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This file contains:
Draft of Memo: "ON STRATEGY BETWEEN NOW AND WISCONSIN." Author and recipient unknown. 2pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 3/23/1972
To: The President From: Patrick J. Buchanan RE: "McGovern's Private Polls." 2pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 3/29/1972
Talking Points (Democratic Siutation) - The New Hampshire Democratic Primary. 1pg [Subject: Campaign] [Report], no date
To: Patrick J. Buchanan From: Kenneth L. Khachigian RE: Two attached columns on the mood of the electorate on election day. 1pg [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 3/7/1972
To: Gordon Strachan From: Kenneth L. Khachigian RE: John Lindsay on Meet the Press. Questions to ask Lindsay attached. 5pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 2/10/1972
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WHSF: Contested, 48-5
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This file contains:
Draft of Memo: "ON STRATEGY BETWEEN NOW AND WISCONSIN." Author and recipient unknown. 2pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 3/23/1972
To: The President From: Patrick J. Buchanan RE: "McGovern's Private Polls." 2pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 3/29/1972
Talking Points (Democratic Siutation) - The New Hampshire Democratic Primary. 1pg [Subject: Campaign] [Report], no date
To: Patrick J. Buchanan From: Kenneth L. Khachigian RE: Two attached columns on the mood of the electorate on election day. 1pg [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 3/7/1972
To: Gordon Strachan From: Kenneth L. Khachigian RE: John Lindsay on Meet the Press. Questions to ask Lindsay attached. 5pgs [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 2/10/1972
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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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48
5
3/23/1972
Campaign
Memo
Draft of Memo: "ON STRATEGY
BETWEEN NOW AND WISCONSIN."
Author and recipient unknown. 2pgs
48
5
3/29/1972
Campaign
Memo
To: The President From: Patrick J. Buchanan
RE: "McGovern's Private Polls." 2pgs
48
5
>
Campaign
Report
Talking Points (Democratic Siutation) - The
New Hampshire Democratic Primary. 1pg
48
5
3/7/1972
Campaign
Memo
To: Patrick J. Buchanan From: Kenneth L.
Khachigian RE: Two attached columns on
the mood of the electorate on election day.
1pg
48
5
2/10/1972
Campaign
Memo
To: Gordon Strachan From: Kenneth L.
Khachigian RE: John Lindsay on Meet the
Press. Questions to ask Lindsay attached.
5pgs
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Page 1 of 1
3/23/72
DRAFT
MEMORANDUM ON STRATEGY BETWEEN NOW AND WISCONSIN
Because of unavailable data and because Wisconsin itself holds
the keys for developing further strategy, it is somewhat difficult
to plan effectively for the period between now and Wisconsin.
On the surface, it would be in our distinct interest for
George Wallace to once again upset the field -- or at least pull
as many delegates away as he can. Continued success by Wallace simply
drives him deeper into the Democratic National Convention and sets
the stage even more clearly for the assertion that the national Democrats
are out of step with their rank and file.
Our impression is that Muskie will not do spectacularly well in
Wisconsin. If he loses to Humphrey, Hubert will have many reasons
to claim he's on his way again. If Muskie scores a poor third,
Humphrey will be even stronger and the money will probably start
falling in (with a drop-off to Muskie). Unless someone knows something
we don't, there isn't enough good information to recommend continued
targeted attacks on Muskie. Just leave him alone -- we don't want
to elevate him now. Besides, the other Dems are beginning to smell
the blood and they will be all over one another. And we shouldn't
attack HHH yet because it's too early to know if he's on the way up.
Page 2
Thus, our recommendation, strange as it may seem, is to
sit back and wait until the Wisconsin primary is over when we can
assess with more directness where our attention ought to lie. If
anything be done, it is to help George Wallace.
At the risk of repeating ourselves, opposition attack activities
must serve a purpose which meshes with our own campaign strategy,
which furthers RN's chances of winning and which strikesheavy
blows with effectiveness. Lacking these aims, we should just sit
back and wait. That is about where we are now, and our reluctance
to go on the offensive is guided by our best judgment of the road to
Miami at this point in time.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 29, 1972
MEMORANDUM TO THE 1 "RESIDENT
(Per HRH)
FROM:
PATRICK J. BUCHANAN
McGovern's Deputy Campaign Manager, a friend from my Soviet
trip, a level-headed fellow, called me today to say that McGovern
will win in Wisconsin. He gave me the following polls:
MCGOVERN'S PRIVATE POLLS
AFL-CIO
QUAYLE POLL
Humphrey
23
McGovern
24
McGovern
19
Humphrey
18
Muskie
14
Muskie
15
Jackson
13
Jackson
13
Wallace
9
Wallace
10
Lindsay
4
Lindsay
1
Other
3
Undecided
19
Undecided
14
My friend tells me that in the McGovern Poll, McGovern is carried
much lower than normal -- since it does not include the Second
District (Madison) where McGovern is conceded to be immensely
strong, compared with the other Democrats. Further, he says
that those polled were those who intended to vote in the Democratic
Primary, including Republicans.
