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From Cavaney to Haigh, Jr. and Burch RE: "The President's Visit to Michigan's 8th Congresstional District Wednesday, April 10, 1974" 6 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 4/4/1974
From Cavaney to Haig, Jr. and Burch RE: "The President's Visit to Michigan's 8th Congressional District Wednesday, April 10, 1974" 6 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 4/4/1974
From Burch to Nixon RE: "Political Background (for Trip to Michigan 8th Congressional District, Wednesday, April 10, 1974)" 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 4/4/1974
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WHSF: Contested, 53-54
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WHSF: Contested, 53-54
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This file contains:
From Cavaney to Haigh, Jr. and Burch RE: "The President's Visit to Michigan's 8th Congresstional District Wednesday, April 10, 1974" 6 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 4/4/1974
From Cavaney to Haig, Jr. and Burch RE: "The President's Visit to Michigan's 8th Congressional District Wednesday, April 10, 1974" 6 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 4/4/1974
From Burch to Nixon RE: "Political Background (for Trip to Michigan 8th Congressional District, Wednesday, April 10, 1974)" 3 pgs. [Subject: Campaign] [Memo], 4/4/1974
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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
53
54
4/4/1974
Campaign
Memo
From Cavaney to Haigh, Jr. and Burch RE:
"The President's Visit to Michigan's 8th
Congresstional District Wednesday, April
10, 1974" 6pt
53
54
4/4/1974
Campaign
Memo
From Cavaney to Haig, Jr. and Burch RE:
"The President's Visit to Michigan's 8th
Congressional District Wednesday, April 10,
1974" 6pg
53
54
4/4/1974
Campaign
Memo
From Burch to Nixon RE: "Political
Background (for Trip to Michigan 8th
Congressional District, Wednesday, April
10, 1974)" 3pg
Monday, June 25, 2012
Page 1 of 1
DOCUMENT WITHDRAWAL RECORD [NIXON PROJECT]
DOCUMENT
DOCUMENT
NUMBER
TYPE
SUBJECT/TITLE OR CORRESPONDENTS
DATE
RESTRICTION
N-1
memo
Cavoney to Haig, Burch re: "The
4/4/74
C
[DOC 82]
Presidents Visit to Michigan's 8th
Congressional District wednesday,
April 10, 1974".
N-2
memo
Burch to RN re: " Political
4/4/74
C
[Doc 83]
Background (for Tric to Michigan 8th
Congressional District, Wednesday.
April 10, 1974)".
FILE GROUP TITLE
BOX NUMBER
STAFF SECRETARY
155
FOLDER TITLE
Trip -- Michigan 4/74
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:
Staff Secretary
Box Number:
155
Folder:
Trip - Michigan 4/74
Document
Disposition
82
Return Private/Political
83
Return Private/Political
[T]em N-1] [Ttem N-1]
Jerry
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 4, 1974
3:00 pm
4/5/74
MEMORANDUM FOR:
GENERAL ALEXANDER M. HAIG, JR.
COUNSELLOR DEAN BURCH
FROM:
RED CAVANEY
SUBJECT:
THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO MICHIGAN'S
8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Wednesday, April 10, 1974
Attached at TAB A is a proposed schedule, bearing in mind that
motorcade driving times may be slightly altered as specifics
are gained.
AIRPORT ARRIVAL
An 11:00 am airport arrival time is recommended in order that a
significant portion of the "thumb" motor cade can occur prior to
1:00 pm. All 8th district newspapers and the Detroit News are
afternoòn papers which have a 1:00 pm filing deadline. The color
and thrust of the visit is the countryside motorcade and same-day
coverage of this would be helpful to the candidate.
Our only political problem concerns the airport. The locals are
very strong in their desire not to open the airport arrival to the
public for the following reasons.
1. It would be compared to the highly successful
Presidential campaign stop (crowd of 12, 000) in the last week
of the '72 campaign. The recent visit of the Vice President
and a fund-raiser dinner were indicative of widespread voter
apathy. They are strong in their contention that they cannot
come close to 12, 000 persons and such would produce "negative
press" of the visit.
-2-
2. They are fearful that anything at the airport would
be the story of the day, thus overshadowing the subsequent motorcade.
3. An all out crowd-raising effort would seriously
impair their "get out the vote" effort, due to reassignment of
personnel resources.
