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This file contains:
From the RNC Research Division titled "Statelines: Alabama," which features editorial comments and news stories from the Birmingham News for August and September, 1971. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Report], 10/7/1971
To: Dick Richards From: Brad Hays RE: "Briefing on Alabama political situation for Vice President's visit." 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 11/19/1969
To: H.R. Haldeman From: BT RE: For Your Information RE: Results of the Seventh Annual Dickinson Questionnaire. Results attached. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], no date
To: Bob Haldeman From: Harry Dent RE: note from the State Chairman in Alabama RE: results of telephone poll. Letter from J. Richard Bennett, Jr. to Harry Dent and Huntsville Times article titled "Local Voters Choose Nixon" (4/20/71) attached. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 4/28/1971
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WHSF: Contested, 44-6
description
This file contains:
From the RNC Research Division titled "Statelines: Alabama," which features editorial comments and news stories from the Birmingham News for August and September, 1971. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Report], 10/7/1971
To: Dick Richards From: Brad Hays RE: "Briefing on Alabama political situation for Vice President's visit." 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 11/19/1969
To: H.R. Haldeman From: BT RE: For Your Information RE: Results of the Seventh Annual Dickinson Questionnaire. Results attached. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], no date
To: Bob Haldeman From: Harry Dent RE: note from the State Chairman in Alabama RE: results of telephone poll. Letter from J. Richard Bennett, Jr. to Harry Dent and Huntsville Times article titled "Local Voters Choose Nixon" (4/20/71) attached. 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 4/28/1971
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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
Folder List
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
No Date
Subject
Document Type
Document Description
44
6
10/7/1971
Campaign
Report
Report from the RNC Research Division
titled "Statelines: Alabama," which features
editorial comments and news stories from
the Birmingham News for August and
September, 1971. 2pgs
44
6
11/19/1969
Campaign
Memo
To: Dick Richards From: Brad Hays RE:
"Briefing on Alabama political situation for
Vice President's visit." 3pgs
44
6
>
Campaign
Memo
To: H.R. Haldeman From: BT RE: For Your
Information RE: Results of the Seventh
Annual Dickinson Questionnaire. Results
attached. 2pgs
44
6
4/28/1971
Campaign
Memo
To: Bob Haldeman From: Harry Dent RE:
note from the State Chairman in Alabama
RE: results of telephone poll. Letter from J.
Richard Bennett, Jr. to Harry Dent and
Huntsville Times article titled "Local Voters
Choose Nixon" (4/20/71) attached. 3pgs
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Page 1 of 1
RNC RESEARCH DIVISION
OCTOBER 7, 1971
STATELINES: ALABAMA
The following is based on editorial comments and news stories
from the Birmingham News for August and September, 1971.
NATIONAL
ISSUES
The President's economic policies are supported with the hope
that "this time the American people will prove themselves unu-
sually patient with unwanted but necessary economic restraints"
Environment is a strong concern and pollution control is sup-
ported
The News strongly believes that the present "wholly
unrealistic and disruptive busing plan must be halted and re-
versed, by word or by sign" by the Supreme Court. The nation-
wide publicity Alabama's anti-busing bill has received is hoped
to generate additional support for the state's action
STATE
ISSUES
The legislature has passed and the governor has signed strong
water and air pollution control laws. The air pollution statute
is being hailed as one of the strongest in the nation, meeting
every requirement of the Federal Environmental Control Board
With the failure of the legislature to pass a Congressional
redistricting bill, civil rights attorneys have filed suit asking
a three-judge federal panel to redistrict the state
Measures
passed by the Alabama Legislature are: air and water pollution
control bills, a credit legislation bill, a court reform bill,
annual legislative sessions, and mandatory education for exceptional
children Unemployment is a major concern among jobless textile
workers. Roanoke, Alabama has an unemployment rate of 17.1%
Within the past ten months, Alabama has cut 33,000 people, mostly
blacks, from its welfare rolls The state is in the midst of an
economic crisis. Governor Wallace has said that the day to day
operations of the state would carry on and that state employees
would be paid October 1 and probably October 15 by selected banks
in the state, which have volunteered to make this service available.
