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This file contains:
To: Harry S. Dent From: Wallace B. Henley RE: A conversation with Tom Turnipseed about Wallace's finance people pushing him to go the Democrat primary route. 2pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 12/28/1971
To: Harry Dent From: Wallace Henley RE: "Ramifications of a Wallace Candidacy." 4pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 7/8/1971
To: John Mitchell, Bob Haldeman From: Harry Dent RE: A proposal to publish a book where "youth looks at the Democrat candidates." 3pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 5/19/1971
To: Harry S. Dent From: James D. Martin RE: Two letters received from Jack House. 1pg [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 5/12/1971
To: Jim Martin From: Jack House RE: material House planned to use in "WALLACE - LAST OF THE DEMAGOGUES." 2pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Letter], 5/7/1971
To: Harry Dent From: Wallace B. Henley RE: "White House Intelligence on Governor George C. Wallace." 3pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 5/18/1971
To: Harry Dent From: Wallace Henley RE: "Ramifications of a Wallace Candidacy." 4pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 6/8/1971
To: Harry S. Dent From: Wallace B. Henley RE: "Southern Baptists." 1pg [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 6/17/1971
To: Harry Dent From: Wallace B. Henley RE: "George C. Wallace." 2pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 6/15/1971
To: Harry Dent From: Wallace Henley RE: "Alabama Trip." 2pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 6/30/1971
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26146242
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WHSF: Contested, 45-34
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26146242
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WHSF: Contested, 45-34
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This file contains:
To: Harry S. Dent From: Wallace B. Henley RE: A conversation with Tom Turnipseed about Wallace's finance people pushing him to go the Democrat primary route. 2pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 12/28/1971
To: Harry Dent From: Wallace Henley RE: "Ramifications of a Wallace Candidacy." 4pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 7/8/1971
To: John Mitchell, Bob Haldeman From: Harry Dent RE: A proposal to publish a book where "youth looks at the Democrat candidates." 3pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 5/19/1971
To: Harry S. Dent From: James D. Martin RE: Two letters received from Jack House. 1pg [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 5/12/1971
To: Jim Martin From: Jack House RE: material House planned to use in "WALLACE - LAST OF THE DEMAGOGUES." 2pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Letter], 5/7/1971
To: Harry Dent From: Wallace B. Henley RE: "White House Intelligence on Governor George C. Wallace." 3pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 5/18/1971
To: Harry Dent From: Wallace Henley RE: "Ramifications of a Wallace Candidacy." 4pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 6/8/1971
To: Harry S. Dent From: Wallace B. Henley RE: "Southern Baptists." 1pg [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 6/17/1971
To: Harry Dent From: Wallace B. Henley RE: "George C. Wallace." 2pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 6/15/1971
To: Harry Dent From: Wallace Henley RE: "Alabama Trip." 2pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 6/30/1971
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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
45
34
12/28/1971
Campaign
Memo
To: Harry S. Dent From: Wallace B. Henley
RE: A conversation with Tom Turnipseed
about Wallace's finance people pushing him
to go the Democrat primary route. 2pgs
45
34
7/8/1971
Campaign
Memo
To: Harry Dent From: Wallace Henley RE:
"Ramifications of a Wallace Candidacy."
4pgs
45
34
5/19/1971
Campaign
Memo
To: John Mitchell, Bob Haldeman From:
Harry Dent RE: A proposal to publish a
book where "youth looks at the Democrat
candidates." 3pgs
45
34
5/12/1971
Campaign
Memo
To: Harry S. Dent From: James D. Martin
RE: Two letters received from Jack House.
1pg
45
34
5/7/1971
Campaign
Letter
To: Jim Martin From: Jack House RE:
material House planned to use in
"WALLACE - LAST OF THE
DEMAGOGUES.' 2pgs
45
34
5/18/1971
Campaign
Memo
To: Harry Dent From: Wallace B. Henley
RE: "White House Intelligence on Governor
George C. Wallace." 3pgs
45
34
6/8/1971
Campaign
Memo
To: Harry Dent From: Wallace Henley RE:
"Ramifications of a Wallace Candidacy."
