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This file contains:
Author unknown. RE: meeting RN in Staff Mess. 2 pgs. [Subject: Personal] [Other Document], 2/6/1971
Author unknown. RE: RN's weekend at Camp David. 1 pg. [Subject: Personal] [Other Document], 7/28/1972
Author unknown to Khachigian. RE: strategy regarding McGovern. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 10/28/1972
Author unknown. RE: RN campaign strategies. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 10/18/1972
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WHSF: Contested, 48-58
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WHSF: Contested, 48-58
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This file contains:
Author unknown. RE: meeting RN in Staff Mess. 2 pgs. [Subject: Personal] [Other Document], 2/6/1971
Author unknown. RE: RN's weekend at Camp David. 1 pg. [Subject: Personal] [Other Document], 7/28/1972
Author unknown to Khachigian. RE: strategy regarding McGovern. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 10/28/1972
Author unknown. RE: RN campaign strategies. 1 pg. [Subject: Campaign] [Other Document], 10/18/1972
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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
Folder List
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
No Date
Subject
Document Type
Document Description
48
58
2/6/1971
Personal
Other Document
Author unknown. RE: meeting RN in Staff
Mess. 2 pgs.
48
58
7/28/1972
Personal
Other Document
Author unknown. RE: RN's weekend at
Camp David. 1 pg.
48
58
10/28/1972
Campaign
Other Document
Author unknown to Khachigian. RE: strategy
regarding McGovern. 2 pgs.
48
58
10/18/1972
Campaign
Other Document
Author unknown. RE: RN campaign
strategies. 1 pg.
Thursday, June 04, 2015
Page 1 of 2
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
No Date
Subject
Document Type
Document Description
48
58
11/3/1972
Campaign
Other Document
Author unknown. RE: number of points RN
leading by. 1 pg.
48
58
11/14/1972
Campaign
Other Document
Author unknown. RE: outside discussion at
the Toots Shors restaurant. 1 pg.
48
58
12/20/1972
Campaign
Other Document
Author unknown. RE: meeting RN and PN at
a dinner. 2 pgs.
48
58
>
Campaign
Memo
Author unknown. RE: campaign strategies
and monographs to be sent out. 2 pgs.
48
58
6/10/1972
Campaign
Memo
From RN to Buchanan. RE: developing
attacks on McGovern campaign. 3 pgs.
Thursday, June 04, 2015
Page 2 of 2
Saturday, February 6, 1971
It is not unusual for me to invite weakend guests for Saturday
lunches in the Staff Mess. It is unusual, however, to have them
******* meet the President as well!
Today, Meredith and I and Ann Quinn, visiting from New York,
were having lunch in the mess when I routinely called the Visitor's
NM office to see if we could see the President's Oval Offive --
assuming he was gone. I was told that the President was in, but
that I should wait XXE for a return call. When they ca lled back
they said that Steve Bull would k mmet us in the Cabinet room,
and upon arrival there, Steve said that the President would like
to see MX me and meet my wife and guest.
It is not every day that you get to, etc., etc. The President
was most cordial and put as at ease immediately. He wanted to
know where Ann was from and on learning she was from New York, asked
me if I had brainwashed her (New Yorker's having a particular
bent towards not having proper political faith).
He then had us step over for a photograph, after which he
told us about the seal in the rug and * in the XM ceiling of his
office. Meredith was asking questions and was conscious of not
wanting to appear overawed. Ann was overawed. I kept thinking
I couldn't belive it. After two and a half years!
He spoke of how the room was set up for thi his televésion
appearances, and then showed us a silver galls model of a Spanish
galleon which was a gift from the Prince of Spain -- Juan Carlos de
Borbon, who had just completed a state visit. He bantered that
the Prince would be the next King -- that is, if Franco ever gives
up his job.
As we left he kidded about my burning the midnight ni dil and
page 2
said, "That is what you tell your wife, isn't it?" To Ann, he remarked
to the effect thin that he hoped she could survive in New York, that
he knew it was possible because he himself had survived New York for
six years.
In the last statement,M I made a mental note of justh how
far Richard Nixon had come and how important it was for him (and
me) that one could survive and master New York MINE without the
sometimes superiority of the establishment New York native. The
Whitter groder's son who became Presideng survived New York City,
and beyond the banter, that is the story that I understood on
a lovely Saturday, when everything seemed to go right and the
President of the United States finally found out what I ** looked like.
Ultimal
7/28/72
Harribus
KLK and MJK and family were staying up at Catoctin parkk park
in Camp Greentop on May 5,6, and 7 -- the weekend RN spent
at Camp David making his decision on Mining speech.