The banks will give the state employees and the state itself money
at no interest until the Governor finds a way to solve the financial
crisis legally
STATELINES: ALABAMA
PAGE 2
OCTOBER 7, 1971
STATE
POLITICS
Indictments of two formet George Wallace Cabinet members and
three other political supporters were returned last week in
Montgomery, Decatur, and Mobile. Wallace's finance director,
Seymore Trammell, and the former director of the state docks,
Houston Feaster, were indicted for income tax evasion
Governor Wallace has said he is still "testing the water"
for the 1972 Presidential race. His forthcoming trips to
Los Angeles and Houston may influence his decision. Wallace
was pleased with his reception in New York Potential con-
tenders for the GOP 1972 Senatorial nomination are Jim Martin,
National Committeeman, and Winton Blount, Postmaster General.
Incumbent Democratic Senator John Sparkman is expected to seek
re-election.
File
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Polls
Republican National Committee
ala
To:
Dick Richards
Date: 11-19-69
From:
Brad Hays
Subject:
Briefing on Alabama political situation for
Vice President visit
General Political Situation
The following results from the 1968 presidential election pretty well
summarizes the state of Alabama. Wallace - 66%, Humphrey - 18. 6%,
Nixon - 14.1%. As you can see by the above figures, George Wallace was
strong and is still strong in Alabama. Alabamans are among the first to
pointoout the deficiencies in George Wallace, but they very strongly resent
these same deficiences being pointed out by anybody from out of state.
We found during the past presidential campaign that the only way to handle
the Wallace thing, that is for an outsider coming into Alabama, is not to
make any public mention of his name. Because as Republicans we cannot
in any way praise him and as pragmatists and outsiders we cannot in any
way condemn George Wallace. So again the only safe way to handle the
Wallace thing before the general public in Alabama, is to completely avoid
mentioning his name.
Our current input says that George Wallace will oppose Albert Brewer
for the governorship in this coming general election. Albert Brewer was the
lieutenant governor under Lurline Wallace and ascended to the governorship
on the death of Lurline. Brewer has made a pretty good governor and has
a pretty good following, but if Wallace takes him on he will undoubtedly be
swept under with the tide of emotionalism that George Wallace is still
capable of generating. So on this point, the Vice President should again avoid
mentioning either George Wallace or Brewer's name for fear of getting caught
inbetween these two gentlemen in a Democrat primary where we have no
business being.
Alabama Republican Situation
We are just coming out of about two years of total turmoil in the Republican
leadership in Alabama. At the present time, Dick Bennettis the new Republican
state chairman (Dick was elected early this summer at a state convention
upon the resignation of former state chairman Alfred Goldthwaite) Jim
Martin (former Congressman, seventh district, 1964 through 1966, gubernatorial
candidate 1966 against Lurline Wallace) is the national Committeeman. Jim
was elected at a very heated national convention in 1968. Jim defeated
John Grenier who was a past Alabama GOP state chairman and past executive
director of the National Committee during the Goldwater presidential campaign.
Confidentrate
Mrs. John B. (Bobbie) Ames is the present national Committeewoman from
Alabama. Bobbie was elected along with Jim Martin at the 1968 state
convention. They ran against a Grenier slate for national committeewoman and
committeeman. Bobbie is an extreme right-winger, definitely on the fringes
of Birchism while not an actual member.
I think the following brief history of the Republican party in Alabama will
probably shed a little light on the turmoil that they have been through. In
late 1961 or early 1962 a group of young, aggressive bus inessmen mainly
centered around Birmingham took control of the state party. In a very quiet
and efficient way, they built an excellent precinct organization and almost
beat then Senator Lister Hill. They got 49. of the vote in a very surprising
campaign. This same group (John Grenier, Dr. Tom Brigham, Manyon Millican
and a few others) kept the organization intact during '63 and based on the premise
that Goldwater would get the nomination in '64, they recruited excellent
Congressional candidates in six of the eight Congressional campaigns. They
built a good organization and raised a pretty good sized war chest and when
Goldwater did get the nomination their position, by having done their homework
that is, fund raising, organization, and candidate recruitment, was improved to
take five of the six seats they ran for. They also picked up quite a few county
courthouses and after the '64 elections they were sitting pretty well on top of
the heap. Now this is where the trouble began. They made too ambitious a
plan and too inflexible plans for the 1966 race. That is they committed
themselves to go against John Sparkman for Senate and to go for the governorship.