4pgs
45
34
6/17/1971
Campaign
Memo
To: Harry S. Dent From: Wallace B. Henley
RE: "Southern Baptists." 1pg
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Page 1 of 2
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
No Date
Subject
Document Type
Document Description
45
34
6/15/1971
Campaign
Memo
To: Harry Dent From: Wallace B. Henley
RE: "George C. Wallace." 2pgs
45
34
6/30/1971
Campaign
Memo
To: Harry Dent From: Wallace Henley RE:
"Alabama Trip." 2pgs
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Page 2 of 2
MEMORANDUM
DETERMINED TO BE AN
THE WHITE HOUSE
4
needat
ADMINISTRATIVE MARKING
WASHINGTON
E.O. 12065, Section 6-102
By Emprise NARS, Date 6-5-80
CONFIDENTIAL
December 28, 1971
TO:
Harry S. Dent
FROM:
Wallace B. Henley
MBA
In my last report, I noted rising pressure on Wallace to run in the
Democrat primaries, rather than going the third party route again.
A conversation I had today with Tom Turnipseed, Wallace's former
campaign manager, lends some more support to this possibility, and
gives some interesting insight into the Wallace psyche.
Turnipseed says Wallace's finance people are pushing him to go the
Democrat primary route. They just don't feel they can fund another
effort of the '68 stripe. Especially in view of how little such a
massive effort did to advance Wallace's goal of brokering the '68
election.
Turnipseed believes Wallace is looking for an out. He says Wallace
has been the reluctant figure in the "movement," despite the bragga-
docio. Seymour Trammell was the gung-ho man who got behind
Wallace and drove him to think big. Wallace, for example, didn't
want to go into California in 1968, because he couldn't envision
getting on the ballot in that big state. But Trammell pushed him,
raised the money and organized the effort.
But now Trammell is gone. He's been under indictment, and is gen-
erally mad at the Wallace camp. Turnipseed says he was the only
one left on the Wallace staff who could organize a '68-type effort and
persuade Wallace to get on the third party wagon again. But now
Turnipseed is gone, too.
Staffing is a major obstacle for Wallace. Turnipseed says Wallace
would have to go through the ballot red-tape again in three-fourths
of the states. The human resources, as well as the financial, just
aren't there, says Turnipseed.
page 2 - 12/28/71
Further, Turnipseed says, this is a major reason he left. Wallace,
he says, is "wishy-washy," and just wouldn't decide what to do
vis-a-vis 1972. Turnipseed was feeling the time pressure for
getting organized. But other Wallace advisors were arguing the
Democrat primary thing, so Turnipseed said he left in frustration.
There are still, of course, some unanswered questions and unpre-
dictable factors, like these: Is Wallace really willing to dilute and
submerge the "Movement" through the Democrats (remember, "There's
not a dime's worth of difference")? What kind of pressure will the
AIP bring on Wallace? Can he really scrap the party - however weak
- he created?
The only way I know to answer those questions is by going again to the
Wallace character. He may be "wishy-washy," but he sure likes to
play the big man, and he just might be thinking that he'd be in a much
better spot at the Democrat National Convention than at the American
Party National Convention.
On another front, Wallace is making considerable noise about Republi-
can Federal Judge Sam Pointer of Birmingham. Pointer threw out
Alabama's anti-busing law after a cursory look at it. Wallace says the
judge didn't give enough study to the matter. He has asked Senator
Eastland to have the Senate Judiciary Committee investigate Pointer.
Eastland wrote Wallace last week that he agreed there should be an in-
vestigation and that it would be the first item of business after the
recess.
)
The Birmingham Bar Association endorsed Pointer's action.
Vcc: H. R. Haldeman
MEMORANDUM
fallower
THE WHITE HOUSE
LAKE
WASHINGTON
June 8, 1971
TO:
Harry Dent
FROM:
Wallace Henley
SUBJECT:
Ramifications of a Wallace candidacy.
Background:
Two schools of thought prevail regarding a Wallace candidacy
in 1972. One of these is that a Wallace candidacy would hurt the
President by siphoning away important votes. The other school
holds that a Wallace candidacy would not hurt the President, but
might actually help him by casting the President as a clear cen-
trist wedged between a liberal Democrat and a rightist Wallace,
and by drawing votes away from (other) Democratic candidates.
Critique:
In my view, the theory that a Wallace candidacy would not
hurt the President is wrong. I think George Wallace in the race
in 1972 would present a danger to the President in some tight
areas, and would help to elect the Democratic candidate, I think
the idea that Wallace wouldn't hurt the President stems from
several misinterpretations, as follows:
1) The position assumes that Wallace Democrats are
making an effort to remain partisan, and simply see
Wallace as a Democratic alternative.