Greentop (Good Luck Lodge is where we stayed) is about
1/2 mile from Camp David and RN's chopper flew over cabin
en XXMS E route to David.
As Chopper flew over, we wondered what decision RN was
making that weekend -- it turned out to be a X big one.
10/28/72
PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS FILE
PJB met with RN on morning of 10/27/72 and RN instructed
that McG must be hit and hit extremely hard with regard
to VN. Forget about how McGov has changed his mind on VN
and all that -- the main thing is to hit him for his
seell-out and surrender policies. RN said be "vicious"
in tarring McGovern with his record.
Also told RRJ PJB abosolutely do not return any
callsf from the Post -- tyey have slandered Mitchell,
Stans and Haldeman. Don't even acknowledge their inquiries.
Kissinger walked in and RN said --- "Henry, don't talk
to the Post -- don't give Mxx Murraxy Marder (their
foreign affairs reporter) any storie S - give them to
the Times but not the Bost.
Personal Obeservations 00 -- 10/18/72
After morning meeting, met with Colson, PJB, Howard,
Clawson and Des Barker. Colson told of meeting on 10/17/72
of RN, John Connally, Clark MacGregor, John Ehrlichman
and presumably HRH.
MacG and Connally were asking the President to campaign
more than he has planned. MACG said it was neceassary to
stir up the tooops and also to help the GOPP candidates.
Literally begged RN to get out more. JBC backed up the
MacG viewpoints. Argued that everybody says that RN is in
hiding, etc. RH has five campaign appearances remaining --
New York, Ohio, Chicago, Denver and California.
MacG and gropp wanted him to go to each region and
then copter into four states to cover many bases. Colson
and others view (including those in the Colson BX meeting)
believe strongly that RN must leave it as it issxx -- have
WH events but not go out any more. Belief that it will
hurt RN to have him on the stump -- campaigning doesn't help
him. Gives DEms an excuse to go back to McG.
Suggestions that other events substitute. E.g., Domestic
Council meetings, NSC meetings. Colson believed that Ehrlichman
supported MacG because he had failed to provède RN with
news events based on programs. No decision was made as
to whether or not RN would do heavier aampaigning. Noted
that he is like a fire horse and is anxious to campaign --
chomping at the bit.
18 ***** 11/3/72
PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS FILE
PJB informed me this p.m. that a MM new Harris was ready
that showed RN leading McGovern by 22 28 points -- 61%-33%.
However, Harrisse would not reaease it and was instead
going to go as back into the field for more surveyes
and then combine the results for Monday, November 6th.
Thus if the Monday results show a 26% point spread, Harris
will combine the two and mark it up as 27%. Apparently
the Vietnam move by RN kept him up in the polls or moved
him even a little more ahead -- a phenomonon that I simply
did not think would happen. Moreover, the Christian Science
Monitor toay notes that ***** in their survey, it shows that
Veetnam peace mores helped and not hurt RN.
11/14/72
PERSONAL OBEERVATIONS FILE
Around the middle of the campaign -- about October 13
or thereabouts, there was a gathering in Nww York to celebrate
the opening of the new Toots Shors restaurant. Secretary
of State William Rogers was there and recounts this story
told to me by Chuck Colson.
The guests were standing around talking basically
about politics. SEXE Georgee SE Jesseli, the man known
as the "Toastmaster General" and a comedian, came up to
a crowd which included Mr. Rogers and said: "I'm, tired of
talking politics, let's talk about sex. Everyone laughed
and seemed to agree with Jessel's desision suggestion at
which time Jessel said: "F--- McGovern!"
For once sex and politics mix mixed perfectly, and
Jessel hit it right on the nose.
12/20/72
ERSONAL OBSERVATIONS
Last night, Meredimth and I attended a reception given
byx the President and Mrs. Nixon for sunrogates and campaign
workers. ABoout 200 were in atteddance at 50 5:00 p.m.
The Presidetn first addressed the group in the East Room --
though tired, he seemed in an expansive mood and was joking,
remisiscing and telling stories. Basically he KMXR thanked
us for our campaign effort.
After his talked a receiving ** line went through the
Blue Room to be greeted EXXXX by the Presdieent and
First Lady. I came through and ahead of Maredieh as
is the custom -- *** giving my name and title to a military
social aide who in turn tells the Peesident who is coming
through. As usual, I was at a loss nf for words and mumbled
something about good eveningm, Mr. President. After a brief
инихи pause, he saidx as if to Mrs. Nixon, "He works down
in the dungeon. They do the herd work, but it's lot of fun.