It is my recommendation that we go for a respectful crowd at the
airport, issue a written Presidential statement on arrival, greet
the Welcoming Committee, and board the helo for immediate
departure. I am concerned about the comparison but feel we have
little choice, since all previous airport campaign visits of the
President and Vice President have been open to the public. Also,
this arrival could act as a magnet for the planned demonstration
and preclude its occurrence during the motorcade. It is the
motorcade and unique people to people contact that should be our
story from this visit.
Approve Open Airport
Disapprove
NOTE: The locals have stated they will appeal an
open airport decision to Chairman Bush, but have
said that they will cooperate if the decision is made
to open the airport.
HELOS
Due to the extensive drive required to reach the thumb, the use of
helos is strongly recommended by the pre-advance team.
Heavy ground fog, as occurred last night, would ground helos
and either dramatically increase the time of the President's
visit or eliminate some stops at the key towns.
MOTORCADE
The stops will be colorful and good but it should be noted that the
drive between towns will be sparse, since this will be heavy farm
country. There are opportunities for "color" stops between towns.
In short, bodies will not everywhere be present along the motorcade
route.
-3-
COSTS
This will be an expensive stop for the RNC. The following costs
appear evident.
S'76
$3,000
Helos (2)
6,000
P/A
3,000
Crowd-raising
8,000
Total
$20,000
cc: J. Jones
S. Bull
D. Parker
B. Henkel
G. Joulwan
April 4, 1974
3:00 pm
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
PROPOSED SCHEDULE
THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO
MICHIGAN'S 8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Wednesday, April 10, 1974
9:20 am
DEPART South Lawn via helo en route
Andrews AFB.
[Flying time: 15 minutes]
9:35 am
ARRIVE Andrews AFB and board S'76.
DEPART Andrews AFB via S'76 en route
Tri-City Airport, Saginaw County, Michigan.
[Flying time: 1 hour, 25 minutes]
[No time change]
11:00 am
ARRIVE Tri-City Airport, Saginaw County,
Michigan.
CROWD SITUATION
OPEN PRESS COVERAGE
The President will be met by:
Governor G. Milliken (R-Mich) ?
Senator Robert Griffin (R-Mich)?
Candidate & Mrs. James (Jim) Sparling
NOTE: A "hidden mike" will/can
be available if brief remarks are
desired.
-2-
The President and those guests involved in the
"thumb" motorcade board helicopters.
11:10 am
DEPART Tri-City Airport via helo en route
Bad Axe, Michigan (population 3, 000).
[Flying time: 25 minutes]
11:35 am
ARRIVE Bad Axe Community Airport and board
motorcade.
CLOSED ARRIVAL
DEPART Bad Axe Community Airport via
motorcade en route downtown area.
[Driving time: 2 minutes]
11:40 am
ARRIVE Downtown area.
OPEN PRESS COVERAGE
NOTE: In downtown Bad Axe a crowd will
be gathered to greet the motorcade and
a hidden mike will be available if brief
remarks are desired.
11:50 am
DEPART Bad Axe via motorcade en route Cass
City, Michigan (population 2300).
[Driving time: 30 minutes]
NOTE: Several small villages will be
encountered along the motorcade route.
12:20 pm
ARRIVE Downtown Cass City.
OPEN PRESS COVERAGE
NOTE: In downtown Cass City a crowd will
be gathered to greet the motorcade and a
hidden mike will be available if brief
remarks are desired.
12:30 pm
DEPART Downtown Cass City via motorcade en
route Sandusky, Michigan (population 2500).
[Driving time: 60 minutes]
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 4, 1974
3:00 pm
MEMORANDUM FOR:
GENERAL ALEXANDER M. HAIG, JR.
COUNSELLOR DEAN BURCH
FROM:
RED CAVANEY
SUBJECT:
THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO MICHIGAN'S
8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Wednesday, April 10, 1974
Attached at TAB A is a proposed schedule, bearing in mind that
motorcade driving times may be slightly altered as specifics
are gained.
AIRPORT ARRIVAL
An 11:00 am airport arrival time is recommended in order that a
significant portion of the "thumb" motorcade can occur prior to
1:00 pm. All 8th district newspapers and the Detroit News are
afternoon papers which have a 1:00 pm filing deadline. The color
and thrust of the visit is the countryside motorcade and same-day
coverage of this would be helpful to the candidate.
Our only political problem concerns the airport. The locals are
very strong in their desire not to open the airport arrival to the
public for the following reasons.
1. It would be compared to the highly successful
Presidential campaign stop (crowd of 12, 000) in the last week
of the '72 campaign. The recent visit of the Vice President and
a fund-raiser dinner were indicative of widespread voter apathy.