While there may be question over the validity of major
Party realignment, there is little question but that some
decomposition of basic Party loyalty is occurring. The
Wallace phenomenon, riding the surge of some of the
most divisive issues in our history, has contributed to
Party decomposition. Running nationally as an Independent,
he spurred many voters to seriously rethink their philoso-
phy of Party loyalty. Those who vote for George Wallace
vote for George Wallace, not the American Independent
Party, or the Democratic Party, or whatever symbol under
which he may be running.
Mr. Dent
Page 2 - 6/8/71
2) The position assumes, therefore, that if Wallace is
not in the race, most of his supporters will vote the
Democratic ticket.
Wallace supporters are people who respond deeply to
the populism he hurls, They are emotion-motivated
voters who feel deeply enough about their conservatism
and sock-it-to-the-Establishmentism that they are willing
to risk whatever labels they may accrue as a Wallace
voter ("racist", etc.). It is illogical to assume that,
in the absence of Wallace, these voters would casually
shift to a Democrat with liberal credentials. They are
much more likely to move to the candidate they see
embodying at least some of their ideology. That would
be the candidate of the center. In our case, that candi-
date would be Richard Nixon.
3) The position assumes that the bulk of voters have the
sophistication and desire to understand centrism and to
make a choice on that basis.
While there are many voters who attach themselves to
what they define as a "moderate", most are unable to
cope with the subtle implications of governing style as
reflected in ideological style. Most attach themselves
to bread and butter issues, and tend to respond to the
personality which overwhelms them the most on such
points. It is simply too much to assume that more
voters would flock to the centrist Nixon because Wallace
is in the race. Those who would turn to a centrist
Nixon from a liberal Democrat are likely to do so any-
way. A genuine centrist will not vote for Wallace. So,
apart from image, it would seem that a Wallace candidacy
only affords Nixon borderliners somewhere else to go.
Toward a Wallace Strategy:
There are several options that could be pursued, as follows:
1) Ignore the possibility of a Wallace candidacy.
Mr. Dent
Page 3 - 6/8/71
2) Try to work a deal' with Wallace.
3) Get him out of the race by discrediting him, making
it impossible for him to run.
In my view, it would be courting danger to ignore Wallace.
I am convinced he is running, despite urgings to the contrary
from some of his friends. He's trying to get hold of the Alabama
Democratic Party apparatus, attending fund-raisers and making
the other sounds of a candidate.
Working a deal with Wallace is a touchy affair. It must be
remembered that he is not an issues candidate, and no trade-off
on ideology would dissuade him from running. He is a com-
pulsive runner, and only enlarges his base of wealth each time
he runs. He has a tendency to renege on deals - as in the
promise to Albert Brewer that he wouldn't run for Governor.
And after he has reneged, he loves to get the word out that a
"poor little ole country boy tricked those fat cats. 11 This could
damage the President throughout the nation.
I believe the heart of our Wallace strategy ought to be to dis-
credit him. Our first effort should be to discredit him on his
home ground - Alabama and the South. This would be done with
the hope of sparking a public outcry to keep him out of the race
- the only thing that is likely to keep him from running. But
there must also be an effort to discredit him nationally. Meany
and company are still concerned about the impact he is making
among rank and file labor folks, and I think this is indicative he
still has some support nationwide.
Wallace might be discredited in the following ways:
1) The people of the South in particular must be persuaded
that a vote for Wallace is a vote for a liberal Democrat.
There is only one thing more reprehensible to a Wallace
voter other than not voting for George: that is voting for
a liberal Democrat. We have to convince them of the
danger through a flood of proof items - like statistics.
Mr. Dent
Page 4 - 6/8/71
2)
Nationally, it must' be shown that George Wallace's
record shows he has no real skill at governing.
Publication of exposes of crime and disorder during
the Wallace administrations, plus an intensive look
at Alabama's taxes, educational system, etc., might
do the job here.
A Final Note:
George Wallace is highly skilled at running as the under-
dog. He elicits much support from his emotional followers.
Whatever is done must go through remote parties, not traceable
to a national candidate or Party. Nor should the discrediting be
done in an overt style against George Wallace the man, but
against George Wallace the candidate and Governor.
DETERMINED TO BE AN
ADMINISTRATIVE MARKING
E.O. 12065, Section 6-102
By Emprise Date 6-5-80
GONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM
May 19, 1971
TO:
Attorney General John Mitchell
Bob Haldeman
FROM:
Harry Dent
A proposal to publish a book where youth looks at the
Democrat candidates has been made which looks good.
