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Notes. RE: First planning meeting. 5 pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 6/24/1971
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WHSF: Contested, 47-23
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Notes. RE: First planning meeting. 5 pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 6/24/1971
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Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
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Richard Nixon Presidential Library
Contested Materials Collection
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47
23
6/24/1971
Campaign
Other Document
Notes. RE: First planning meeting. 5pgs.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Page 1 of 1
6/24/71
NOTES - FIRST PLANNING MEETING
BRYCE HARLOW:
EMK will be the candidate if he believes RN to be
vulnerable. Will make the decision to run early next year
and follow through on it. If not EMK it will be HHH. If
EMK is not the candidate, he will try to kill off whoever is
the Dem nominee in order to have a clear run in 1976. If
EMK wants it, he'll get it.
Should not focus on EMK right now; the Dem candidates
are doing it among themselves. Best thing for RN at this
point is to denigrate the Democratic party. E. g., the Dems
and their cohorts leaking of the secret papers.
RN might meet with the leadership and chairmen of
the House and Senate Armed Forces committees, the Hill
leadership, the JCS, CIA, AG, maybe Connally and tell them
that there is a crisis, and that RN and the country needs their
help.
Average American is appalled at the notion of the media
print ing any secret they can get a hold of.
At the present time, would like to see EMK as the
opponent. His background might make campaigning a joy.
- 2
,
Would make the public nervous to think that EMK would be
President, what with his cheating and Chappaquidick.
RN could make great progress on the security leak
question. It is a non-partisan issue which is conducive to
public discussion. E.g., call in Tom Gates and Neil
McElroy and ask them to get the word out. We're at a
crisis point. Get military groups together and get their
assistance; g., VFW, Amer. Legion, Navy League, etc.
It would be institutional attacking; not personal attacking
and thus more acceptable.
LYN NOFZIGER:
Agrees with Bryce on order of candidates: EMK, HHH,
and ESM.
Idea is to tarnish Dems and their candidates. Don't let
them forget EMK and Chappaquidick or HHH and his connection
with the Vietnam war.
Don't aim at one candidate - - but slug away at each of them.
Also attack other Dems; e.g., O'Brien, Clifford and the others.
The more we can do it this year, the better off we are. Especially
since this is a non-political year.
3
,
Everyone from the Veep on down should be on the
attack.
Dems hit us hard and get away with it; Republicans do
it and get called McCarthyites. E.g. Republicans ought to be
labeling everything Dems do as McCarthyism and if the term
is used enough, the word will become worthless.
Gerry Ford would be one of our resources if RN asked
him to. We need workhorses to do the job; need spokesmen.
RN should be above the battle; others should do the job
for him.
Thinks EMK the toughest candidate. Lyn has no con-
fidence in the American people to hold EMK's liabilities
against him. EMK scares the hell out of him. Rather run
against Muskie.
We have got to use all our resources. E.g. cultivate
columnists. No let-up. Dems don't give up, why should we?
We've got to join the battle.
Some thought ought to be given to the fact that some are
trying to stir up the Republican Conservatives into opposition
to the President.
- 4 -
,
RAY PRICE:
Since we hold office, we'll be attacked if people
associated with RN go on the attack. '70 was a political
backlash and we probably shouldn't try so hard.
Has no thoughts on candidates. Too much can happen
between now and nomination. ESM's great strength is that
he has the image of a non-politician in a time when people
are fed up with politicians. He should be made to look like
a politician to make mad at him those people who think he's
above politics. The thing to do is to make Dems seem like
cheap politicians.
Leans toward EMK as the candidate we should want.
RN incumbency shows he is a "professional President" and
portray EMK as the inexperienced upstart who has not grown
into the job or not yet grown up enough.
Believes that RN's appearing at a party function in a
Presidential way is o.k. Nothing wrong with it.
BILL TIMMONS:
Places probable candidates in this order: EMK, ESM,
HHH. Ought to determine which candidate we'd like to run
against.
We have the power to build up candidates, and we ought
to use this to get the candidate we want.
- 5
,
Thinks we should be hitting hard. Anyone who can make
news. Need to look for more opportunities to get unlikely
guys like Ed Brooke to take one of the Dems on.
GEORGE GRASSMUCK:
Should build up people on our side who will be listened
to.
ED DEBOLT:
We've only got about 6 months to be political. Be a danger
to cause EMK to be the candidate. We should show EMK to be
an upstart who doesn't know anything.
Party should be more hungry for victory. RN needs to
tell them this. Get some fires started. RN could use party
functions to give non-partisan speeches. No trouble with that.
Party people need some stoking.