In the meantime, George Wallace, the then governor, was blunt in the
legislature in his attempt to get a constitutional amendment out allowing him
to run for a second term. He admittedly took the whole legislature on, went
on the road guaranteeing insuring their defeat in 1966 and in a final dramatic
stroke filed his wife for governor. The Republicans' battle plan, that is, to go
for the governorship and the U.S. Senate seat simultaneously, were SO inflexible
that they refused to adjust on the governor's race. What I'm saying is that
they should have ducked the governor's race, knowing that they could not beat
the emotional tie that George Wallace had generated in his battle with the
legislature for a second term and a subsequent filing of his wife for governor.
As a result, our people got to fighting among themselves at the top level over
who was going to oppose Lurline and who was going to oppose Sparkman. The
end result was John Grenier went against Sparkman in the Senate race, Jim
Martin went against Lurline Wallace in the gubernatorial race. Our four
incumbent (Jim Martin vacated the seventh district to run for governor)
Congressmen were all running, we had Congressional candidates in Martin's
old district the seventh, and in the eight district, and our state-wide ticket
met a disastrous defeat. Grenier got about 39% of the vote in the Senatorial
race and Jim Martin got about 31% of the vote in the gubernatorial vote against
Lurline. Congressman Jack Edwards in Mobile was re-elected despite this
landslide. Bill Dickinson in the second district, Montgomery, was re-elected,
and John Buchanan in Birmingham was re-elected. Glenn Andrews inthe
four th district was defeated and we failed to hold the seventh district, Jim Martin's
old district and got wiped out in the eighth district.
-3-
This state-wide defeat tore the party asunder and pitted faction against
faction, They also ended up the campaign with a hugh deficit. During the
entire year of 1967 the Republican party of Alabama just sort of ceased to
exist on a state-wide level. Headquarters was moved from Birmin gham to
Montgomery, the efficient staff that had been there since 1962 were all fired,
a George Wallace switch-over Democrat, Alfred Goldthwaite, was elected
state chairman and an open battle developed between the John Grenier wing
which was tagged the moderate wing, and the Jim Martin wing, which was
tagged the right wing developed and as I said, this fight culminated at the
state convention with the Martin-Bobbie Ames people beating the John Grenier
people.
Out of this highly controversial and heated state convention, we came out
with fourteen Nixon delegates to twelve Reagan delegates. We were able to
hold this vote count right on through the National Convention in August.
Alfred Goldthwaite, the then state chairman, was a Reagan leader. Jim Martin
was a Nixon man and Bobbie Ames was an avid Ronald Reagan supporter.
Dick Bennett, the present state chairman, was not a delegate, but he worked
for us in Alabama and at the National Convention. Then he later worked as
a fulltime volunteer for the Nixon campaign in the Northern part of Florida.
From the above rambling history, I think you can understand the turmoil
that the State party in Alabama has been through in the last two or three years.
Dick Bennett is a good chairman. By Alabama standards he would have to be
called a moderate. We have pretty good harmony in the party and I think we
may be back on the track in Alabama. In any meetings with Republican
audiences the Vice President should confine his laudatory remarks to the
elected Republican officials, that is the state chairman, national committeeman
and the national committeewoman and the three Republican Congressman, and
of course, Postmaster General Red Blount. Going any further than this in
laudatory remarks can only lead to trouble.
For: HR HALDEMAN
Fm ; B.T.
FYI
File
Polls
RESULTS OF THE SEVENTH ANNUAL DICKINSON QUESTIONNAIRE
6. Now that 18-year-olds are permitted to vote in Federal elections, do you believe they should also be allowed to vote
state and local elections?
I believe you will find the tabulation of your votes on my recent opinion poll both informative
Yes
No
Undec.
Covington
56.6
38.0
5.3
(TOTAL)
59.2%
37.1%
3.7%
Crenshaw
54.2
39.8
6.0
and interesting. All of the issues, I believe, are still very timely and quite important to the people
Escambia
54.2
41.0
4.9
of the Second District of Alabama. One very interesting factor in the voting was the participa-
Baldwin
53.3
42.6
4.2
Lowndes
38.5
57.7
3.8
Butler
59.7
37.9
2.4
Montgomery
61.8
34.7
3.4
tion by both husband and wife. There were spaces to record both, and the women accounted for
Conecuh
53.9
38.2
7.9
Pike
70.9
27.2
1.9
52.4 percent of the answers while the men voted 47.6 percent of the total. While the women did
participate slightly more in the balloting, there was very little difference between male and
7. Would you favor a change in a U. S. Representative's term of office from the present two-year term to a four-year terr
female responses.