It requires an investment of $17,500 initially, with a good
likelihood that this can be recovered, and then some, through
sales of the book. To benefit, we should move quickly. The
idea has been run by Flemming, Colson, and Richards and
Noiziger at the Republican National Committee.
Purpose and Effect: The book will provide the general
public, the con munications media, and the Party appa-
ratus (RNC and state organizations) with a well-documented
critical examination of the leading Democratic presidential
candidates well in advance of the 1972 primaries. T..e
book will be 300 pages in hard-bound edition at $6.95,
to be published in November. A paperback edition, to be
published in January 1972, will be priced at $1.25. It is
necessary that a hard-bound edition be printed because
major book reviewers and critics review only hard-bound
books.
Description of Book: Seven chapters devoted to a critical
examination of the political background and public record
of each of the seven major Democratic candidates. Each
chapter would examine a single candidate: Bayh, Hemphrey,
H ghes, Kennedy, McGovern, Muskie and Jackson.
Authors: Each chapter will be assigned to a different author.
All authors will be young -- in college or recent college
graduates, competent in their field. This will give the book
the image of "youth looks at the Democratic candidates and
make a greater impact among the book reviewers and critics
than if the authors were established partisan writers.
CONFIDENTIAL TO:
Attorney General Mitchell
May 19, 1971
Bob Haldeman
Page 2
Book Publisher: Tue book will be published by a corpo-
ration in the District of Columbia specifically formed
for this purpose. To attempt to carry out the project
through an established book publisher would only mean
delay, with the book not appearing until mid-1972.
Itemized expenses of the hard-bound first edition are attached.
This could have a considerable impact, and no competition as
yet is in sight. In addition, it could be a very helpful tool in
any number of our OWD political programs from contributors
to YR's.
encl.
HSD:PM:jc
Expenses of Hard-bound Edition:
Advances against royalties
for authors at $750 (seven)
$ 5,250
Introduction by college
professor or student leader
250
Legal fees, coordination and
editing
1,500
Typesetting, printing and binding
of 3,000 books at $3.00
9,000
Distribution and promotion
1,000
Miscellaneous
500
TOTAL
$17,500
Republican
National
DETE
Committee.
ADMI
CG
E.O. 120
0-102
By Ensprise NARS, Date 6-5-80
mes D. Martin
Confidential
May 12, 1971
ember for Alabama
Country Club Drive
adsden, Alabama 35901
05) 546-7056
Mr. Harry S. Dent
Special Counsel to the President
The White House Office
Washington, D. C.
Dear Harry:
Enclosed are two letters I have received from Jack House,
former press relations secretary for George Wallace. They
will give you an idea of what he has in mind.
There is one chapter we hould write and research, "Now Wallace
almost elected Hunphroy" or "How Vallace could elect a liberal
Democratic President". This point must beswong, factual and
documented.
Should the decision be made to handle this, I think we should
say the Republicans turned it down, and arrange for the money
to come from a source unknown to Jack House or anyone else
except the few of us involved.
Glad you have Wallace Hendley, he will be a great help.
Best regards.
Sincerel
N artin
JDM/rd
May 7, 1971
Mr. Jim Martin
Country Club Road
Gadsden, Alabama
Dear Jim,
Since talking with you the other day, I have gone over much of the
material I plan to use in "Wallace Last of the Demagogues" and find
that to cover all the chapters would make a book in itself.
But I would like to give you a brief outline of what the book is
all about.
To start with, I would go back and give a resume of highlights of
the lives of men like Theodore (The Great) Bilbo and Huey Long. Then
I would bring in men like Orval Faubus, Ross Barnett, Lester Maddox and
a few others. There is no way of telling what those now dead would
have done, but all the others, including Wallace, now living, have
changed their way of thinking on matters like segragation and racism
in general.
For example, even Wallace was once a card-carrying member of the
NAACP and while he may not have been an active member of the KKK, he
supports it and its leaders.
The book, of course, would recall Wallace's famous "Stand at the
Schoolhouse Door", his "Segragation today, segregation tomorrow,
segragation forever" speech, as well as the time he said "I'll never be
outsegged again" after he lost to John Patterson.
The book would bring in Wallace's early hattles with the feds, when
he called Frank Johnson "an integrating, scalawaging, carpetbagging,
bala-faced liar. II It will show how Wallace, after making his grand-
stand acts, always bowed to the feds, at the same tiie making his
disciples think he had defied them.
Among other things the book will show are:
How Wallace has failed to keep his promises, both to the
voters and to the people who worked so hard to elect him.
How kickbacks were made in asphalt, liquor, engineering, state
contracts.