He then said we did a good job and he W expressed his grafitude
f or W all the work we did in the campaign. Then he **** aaid:
"He works with Buchanan -- softens him up." Then I turned
to Mrs. Nixon and thankwed here XXE for inviting us and wishd
here a merry Christmas. She complimented MXR Meredith at on
a long red dress Meredith had XW sewn hereself and MEE Meredith
returned the compliment -- both of us forgetting to mention
that Mecedith had made the dress herself.
page 2
Affairs such as this make working here worth it all.
The decorateens were beautiful, the Marine band played
Christmas music and local chorale sang xx carols. ',ood
t.
and drink were available as well. A*,ter F all the frustrations,
a brief greeting from the President and to hear his thanks
and to see that he recognizes your name and functions, it
makes you want to get back to work. And Mrs. Nixon is
absolutely superb at making you feel like you are the most
important person in the world -- she alwasys has something
speical to say to each one coming through the line, to put
BY you at ease. I've never seen anyone like hers.
I
A monograph should be prepared which might be entitled "Things
They Would Like to Forget". In this area one should go back to
what the commentators and columnists wrote and said at the time
of Cambodia when they predicted World War III, and also what
they wrote and said at the time of the May 8th decision when they
predicted the cancellation of the Soviet Summit. Secondly, this
piece could go back and pick up all of the predictions that were
made in 1971, and particularly after the '70 Cambodia decision
with regard to RN's inevitable defeat in 1972. In addition, the
predictions that were made with regard to McGovern's inevitable
appeal to youth, the prairie populist, and all that sort of thing,
and finally, the predictions that were made during the course of
the campaign that McGovern was closing the gap, that RN would
blow the lead, etc.
II
A second monograph might be entitled "Dirtiest Campaign in
History Against a President". Here one could pick up the worse
of the McGovern/Shriver quotes and even some from other of
the Democratic partisans. One might go back and pick up some
of the smears on RN through the years. One might also use this
as a method of demolishing again, the myth of RN's rough campaigns
in the past. Go back and read Earl Mazo and his quotes with regard
to the Douglas campaign and the Harry Truman lines, all of which
hit on issues and all of which were cases where RN hit hard on the
issues, but never questioned, as a matter of fact, made it clear,
that he never was raising questions about motives or patriotism,
only about judgment. In this respect there should also be the counter-
side of it to the effect that RN (one of the cleanest campaigns in history)
not only did he never attack the opponents, but as far as surrogates
and everybody else were concerned, they stuck to the issues and
never engaged in name calling. Also, in terms of the campaign
tactics, while he was unmercifully heckled and his meetings some-
times disrupted by violent demonstrators, instructions were put
out and pretty thoroughly carried out, which avoided any heckling
of McGovern or Shriver and of course, no violence whatsoever.
With regard to the media, perhaps a good way to get at that pro-
blem is to praise the writing press generally, for their relative
objectivity, with the exception of the Washington Post, the New
York Times, and in the television field, CBS. It is better to
praise some and pick out a few deserved opponents as targets of
justifiable criticism for terribly biased campaign coverage.
2
III
A monograph dealing with the subject that "RN Won It".
This would answer the line of Semple et al that it was a question
of simply tenacity and being "lucky". Here you could point out
that RN for four years was up against overwhelming odds, - a
Congress in control by the other party, the candidate of a minority
party with the Republicans only 25% of the voting population whereas
it was around 35% when Eisenhower ran in 1952 and 1956.
The fact that RN made some very tough decisions - November 3rd,
Cambodia, August 15, May 8, and of course, the decision on China
which was really one of the tough decisions.
Then, in terms of RN winning it, one might point out that he refused
to be drawn into the battle despite provocation not only from the
press and McGovernites, but from within his own party. The point
should be made that he resisted even the advice of his friends like
the New York Daily News, Kilpatrick, etc., that he should get in
the ring and slug it out. In reading over memoranda that were
prepared right after the Democratic convention in this respect, one
would note that a number of White House Staff, including Bill Safire
on one extreme, and John Whitaker on the other, felt that we should
not have an above the battle position, but should get in and fight hard
to win the election.
Also on this score, one could point out that RN's Southern Strategy,
his opposition to bussing, his appointments to the Supreme Court,
his standing firm on the patriotic theme, his opposition to expanded
welfare programs, his support of the work ethic, and his refusal,
even after the Meany episode at Miami Beach, to get into a battle
with labor. These were all decisions that were enormously important
in fashioning the victory. It should be pointed out, for example, that
many of his own staff felt that on aid to parochial schools, amnesty,
pot, etc., where RN took a strong position, he turned out to be
right and some of the staffers turned out to be wrong.
