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This file contains: Questions for John Lindsay. 4 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 2/9/1972

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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 48 34 2/9/1972 Campaign Other Document Questions for John Lindsay. 4 pgs. Wednesday, June 03, 2015 Page 1 of 1 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 := and the war. 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. " 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. 11 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 armv of Denmark. Whv 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? 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 you you continue to cay 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. " 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. 11 Just why do literally dozens of people give you such poor marks as Mayor ?