How George Wallace has been compared to Hitler.
How Wallace, once the big man in Southern politics, now
stands alone among Southern governors.
How he made his ill wife campaign for him in 1968 and how his
present wife is driving a race car because Wallace owns stock in the
race track.
How Wallace used State employees and money - in 1968
campaign and will use them in 1972, most likely.
How Wallace raised $15 million and spent$7 in 1968
Presidential campaign.
How members of organized labor ganged up to beat Wallace in
1968.
How Wallace, 52, married a 31-year-old divorcee, had 'bags'
removed from under his eyes, has dyea his hair and is hell-bent on
getting the young votes, which he never can get.
How Wallace sent his own children to integrated schools
-2-
while claiming to be such a segregationist.
How Wallace has let his hair grow long, yet ridiculed others
who had long hair in 1968 campaign.
How Wallace has tried to change his inage, which he can't do.
How Wallace's American Party is in shambles.
Jim, this could go on and on. Ther is just no limit to what can
be said. Actually it is hard to describe at this time just how the book
would be because there are so many avenues than can be followed.
I am going to keep at work on this and should have a better picture
in a week or SO. I can guarantee you-and other--- one thing- that if
anything can be done to take you know who out of the 1972 race, I have
the material to do it.
I sincerely hope the people you have talked to come through because
I am anxious to carry out what I proposed in the beginning. I am
leaving Daytona Beach either Saturday or Sunday and will be back in
Birmingham Monday. If you hear anything, please let me know.
With best wishes,
Sincerely yours,
JackHouse
DETERMINED TO BE AN
ADMINISTRATIVE MARKING
E.O. 12065, Section 6-102
By Emprise NARS, Date 6-5-80
CONFIDENTIAL
EYES ONLY
May 18, 1971
TO:
Harry Dent
FROM:
Wallace B. Henley
SUBJECT:
White House intelligence on
Governor George C. Wallace.
My GCW intelligence net is now alive and functioning. Here-
with follow some interesting notes:
1) Feeling growing among some GCW watchers is that the
man is sick, that the presidency has become an obsession
of his sick mind.
a. GCW spoke to Alabama League of Municipalities
two weeks ago. This meeting was attended by
mayors and councilmen from 250 cities and towns.
They came expecting "old" GCW to make them
promises, etc., as in the past. Instead, he
rambled for 45 minutes about his record as a mem-
ber of the legislature, not as Governor, and about
his presidential bids. Source says many of the
attendees were disappointed and surprised.
b. GCW followed that with an address to the Presidents,
Vice Presidents and Trustees of the Alabama Junior
College system (of which many regard him as "father").
GCW said, in passing, that the junior colleges would
get their share of state money, then launched into a
long speech about what he and Lurleen had done for
mental health, the need for highway bonds in Alabama,
and his presidential bids.
Conclusion: My source, who has been watching GCW from
the beginning, says something is wrong when GCW doesn't
seize opportunities for credit before such groups. Also,
his presidential talk seems a little odd right now, since be
emphasized in run-off campaign that he would concern him-
self with running Alabama.
CONFIDENTIAL to:
Mr. Dent
May 18, 1971
Page 2
2) Al Fox, political writer for The Birmingham News,
is an old buddy of mine. In a casual conversation,
I asked him if be had heard of any defections from
the close Wallace camp. He had. I entioned that
I'd heard Jack House was unhappy about not being
made GCW's press man after the election. I didn't
disclose anything else, and swore Fox not to mention
that I'd talked to him about anything. Here's what
Fox said about the House thing:
House, Dick Smith (another Wallace cronie) and
Earl Goodwin (who will run against Sparkman as
a Democrat) had gotten clearance from GCW to
sell ads and produce an inaugural program.
When push came to shove, GCW ruled there
would be no inaugural program, and the trio lost
several thousand dollars. That apparently was
the beginning - or at least the straw that broke
the camel's back - of the split. But here's the
interesting note: when I asked Fox where House
was working now, Fox said he thought House was
working at GCW national headquarters. (I still
don't suggest we close the book on House - I want
to do some more checking first.)
3) GCW has "lost control" of legislature. Fox says that
in the twelve years he's been watching Alabama politics,
a governor lost control of the legislature for the first
time. T is is especially surprising since the most
recent meeting of the legislature - which gave Wallace
a sound thrashing - was a special session. Historically,
special sessions rubber stamp the governor's program,
then sit around dabbling on minor points to draw maximum
pay. The big issue on which the legislature whipped GCW
was a road bond bill. During the session, GCW met with
his floor leaders and when they tried to talk to him about
their pet projects, all be would do was press them about
working for him in the presidential race in 1972. Fox
says the next two or three months will determine whether
GCW will gain control.