In sum, we want to get across the truth which is that it wasn't just
the case of McGovern losing it, it was the case of RN winning the
election. Here you go back to the Lubell and Sidlinger ideas that
the election was really won on May 8 when RN made this tough
decision, and when, from there on, it was probably not possible
for any Democrat to win.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 10, 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR:
PAT BUCHANAN
FROM:
THE PRESIDENT
In talking with Chuck Colson after the press covering McGovern
came back to Washington from California, I think there are two
lines of attack that might be developed through a well done column,
a TV broadcast by one of the political commentators, or, if neither
of the first two are possible, by a mailing which might get into the
hands. of opinion makers. Of course, a column in Monday is also
a possibility.
The first thing should be a column on the press coverage of the
McGovern campaign to date. It might be entitled, "The McGovern
Protective Society". The take off for such a column could well be
Godfrey Sperling's piece in the Christian Science Monitor where
he speaks about the love affair between McGovern and the press.
He specifically makes the point that it isn't what the press says
about McGovern so much as it is what it leaves out. Colson's
discussion with a top news magazine reporter interestingly enough
hits this very same theme. What we have here is a situation where
the working press, because they really believe in their hearts exactly
what McGovern believes in, are frantically doing everything they can
to clean him up and make him a respectable candidate for the nomin-
ation. My guess is that if you were to interview the working press
traveling with McGovern, you would find that 90% of them were agreed
with his stand on amnesty, abortion, pot, surrender in Vietnam,
confiscation of wealth, the $1000 baby bonus for welfare recipients,
etc. As realists they know that these positions, however, may sink
him in the election. And typical of the left wing they are willing to
use any means whatever to get their man nominated, even if it means
covering up his real views during the period of the campaign so that
he can win the election and then have the opportunity to put his views
in practice through the power he acquired.
Here we see the fundamental difference between the right wing extremists
and the left wing extremists. The right wingers would rather lose than
give up one iota as far as principle is concerned. The left wing's primary
-2-
motivation is power. They are always willing to compromise
their principles in order to get power because they know that
without power they cannot put their principles into effect.
In any event, I think this theme could be extremely interesting if
picked up by columnists, commentators and political experts across
the country. It is very important in terms of the final campaign
that the media be effectively discredited. In this instance, they
are asking for it and when their own colleagues, like Sperling and
Colson's contact, complain about their biased coverage of the
McGovern campaign, it provides an opening which should be
exploited.
Of course, one of the very best ways for this opening to be exploited
would be to have one of the Democratic candidates like Humphrey or
Muskie pick it up. Perhaps getting this theme into their camps might
be an idea. In any event, if Buchanan could write out a good quotable
piece on this Colson and his group, with Buchanan's advice, could
probably find a way to get it broadly circulated.
The second column, which I think could prove useful in the longer
term, is somewhat similar in theme to the first one but broader
in scope. What we have here is a situation where the Eastern
Establishment media finally has a candidate who almost totally
shares their views. Here again, if you consider the real ideological
bent of the New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, Newsweek
and the three television networks, you will find overwhelmingly that
their editorial bias comes down on the side of amnesty, pot, abortion,
confiscation of wealth (unless it is theirs), massive increases in wel-
fare, unilateral disarmament, reduction of their defenses, and sur-
render in Vietnam. Now they have a candidate within sight of the
nomination who shares all these views. Now the country will find
out whether what the media has been standing for during these last
five years really represents the majority thinking of the country or
is, in fact, a minority view. Incidentally, that piece by Father
Greeley in the Washington Star recently may be somewhat prophetic
in this respect. As you may recall, he entitled it, "The Movement
Has Had It". I would put it somewhat broader: The Liberal Estab-
lishment Media May Have Had It.
-3-
I do not mean to suggest that the battle ahead will not be a vicious,
brutal one because the left wing media will fight much more cleverly
than the right wingers have fought. As I pointed out above, they
will clean up their candidate, they will lie, distort and do anything
that is necessary to get into power. They never allow their piously
held principles to get in the way of their overriding drive to gain
and wield power.
In any event, I think these are two things which Buchanan has been
writing on eloquently over the past ten years and he should be able
to do justice to them in developing these themes now. It will then
be up to the operating staff to find ways to get Buchanan's effort
appropriately distributed.
CC: Chuck Colson