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From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: Press ideas regarding president's health and hard working demeanor. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 12/13/1970
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From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: Press ideas regarding president's health and hard working demeanor. 2 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 12/13/1970
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Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
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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
50
9
12/13/1970
Campaign
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: Press ideas
regarding president's health and hard
working demeanor. 2pgs.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Page 1 of 1
DOCUMENT WITHDRAWAL RECORD [NIXON PROJECT]
DOCUMENT
DOCUMENT
NUMBER
TYPE
SUBJECT/TITLE OR CORRESPONDENTS
DATE
RESTRICTION
N-1
Memo
RN to HRH, re: apportunities on
12/12/70
C(NIXON)
[83]
the PR side
Memo
RN to JDE, re: Christmas sales
12/13/70
C(N xon)
N-2
[84]
N-3
memo
RN to HRH, re: need to sit down
[85]
12/13/70
C(Nixon)
with Kissinger, Maynehan, et al.
N-4
Memo
EN to HRH, re: hardwarking
12/13/70
C(NIXON)
[86]
president line
FILE GROUP TITLE
BOX NUMBER
President's Personal File
2
FOLDER TITLE
Memos - December - 1970
RESTRICTION CODES
A. Release would violate a Federal statute or Agency Policy.
E. Release would disclose trade secrets or confidential commercial or
B. National security classified information.
financial information.
C. Pending or approved claim that release would violate an individual's
F. Release would disclose investigatory information compiled for law
rights.
enforcement purposes.
D. Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy
G. Withdrawn and return private and personal material.
or a libel of a living person.
H. Withdrawn and returned non-historical material.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
NA FORM 1421 (4-85)
Presidential Materials Review Board
Review on Contested Documents
Collection: President's Personal Files
Box Number:
2
Folder:
Memos - December 1970
Document
Disposition
83
Retain
Close
Invasion of Privacy
84
Retain
Open
85
Retain
Close
Invasion of Privacy
86
Return Private/Personal
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 13, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR BOB HALDEMAN
FROM THE PRESIDENT
I have hit upon what I think is an ingenious idea for getting
across the "hard working President" line.
I will be taking my physical examination sometime between
now and the end of the year. After the examination is finished
the press will want to know the results. Usually, we have
Ziegler read some rather dull information in his briefing. I think
it might be a good idea in this instance if Ziegler were to very
carefully select a small pool, including the two wire services,
one or two good network guys, etc., but no more than 5 or 6,
and let Tkach give them the results of the examination. The
results of the examination should be routine.
It will give him a chance to say, first, that the President's
health is excellent; second, he might comment on one or two
things that are particularly important from a public standpoint,
the fact that the President has an amazingly low blood pressure which
is an inherited quality from both his father and his mother, and
that this is something that has been remarkable for him (Tkach)
to observe through the years while I was Vice President as well
as President even in periods of very great stress. Tkach
may balk to an extent on revealing what he calls professional
information to the press. But, after all, President's are in the
position where doctors are supposed to put out the truth and
nothing but the truth with regard to the President's health, and
if this is done in this low-key way it could be enormously
effective.
- 2 -
But now comes the point where Tkach can really make
some yardage for our side. He should then say that his major
concern about the President's health is that he does not take
enough time off and does not get enough recreation. He should
say that this has been the case throughout the time that he has
known the President, during the 8 years that he was Vice
President and now during the two years he has been President.
He should point out that even though the President has taken
trips to California and Key Biscayne that he refuses to use these
trips adequately for recreation and usually works a full day,
either on the phone or with his close personal staff on these
so-called "vacation" trips. He should point out that the President
does not have the relaxations of others in the office. He does
not play bridge, he has played golf only four times in the last
year, he has bowled five times, that his only recreation consists
of an occasional swim when he is at the beach in Key Biscayne
or California, or in the summer time at the pool at Camp
David, and on weekends a movie or a televised sports event.
He should say that the President's daily work schedule is the
most back-breaking that he has ever observed in a public figure,
that the President never takes time off for lunch and unless he
has an official dinner how he works three hours or so after
having dinner with the family.
He should point out, nevertheless, that the President
remains in excellent health due to very spartan habits -- a
very light diet, both at breakfast and lunch and even at the State
Dinners where he usually passes the dessert. Apparently, his
walking with the dogs on occasion and a one-minute running in
place at a very fast speed in the morning seems to keep him in
surprisingly good health, but that he (Tkach) if he had any
recommendation, it would be for more recreation.
As you can see, this will get across our point very powerfully,
and I think that Tkach could do it with complete credibility.
In fact, if he would be willing to do so, he could even make these
points on the morning show, although I think the better thing
would be to limit it to the type of direct pool report to which
I have referred. Consider this and follow through on it if you
think the idea is a good one.