CONFIDENTIAL to:
Mr. Dent
May 18, 1971
Page 3
4) Defections from the GCW camp may be high. Senator
Joe Fine (Russellville, Alabama) was a big man in the
GCW presidential race in 1968. Fine put GCW on the
ballot in twelve states. It was Fine who led the fight
against GCW on the road bond issue - feels GCW double-
crossed him. T is seems to be the reason for most
splits from the GCW ranks. I ere may be one brew-
ing with his puppet, It. Governor Jere Beasely. In
Alabama, the It. Governor's specified duties are to
preside over the Senate, and do what the Governor
tells him to do. Beasely wanted GCW to increase his
duties and give him a $42,000 annual expense account.
GCW refused. Legislature defeated the proposal, with
every one of the administration leaders voting against
it.
5) GCW is still trying to "get Brewer." GCW called Fox
in and asked him to have The Birmingham News stop
printing stories about bad deals at state docks during
the Brewer administration. "E erybody thinks I'm
putting out that stuff," GCW told Fox. Fox laughed, be-
cause that's precisely where the information is coming
from, he says.
6) Some Alabamians are piqued over GCW marriage. They
had high emotion for Lerleen. The new bride is seen as
a high-stepper. It is especially offensive that she's
driving the lead car at Talladega Speedway (in which GCW
reportedly owns a big chunk).
7) Growing dissatisfaction in northern Alabama -- because
GCW is making few appointments from that part of the
state.
3) GCW had a difficult time assembling his cabinet this time.
Conclusion: Most of these are small items -- but significant
for a man who heretofore could do no wrong.
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 8, 1971
TO:
Harry Dent
FROM:
Wallace Henley
SUBJECT:
Ramifications of a Wallace candidacy.
Background:
Two schools of thought prevail regarding a Wallace candidacy
in 1972. One of these is that a Wallace candidacy would hurt the
President by siphoning away important votes. The other school
holds that a Wallace candidacy would not hurt the President, but
might actually help him by casting the President as a clear cen-
trist wedged between a liberal Democrat and a rightist Wallace,
and by drawing votes away from (other) Democratic candidates.
Critique:
In my view, the theory that a Wallace candidacy would not
hurt the President is wrong. I think George Wallace in the race
in 1972 would present a danger to the President in some tight
areas, and would help to elect the Democratic candidate. I think
the idea that Wallace wouldn't hurt the President stems from
several misinterpretations, as follows:
1) The position assumes that Wallace Democrats are
making an effort to remain partisan, and simply see
Wallace as a Democratic alternative.
While there may be question over the validity of major
Party realignment, there is little question but that some
decomposition of basic Party loyalty is occurring. The
Wallace phenomenon, riding the surge of some of the
most divisive issues in our history, has contributed to
Party decomposition. Running nationally as an Independent,
he spurred many voters to seriously rethink their philoso-
phy of Party loyalty. Those who vote for George Wallace
vote for George Wallace, not the American Independent
Party, or the Democratic Party, or whatever symbol under
which he may be running.
Mr. Dent
Page 2 - 6/8/71
2) The position assumes, therefore, that if Wallace is
not in the race, most of his supporters will vote the
Democratic ticket.
Wallace supporters are people who respond deeply to
the populism he hurls. They are emotion-motivated
voters who feel deeply enough about their conservatism
and sock-it-to-the-Establishmentism that they are willing
to risk whatever labels they may accrue as a Wallace
voter ("racist", etc.). It is illogical to assume that,
in the absence of Wallace, these voters would casually
shift to a Democrat with liberal credentials. They are
much more likely to move to the candidate they see
embodying at least some of their ideology. That would
be the candidate of the center. In our case, that candi-
date would be Richard Nixon.
3) The position assumes that the bulk of voters have the
sophistication and desire to understand centrism and to
make a choice on that basis.
While there are many voters who attach themselves to
what they define as a "moderate", most are unable to
cope with the subtle implications of governing style as
reflected in ideological style. Most attach themselves
to bread and butter issues, and tend to respond to the
personality which overwhelms them the most on such
points. It is simply too much to assume that more
voters would flock to the centrist Nixon because Wallace
is in the race. Those who would turn to a centrist
Nixon from a liberal Democrat are likely to do so any-
way. A genuine centrist will not vote for Wallace. So,
apart from image, it would seem that a Wallace candidacy
only affords Nixon borderliners somewhere else to go.