They are strong in their contention that they cannot come close
to 12, 000 persons and such would produce "negative press" of
the visit.
-2-
2. They are fearful that anything at the airport would
be the story of the day, thus overshadowing the subsequent motorcade.
3. An all out crowd-raising effort would seriously
impair their "get out the vote" effort, due to reassignment of
personnel resources.
It is my recommendation that we go for a respectful crowd at the
airport, issue a written Presidential statement on arrival, greet
the Welcoming Committee, and board the helo for immediate
departure. I am concerned about the comparison but feel we have
little choice, since all previous airport campaign visits of the
President and Vice President have been open to the public. Also,
this arrival could act as a magnet for the planned demonstration
and preclude its occurrence during the motorcade. It is the
motorcade and unique people to people contact that should be our
story from this visit.
Approve Open Airport
Disapprove
NOTE: The locals have stated they will appeal an
open airport decision to Chairman Bush, but have
said that they will cooperate if the decision is made
to open the airport.
HELOS
Due to the extensive drive required to reach the thumb, the use of
helos is strongly recommended by the pre-advance team.
Heavy ground fog, as occurred last night, would ground helos
and either dramatically increase the time of the President's
visit or eliminate some stops at the key towns.
MOTORCADE
The stops will be colorful and good but it should be noted that the
drive between towns will be sparse, since this will be heavy farm
country. There are opportunities for "color" stops between towns.
In short, bodies will not everywhere be present along the motorcade
route.
-3-
COSTS
This will be an expensive stop for the RNC. The following costs
appear evident.
S'76
$3,000
Helos (2)
6,000
P/A
3,000
Crowd-raising
8,000
Total
$20,000
cc: J. Jones
S. Bull
D. Parker
B. Henkel
G. Joulwan
April 4, 1974
3:00 p.m.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
PROPOSED SCHEDULE
THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO
MICHIGAN'S 8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Wednesday, April 10, 1974
9:20 am
DEPART South Lawn via helo en route
Andrews AFB.
[Flying time: 15 minutes]
9:35 am
ARRIVE Andrews AFB and board S'76.
DEPART Andrews AFB via S'76 en route
Tri-City Airport, Saginaw County, Michigan.
[Flying time: 1 hour, 25 minutes]
[No time change]
11:00 am
ARRIVE Tri-City Airport, Saginaw County,
Michigan.
CROWD SITUATION
OPEN PRESS COVERAGE
The President will be met by:
Governor G. Milliken (R-Mich) ?
Senator Robert Griffin (R-Mich) ?
Candidate & Mrs. James (Jim) Sparling
NOTE: A "hidden mike" will/can
be available if brief remarks are
desired.
- 2 -
The President and those guests involved in the
"thumb" motorcade board helicopters.
11:10 a.m.
DEPART Tri-City Airport via helo en route
Bad Axe, Michigan (population, 3, 000).
[Flying time: 25 minutes]
11:35 a.m.
ARRIVE Bad Axe Community Airport and board
motorcade.
CLOSED ARRIVAL
DEPART Bad Axe Community Airport via
motorcade en route downtown area.
[Driving time: 2 minutes]
11:40 a.m.
ARRIVE Downtown area.
OPEN PRESS COVERAGE
NOTE: In downtown Bad Axe a crowd will
be gathered to greet the motorcade and
a hidden mike will be available if brief
remarks are desired.
11:50 a.m.
DEPART Bad Axe via motorcade en route Cass
City, Michigan (population 2, 300).
[Driving time: 30 minutes]
NOTE: Several small villages will be
encountered along the motorcade route.
12:20 p.m.
ARRIVE Downtown Cass City.
OPEN PRESS COVERAGE
NOTE: In downtown Cass City a crowd
will be gathered to greet the motorcade
and a hidden mike will be available if
brief remarks are desired.
12:30 p.m.
DEPART Downtown Cass City via motorcade en
route Sandusky, Michigan (population 2, 500).
[Driving time: 60 minutes]
- 3 -
NOTE: Several small villages will be
encountered along the motorcade route.
1:30 pm
ARRIVE Downtown Sandusky.
OPEN PRESS COVERAGE
NOTE: In downtown Sandusky a crowd
will be gathered to greet the motorcade
and a hidden mike will be available if
brief remarks are desired.
1:40 pm
DEPART Sandusky via motorcade en route
Sandusky Community Airport.