-2-
This is hard to believe. Seems to me, even if these figures are
accurate, however, that George Wallace will pick up some of the
undecided -- he surely did in Florida.
But the McGovern fellow contends tha Muskie could come in fourth
or even fifth in the race -- which would be a climactic disaster for
Big Ed.
Again, if these figures are accurate -- McGovern would be greatly
enhanced; the liberal press would fall all over him for the next two
weeks. Humphrey would be set back. Muskie would sustain a near
fatal blow. Big John Lindsay would be finished. The situation would
be more confused than ever. The likelihood of a first ballot
nomination for the Democrats would be increasingly remote. In short,
if this is the outcome, it would seem that the pressures on Kennedy
would be substantial to move.
Buchanan
NOTE: If we have some hard poll inform tion, and this is a possibility,
then we should have Republicans cross over and vote for George McGovern.
Word should go forth today.
PJB
TALKING POINTS (DEMOCRATIC SITUATION) THE NEW HAMPSHIRE
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
If Muskie gets less than 50% of the vote, the outcome is
"astonishing. 11 Coming in a state whose border is 25 miles from the
place where Muskie was born and raised; a state to which Muskie is
regarded as a "neighbor;" Muskie's back yard; and a state where Muskie
visits every year the results must be considered a setback to his
candidacy.
- Muskie had virtually no opposition, especially considering his
opponents insignificance ratings in national public opinion polls. Such
an outcome indicates Muskie's support is soft and that Muskie was less
than a heavyweight.
Frankly, we had considered Muskie to have the nomination
virtually sewed up. To win by such a narrow margin indicates that
Muskie, as of now, might not make the distance and that Hubert Humphrey
must be considered a very real challenge to the Muskie candidacy.
Humphrey is a much better campaigner, and as the titular head of
the Democratic party has a great deal of broad-based support throughout
the country. The bigwinner of the N.H. Primary was the man who didn't
even appear on the ballot -- Hubert Humphrey.
-- If Muskie scores between 50% and 60%, much of the same above
applies. It should be considered the most minimal of victories for
Muskie and a pyrrhic victory. Anything less than 60% in his political
back yard indicates a great weakening of Muskie's support.
If he gets around 65%, it should be noted that this was very much
expected that we thought he would get at least 65%, especially con-
sidering his lack of major opposition and his geographic proximity. Only
a Muskie victory of 70% could be considered anything near the proportions
of a candidate who is supposed to be SO clearly a "frontrunner. 11
In light of Muskie's small margin of victory, Republicans will
surely reassess Muskie's strength. He certainly is no longer the formidable
"Lincolnesque" figure that he might have been considered.
Asked about the crying incident, we have no comment on how it
affected the election. The public should be the judge of a presidential
candidate's loss of composure over one or two isolated news articles.
There is some question on how Muskie would hold up against the pressures
of a full-blown presidential campaign and the pressures of the Oval Office.
After all, it is just starting. Most likely, Muskie's indecisiveness and the
uncertainty on where he stands probably hurt Muskie more than anything else.
In general, the primary shows the disarray that pervades Democratic
party ranks. They have no true leadership -- nothing like the FDR--Truman--
Kennedy--Johnson tradition. They are confused, disunited, and leaderless
and must do better to merit the public's support in November over a strong
President.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
March 7, 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR PATRICK J. BUCHANAN
FROM: KENNETH L. KHACHIGIAN
Va
The two attached columns touch on the same theme, and I think
Reston and Bartlett make some interesting points. Even if things
are going good, there is a lot of talk about the "mood" of the
electorate on election day. This is another way of putting the "what
have you done for me lately?" question. Issues may be transcended.
If RN goes on the stump solely on the record, the election of 1972
will possibly be a replay of the election campaign of 1960 the
Democrats saying they can do better versus RN defending the record.
That's o.k. as far as it goes, but I think we can go a little further.