Toward a Wallace Strategy:
There are several options that could be pursued, as follows:
1) Ignore the possibility of a Wallace candidacy.
Mr. Dent
Page 3 - 6/8/71
2) Try to work a deal with Wallace.
3) Get him out of the race by discrediting him, making
it impossible for him to run.
In my view, it would be courting danger to ignore Wallace.
I am convinced he is running, despite urgings to the contrary
from some of his friends. He's trying to get hold of the Alabama
Democratic Party apparatus, attending fund-raisers and making
the other sounds of a candidate.
Working a deal with Wallace is a touchy affair. It must be
remembered that he is not an issues candidate, and no trade-off
on ideology would dissuade him from running. He is a com-
pulsive runner, and only enlarges his base of wealth each time
he runs. He has a tendency to renege on deals - as in the
promise to Albert Brewer that he wouldn't run for Governor.
And after he has reneged, he loves to get the word out that a
"poor little ole country boy tricked those fat cats. " This could
damage the President throughout the nation.
I believe the heart of our Wallace strategy ought to be to dis-
credit him. Our first effort should be to discredit him on his
home ground - Alabama and the South. This would be done with
the hope of sparking a public outcry to keep him out of the race
- the only thing that is likely to keep him from running. But
there must also be an effort to discredit him nationally. Meany
and company are still concerned about the impact he is making
among rank and file labor folks, and I think this is indicative he
still has some support nationwide.
Wallace might be discredited in the following ways:
1) The people of the South in particular must be persuaded
that a vote for Wallace is a vote for a liberal Democrat.
There is only one thing more reprehensible to a Wallace
voter other than not voting for George: that is voting for
a liberal Democrat. We have to convince them of the
danger through a flood of proof items - like statistics.
Mr. Dent
Page 4 - 6/8/71
2) Nationally, it must be shown that George Wallace's
record shows he has no real skill at governing.
Publication of exposes of crime and disorder during
the Wallace administrations, plus an intensive look
at Alabama's taxes, educational system, etc., might
do the job here.
A Final Note:
George Wallace is highly skilled at running as the under-
dog. He elicits much support from his emotional followers.
Whatever is done must go through remote parties, not traceable
to a national candidate or Party. Nor should the discrediting be
done in an overt style against George Wallace the man, but
against George Wallace the candidate and Governor.
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 16, 1971
TO:
Harry S. Dent
FROM:
Wallace B. Henley
W3A
SUBJECT:
Southern Baptists
Our brethren are unhappy with us. At the SBC meeting in
St. Louis two weeks ago they passed resolutions condemning
Administration because the President's Commission on School
Finance had been mandated to study schools in the private
sector, and because OEO is experimenting with the voucher
system. They also passed resolution urging recall of our
Vatican Ambassadorship. Dr. Carl Bates, SBC President
(from Charlotte, N.C.), is supposed to write the President
expressing the Baptist's blues with us.
On the plus side, they passed a resolution praising R.N.'s
handling of Viet Nam.
MORANDUM
DETERMINED TO BE AN
THE WHITE HOUSE
ADMINISTRATIVE MARKING
WASHINGTON
E.O. 12065, Section 6-102
By emprise NARS, Date 6-5-80
CONFIDENTIAL
June 15, 1971
TO:
Harry Dent
FROM:
Wallace B. Henley
wan
SUBJECT:
George C. Wallace
The headliner today is the loss (removal?) of Tom Turnipseed,
head of "The Wallace Campaign", from the fold. Situation be-
came public knowledge last Friday with a terse announcement
from the Governor that Turnipseed was no longer in the camp.
One source told me Turnipseed wasn't even in town, and that
the announcement caught him by surprise, though tension had been
mounting for a while.
Rumors abound. Some say Turnipseed lost favor because he had
vowed to make the new Mrs. Wallace the "Jackie Kennedy of
Alabama." It's a known fact that Mrs. Wallace's race driving
and water skiing and all else had given her too much the swinger
image, and that George was very unhappy. (She has more value
to him than mere wife. He probably is angling to run her for
Governor, a la Lurleen, go more rumors).
Another tale suggests that Turnipseed is going after Sparkman's
Senate seat. That's hard for me to buy. A disaffection for GCW
could hardly help him there.
