Maine
newspaper and should be following his press clips
wherever he travels.
2.
We should be trying to force his hand on positions. A
Civics teacher in Maine should ask his views on forced
integration; a citizen of Maine should ask him why he
believes the POW's can't be released until the war is over.
We should be actively trying to pin him down on every
tough issue.
H. R. Haldeman
- 2
3.
Leaking information to columnists - Muskie is opening
himself wide to the charge that he is indecisive,
excessively cautious, and not a real leader with real
convictions. It may be easier to make this stick than
the charge that he is a way-out liberal, first because
it is true and, secondly, it is easier to sell this
impression to the public. Muskie doesn't look like a
left-winger so it is hard to make him appear as one.
He looks cautious, sometimes to the point of being
confused, and that is a tag that I think we can hang on
him. Obviously, we should continue to try to do both.
Once again, we have to be careful and can only deal
with columnists that we are especially sure of.
Nofziger and Dole can talk to anyone and everyone.
4.
We should make extensive use of selected mailings. We
sent the Lasky piece to every Southern and Border state
Governor, State Legislator, Committeeman, publisher,
editor and delegate to the 1968 Democratic convention,
etc. This was done under the auspices of the American
Conservative Union. We need similar groups to be mailing
to liberals when Muskie vacillates on an issue important
to them, and conservatives when he goes off to the left.
We also should be able to get conservative Democrats, who
are with us, or at least anti-Muskie, speaking out against
Muskie (McCarthy is already cutting him up from the left,
but this doesn't help us).
5.
We need to do more to encourage the Kennedy/Muskie
rivalry. Because of certain events in recent weeks, their
respective staffs are quite unhappy with each other. This
fire needs to be continually stoked. We should also, with
friendly columnists, build up McGovern (I just did this
with the Chicago Tribune) and Scoop Jackson (I just did
this with Riesel).
I will go over all of this with Dole and let you know what comes of it.