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V1-20 JAMES M. COLLINS DISTRICT OFFICE: THIRD DISTRICT, TEXAS ROOM 1112 1114 COMMERCE STREET DALLAS 75202 COMMITTEE: R19-2453 EDUCATION AND LABOR Congress of the United States 1512 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BLDG. TELEPHONE: 225-4201 House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 ,THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN BT January 19, 1971 President Richard M. Nixon The White House Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. President: Last week, Postmaster General Winton Blount, joined us for a small luncheon in Dallas. He was in Dallas for a Post Office meeting, but came by for lunch between 12-1:30 D.m. He is powerful and effective with a man to man group. I had nine businessmen guests and there were twelve of us, including the Post Office officials. There was no small talk, but this group had an opportunity to hear his ideas and answers for 1 1/2 hours and he barely had time to eat. We needed this in Dallas. The Administration shows strong in polls, but this support is not committed. Our situation here is like the man answered where they said, "How's your wife?" and he said, "Compared to what?". Compared to Humphrey or Kennedy the average person favors the Administration. But there is no enthusiasm What Blount did was to talk in plain language to business leaders in each industry. I had an oil man who came out excited--- and three weeks ago he was ready to sink the whole Republican party Blount talks with logic. He won the 110% confidence of the businessmen. An Insurance leader, who has been National President of Insurance Associations and National Head of Cancer, said this was the most informative lunch he could remember attending. The strong men in your Cabinet who come through to Business leaders are Blount, Mitchell, Volpe and Dr. Burns. VI hope in 1971 we can have them close to our Business leaders SO they can better understand the problems and help us towards the solution. Yours James James M. Collins, M. C. JMC:kw find