But most pertinent conclusion of some Wallace-watchers is that
this means GCW won't chase the Presidency in 1972, since he's
let Turnipseed and other close associates drop. He's supposed
to have been doing such talk of late, most recently telling Louie
Nunn he wouldn't make the race if HHH or another liberal Demo-
crat won their nomination. Dwight Chapin is supposed to have
some information on the Wallace-Nunn conversation.
One view is that all of this is a GCW feint, designed to make us
think he's not going to run, while in reality he's putting together
a new team, not worn out from years of Wallaceism.
New team has following cast:
Taylor Hardin -- He's clearly the chief honcho. He's a "Haldeman
Erlichman and Kissinger" rolled up in one in terms of clout with
GCW, says one source. All other team members almost revere him.
Mr. Dent
Page 2 - June 15, 1971
Charles Snyder -- Second in command, now acting head of
national campaign, replacing Turnipseed.
Harry Pennington -- GCW's Executive Secretary comes closest
to an intellectual type on the team. He's very tough and lower
characters know it.
Bobby Bowick -- Political advance man; puts the crowds to-
gether. Insisted to Mike Duval that GCW likes RN. Is con-
vinced GCW will run, but only in five victory states of last
time.
Kent Speigner - - Another member of GCW snooper-advance team.
Reportedly has extensive wiretaps in the state. It's well-reported
that the GCW political machine is employing prostitutes to win
GCW political points with figures outside Alabama whom he can't
grease with patronage. If so, Speigner may be the stable keeper.
June 30, 1971
TO:
Harry Dent
FROM:
Wallace Henley
SUBJECT:
Alabama trip.
Item One:
A prime purpose of the trip was to assess Harold Martin's indi-
cation that he would do a book on GCW, and to encourage any
such effort. Harold is going strong on the book and showed me
his material. It's terrific stuff. (See accompanying memo.)
Martin says as soon as he has some progress on paper, that
he'll come to Washington and show us what he has. His plans
at present are to publish the material in paperback and to syndi-
cate it in newspapers. He is willing to talk about our buying
excerpt rights for broad distribution in GCW strongholds.
Harold is hopeful that we can feed him some fresh material for
his book -- maybe some of the stuff on Gerald Wallace. He
already has an incredible collection of xeroxes and photostats of
highly confidential files. In our dealings with Martin, it must
be noted that he is a fierce independent. If he ever thought
we thought we owned him, he would not play ball. Personally,
I think he is doing the book more from antipathy for GCW than
for any strong support for the President, though he does like the
President.
Item Two:
I met for about an hour with Albert Brewer in his law office.
Brewer says he plans to sit out the race for Sparkman's Senate
seat, but that he is by no means through with politics. The
likelihood is he will go for Governor in 1974. Brewer speaks
very highly of the President, and is very unhappy with the Demo-
cratic stable. I asked Brewer if he had seen the story in The
Birmingham News Sunday about GCW's candidacy. He shrugged
it off, saying that he had simply read the headline that GCW was
going to run. It obviously came as no surprise to him.
Mr. Dent
Page 2 - 6/30/71
Item Three:
Unquestionably, the most promising meeting I had was with a
young lawyer named Frank Parsons. Parsons has served as
Vice President of the National Jaycees. He was also a member
of the Alabama State Advisory Committee on Public Education.
During his tenure as Jaycee Vice President, Parsons was General
Counsel for U.S. Pipe, one of Birmingham's largest industries.
He resigned that job to run for the Presidency of the National
Jaycees. He put together an organization that carried him into
every state in the Union, and worked through a $50,000 budget.
As a result, his contacts are nearly limitless. He did not win
the Presidency, but finished second in a field of six. At present,
Parsons is unemployed. However, with some friends, he is form-
ing a holding company. Red Blount has tendered him an offer to
work in Montgomery for -- I assume -- the new postal service.
However, Parsons is not too turned on about that. His passion is
politics, and it is interesting to note that Blount and Republican
Mayor George Seibels traveled to Portland to the Jaycee Convention
to campaign for Parsons. He says he wants to run for Governor of
Alabama in about ten years. (He is in his mid-thirties now.) He
said he would run as a Republican. Parsons would be most interested
in working in some aspect of the campaign, though he would prefer
to live in the south. He seems like a superb man for us not to
let get by. Perhaps we should consider employing him through the
Citizens Operation to serve as a Southern Regional Coordinator, or
some such. His chief job might be simply that of collecting and
lining up the people whom we want to serve with the President. What
think ye?
Item Four:
I met with Dick Bennett at Republican State Headquarters. Nothing
new on that front you don't already know about.