Yes
No
Undec.
Covington
71.3
25.0
3.7
(TOTAL)
68.7%
27.7%
3.7%
Crenshaw
62.7
33.7
3.6
Escambia
61.5
33.7
4.9
Baldwin
62.1
33.1
4.8
Lowndes
71.2
28.8
0.0
Butler
66.4
31.3
2.4
Montgomery
71.9
24.8
3.3
1. Would you favor increasing the national debt by a projected $11.6 billion for the fiscal year 1972 in order to stimulate
Conecuh
62.2
31.1
6.7
Pike
67.4
28.7
3.8
the economy and reduce unemployment?
Yes
No
Undec.
Covington
25.8
67.8
6.4
(TOTAL)
26.5%
65.7%
7.8%
Crenshaw
28.9
62.7
8.4
8. Would you vote for a National Health Insurance Program for all Americans which would be financed by increased Soc
Escambia
29.2
63.3
7.5
Security and other Federal taxes?
Baldwin
20.2
71.4
8.3
Lowndes
17.3
71.2
11.5
Yes
No
Undec
Covington
21.5
71.0
7.4
Butler
32.2
61.6
6.2
Montgomery
28.5
63.5
7.9
(TOTAL)
23.3%
71,0%
5.7%
Crenshaw
32.5
66.3
1.2
Conecuh
22.2
64.4
13.3
Pike
26.1
67.0
6.9
Escambia
19.3
72.4
8.3
Baldwin
22.3
72.3
5.4
Lowndes
17.3
80.8
1.9
2. Do you approve of the Administration's plan for getting the U. S. out of Vietnam including the use of air support in Laos
Butler
28.4
65.4
6.2
Montgomery
24.6
69.8
5.6
Conecuh
16.7
75.6
7.8
Pike
21.5
72.4
and Cambodia?
6.1
Yes
No
Undec.
Covington
78.0
14.2
7.8
(TOTAL)
76.0%
17,8%
6.1%
Crenshaw
79.5
12.0
8.4
9. Do you support President Nixon's Family Assistance Plan which would guarantee a minimum income to every fami
Escambia
76.1
14.5
9.4
but require able-bodied adults to accept suitable employment or job training?
Baldwin
74.5
19.1
6.5
Lowndes
86.5
9.6
3.8
Butler
82.9
10.0
7.1
Montgomery
75,8
18,8
5.4
Yes
No
Under
Covington
43.1
52.7
4.3
Conecuh
64.4
26.7
8.9
Pike
75.9
15.3
8.8
(TOTAL)
46.6%
48.3%
5,0%
Crenshaw
44.6
55.4
0.0
Escambia
42.4
52.3
5.4
Baldwin
43.2
49.9
6.9
Lowndes
21.2
71.2
7.7
3. Would you be willing to pay substantially more for products and services (automobiles, gasoline, electricity, etc.) if they
Butler
47.9
46.9
5.2
Montgomery
49.6
45.7
4.7
were made virtually pollution-free?
Conecuh
41.1
54.4
4.4
Pike
41.9
54.6
3.5
Yes
No
Undec.
Covington
38.6
54.0
7.4
(TOTAL)
46.6%
46.7%
6.7%
Crenshaw
41.0
54.2
4.8
10. Would you favor an all-volunteer military as an alternative to the present draft system?
Escambia
46.9
45.6
7.5
Baldwin
46.8
45.6
7.6
Lowndes
36.5
55.8
7.7
Yes
No
Undec.