RN should be dissatisfied with his first term e.g., sure, we've
= prograge V amon, I plan to do more. City me four
more years to do it. Generally, the theme ought to be one of RN wanting
to keep moving ahead, going into new areas, with new thrusts. He
cannot go into this campaign as being the sole defender of the status quo.
But just as he says we have not done enough, he should also attack,
in general, the people who think America is not capable of doing better,
that we are sick, racist, imperialist, immoral, etc. We can make
progress without beating ourselves over the head.
Finally, any theme we have should be developed now. I.e., Price
and his staff ought to have some general outline of a central thematic
proposition which should begin turning up in all of RN's major addresses
and messages. If we start now, the theme will have been established
and all prepared for the time when RN takes the stump himself.
Impressions will have been created and RN need only drive those
impressions home. In a sense, RN will be campaigning "for America,"
while the opposition will be campaigning for the Democratic party.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
February 10, 1972
ADMINISTRATIVELY CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM FOR GORDON STRACHAN
FROM: KENNETH L. KHACHIGIAN
Der
John Lindsay is to be on Meet the Press this Sunday,
and the attached queries, drawn up by me, were given
to Al Snyder and Dick Howard for Nick Thimmesch who
is going to be on the panel.
I have suggested that other members of the panel also
see the questions, for the obvious reason that Nick cannot
use all of them.
cc: Mr. Buchanan
Attachment
2/9/72
QUESTIONS FOR JOHN LINDSAY
Mr. Mayor: You have been campaigning throughout the
country citing your record on air pollution in New York and
telling audiences you have been doing well in this area. Last
week, a report found that the air in New York was 7% dirtier
today than it was in 1969. Will you tell your audiences this
fact about air pollution in New York?
Mr. Mayor: You have repeatedly said that the only way to
get back American POW's is to set a date and get out of
Vietnam. The North Vietnamese have expressly rejected
this, countering that the U.S. must overthrow the Thieu regime
before progress can be made to end the war. Are you in
favor of overthrowing the government in Saigon and in favor
of the communist government that the enemy seems to be
demanding ?
Mr. Mayor: Senator McGovern's representatives complained
that your supporters, for example during the Arizona precinct
elections, were "rude, pushy and arrogant. 11 Do you condone this
activity by your workers?
Page 2
Mr. Mayor: In Florida two weeks ago, you told a Cuban audience
that "the ultimate goal is normalization of relations between
the two countries. 11 Does that mean if elected President you
will recognize the government of Fidel Castro?
Mr. Mayor: You have said busing is "an extremely appropriate
tool for integration, among other tools. " Yet your children
go to private schools. Don't you feel strange calling for
millions of Americans to have their children bussed to
different schools while your children go to private schools ?
Mr. Mayor: The police force in New York City is larger than
the army of Denmark. Why do people of New York not feel
safe to walk its streets at night?
Mr. Mayor: Police corruption has become quite an issue
in New York City. There is strong evidence that you knew
about widespread police corruption in 1967, your assistant,
Jay Kriegal having been told about it by two policemen. Even
Time magazine wondered why you were "so tardy in exercising
control" when you received word of corruption. Why did you
wait four years to do something?
rage
,
Mr. Mayor: How would you characterize Senator Muskie's
ruling a black man off his presidential ticket?
Mr. Mayor: On April 30, 1970 at the University of
Pennsylvania, you said that you felt "unending admiration"
for those who refused to serve in Vietnam? You also called
men who would not serve, "heroic. 11 Why do you feel that
way about draft-dodgers?
Mr. Mayor: Bruce Llewellyn, president of the FEDCO Foods
Corporation, the country's largest minority-owned supermarket
chain, said of your actions: "I think Harlem is a disaster area
compared with five years ago. " Other blacks in New York have
been quite critical of you. Yet you continue to say that you
have strong black support. How do you square this contradiction?
Mr. Mayor: Your fellow Democrat in New York, Matthew Troy,
called your administration: "inefficient, extravagant and in
some instances incompetent. 11 Does this indicate lack of
support in your own back yard?
Mr. Mayor: Why do you think that George Meany feels, as he
says, "completely negative" about you, and that if you are the
Democratic nominee, he will vote for Mr. Nixon? He said you
were not doing a good job as Mayor.
Page 4
Mr. Mayor: A prominent Democratic leader in New York,
Edward Costikyan, said: "it is irresponsible for New Yorkers
to mislead the American people into believing that Mayor
Lindsay is capable of performing the duties of the Presidency.
Certainly his stewardship of the city give$no evidence of such
capacity. " Just why do literally dozens of people give you
such poor marks as Mayor?