[Driving time: 2 minutes]
1:42 pm
ARRIVE Sandusky Community Airport and board
helicopters.
CLOSED ARRIVAL
1:45 pm
DEPART Sandusky Community Airport via helo
en route Tri-City Airport.
[Flying time: 35 minutes]
2:20 pm
ARRIVE Tri-City Airport and board S'76
CLOSED ARRIVAL
NOTE: Several 8th Congressional District
GOP leaders will meet the President at
plane side on departure.
2:30 pm
DEPART Tri-City Airport via S'76 en route
Andrews AFB.
[Flying time: 1 hour, 15 minutes]
[No time change]
3:45 pm
ARRIVE Andrews AFB, Board helo.
DEPART Andrews AFB via helo en route South
Lawn.
[Flying time: 15 minutes]
4:00 pm
ARRIVE South Lawn.
[Item N.2]
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 4, 1974
MEMORANDUM FOR:
THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
DEAN BURCH DB
SUBJECT:
POLITICAL BACKGROUND (for Trip to
Michigan 8th Congressional District,
Wednesday, April 10, 1974)
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
James Sparling: GOP candidate for Congress, special election on
April 16, 1974. For 13 years, Congressman Jim Harvey's chief
aide. In the summer of 1973, served on Bill Timmons' staff;
left to enter race for Harvey's seat. Winner of March 19, 1974,
four-way GOP primary with 71 percent of vote.
J. Robert Traxler: Sparling's Democratic opponent. State Representative.
Liberal voting record. Strongly supported and financed by UAW
and other unions. Early filings indicate more than 50 percent of
campaign funds from unions.
William McLaughlin: Michigan Republican State Chairman. Has been
generally hostile to the President, one of first to attribute
Democratic victory in Ford's district to Watergate. Hostile
to the April 10 visit (although he has been quoted as saying "if
Jim Sparling wants it, I want it"). Probable source of leaks re
events at Chicago Midwest GOP Meeting and allegation of White
House pressure on visit.
Robert Grant: Saginaw County GOP Chairman. Has been quoted as saying
of President's visit, "I don't want any part of.it; we don't need it. 11
Governor William Milliken and Senator Robert Griffin: both supportive
of trip. The Governor will probably join the President for the
tour.
POLITICAL BACKGROUND MEMORANDUM (Page Two)
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS ON INVITATION:
(1)
On March 21, invitation to President came from Sparling and
McLaughiin through George Bush. Not seeking campaign appearance
per se, her an opportunity for the President to meet the people and
address the issues. (It was Sparling's strategy from the first that the
President ould help get out a big vote in the rural eastern counties of
the district GOP territory, to offset anticipated Democratic majorities
in Saginaw : Bay City.)
(2)
On M. ch 28, at GOP Gala in Washington, Bush strongly supported
the trip and received the President's agreement in principle. Bush and
Burch were to check out the poll results in Chicago the following day.
(3)
On March 29, at the Chicago Midwest Regional Meeting, Bush
and Burch did discuss the poll results with the pollster, McLaughlin,
and a Bush aide. Sparling 9 points behind but with substantial undecided.
Looked risky but worth the effort. Later that.night, the State Chairman
apparently began to have second thoughts, leaked the poll results, and
probably circulated the story that Bush and Burch had come to Chicago
to apply White House pressure for the trip. The burden was suddenly on
the White House to show that the President ought to be invited.
(4)
On April 1, Sparling issued statement saying in effect that
President had to get out of the White House and meet the people, had to
address the real issues (inflation, jobs, energy) with real answers. He,
Sparling, was not asking the President to support him or campaign for
him. And he would vote impeachment "on proof of wrong doing". On
the whole, an uninviting invitation. See Attachment A. (All this time,
Sparling's campaign manager, Dennis Nystrom, played it very square;
he told Bush he thought the candidate was off base and would attempt to
get him back on.)
(5)
On April 2-3, through Bush, Sparling reinvited the President to
come to Michigan, meet the people, address the issues. Still not quite
an invitation to campaign for Sparling, but the tone was much softer.
See Attachment B.
POLITICAL BACKGROUND MEMORANDUM (Page Three)
(6)
On April 5, the White House will (presumably) announce that
the President will visit the Michigan 8th on Wednesday, April 10, 1974.
Details to follow. Sparling will immediately announce his "delight" that
the President is coming.
NOTE:
Between now and your return from Europe, the
political details and local issues material will be further
honed and updated.