Covington
48.1
46.3
5.6
Butler
37.6
56.2
6.2
Montgomery
48.9
44.8
6.4
(TOTAL)
46.5%
47.6%
5.9%
Crenshaw
57.8
34.9
7.2
Conecuh
32.2
56.7
11.1
Pike
36.4
55.2
8.4
Escambia
48.5
42.6
8.8
Baldwin
48.7
44.2
7.0
Lowndes
47.1
49.0
3.9
Butler
43.1
50.2
6.6
Montgomery
44.8
49.7
5.5
4. Do you believe there is CI need for an independent Federal agency to help protect consumer interests?
Conecuh
33.3
60.0
6.7
Pike
50.0
45.4
4.6
Yes
No
Undec
Covington
45.8
47.2
7.0
(TOTAL)
49.0%
44.4%
6.6%
Crenshaw
41.0
53.0
6.0
Escambia
41.0
50.4
8.6
11. Are you favorably impressed with the overall rformunce of the Nixon Administration during its first two years?
Baldwin
45.6
45.9
8.5
Lowndes
48.1
44.2
7.7
Butler
46.4
Yes
No
46.4
7.1
Undec.
Covington
54.3
39.4
Montgomery
52.2
42.2
6.4
5.6
Conecuh
55.6
34.4
10.0
Pike
(TOTAL)
55.4%
37.6%
7.0%
Crenshaw
42.2
57.8
0.0
48.7
41.4
10.0
Escambia
45.8
43.4
10.7
Baldwin
50.4
41.3
8.3
Lowndes
47.1
45.1
7.8
5. Do you favor the President's proposal for Revenue Sharing?
Butler
48.6
46.2
5.2
Montgomery
59.2
34.4
6.4
Conecuh
47.8
38.9
13.3
Pike
48.3
44.0
7.7
Yes
No
Undec
Covington
60.3
25.3
14.4
(TOTAL)
54.2%
32.5%
13.2%
Crenshaw
54.2
37.3
8.4
Escambia
49.7
31.5
18.8
12. Voting
Preference:
a.
Republican;
b.
Democrat;
c. Independent.
Baldwin
52.6
33.7
13.7
Lowndes
46.2
42.3
11.5
Butler
64.5
25.1
10.4
Montgomery
54.5
32.7
12.8
REP
DEM.
IND.
Conecuh
51.1
33.3
15.6
Pike
54.0
29.9
16.1
(TOTAL)
34.8%
18.5%
46,7%
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 28, 1971
Morden
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BOB HALDEMAN,
FROM:
HARRY DENT
H3D
Attached is a note from the State Chairman in Alabama. The
President might be interested in looking at the results of
the telephone poll.
State Executive Committee
April 26, 1971
Mr. Harry Dent
Special Counsel to the President
The White House
Washington, D. C.
Dear Harry:
I thought you might be interested in the results of
a poll made in Madison County (Huntsville area)
between March 25 and April 13. This was a random
telephone poll of 187 people with one (1) name being
selected from each page of the telephone book. It
does include rural as well as urban areas. The re-
sults were as follows:
Nixon
47.6%
Wallace
27.3%
Muskie
13.3%
Undecided
11.8%
This is just another indication of the strong Re-
publican support we are receiving in Madison County.
I certainly hope that NASA will not make any foolish
decisions which will jeopardize the progress we are
making.
Best regards.
Sincerely,
Dub,
J. Richard Bennett, Jr.
State Chairman
JRBjr. chw
Dictated but not read.
M/CC 3
Whe se Nicessa
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There to 12 5.3 22% I'. and
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1.
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and Amil 13 L.
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am 10.3
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authory. .03 University Indue cash
total f(r) contact 1.
Claims ,10 Grt Sea. Nixon was
P.P 01.1.08 of $2,500.00 cent, Willece, 37.3 per cout and
Marille, 12.3 per call, None 11.8 you cent were undersdad.
the asked 101 CTT Trety 55.7 per cod
ideated them.clves 03 independent, 2,4 per cent as
Democrate and 13.9 $ 07 cont 03
Loui wen il. W e the it J the RC; .5il-
oversed ind. while Values has the cholde of
Among Republicans. $1.6 per cont chose Nixon, 7.7 per
coll chose Washer, 3.9 per cuch chose Muslic, while 3.8
per cont were publicided. Long Gros calling themselves
ind. rident. 53.3 ? TOM eliens I.I C₁, 21.0 per cent code
Wallace, 8.4 per cent check lunkis Lid 13.6 per cent were
understad.
Democrate, Willies was the choice of 47.3 per
cell; 17.3 per col the e Muskie 271 18.2 per cent chose
Niron. Some 7.2 100 cont were Un Velded.
Huntowille Times
4 71