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DATE RECEIVED
OCT 7 1960
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COMMENTS Return
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Republican Parky of Wisconsin
called
SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
LD92C
LEO W. ROETHE, Chairman
Fort Atkinson
Vice President Richard Nixon
MRS. VERA IMHOFF, Vice-Chairman
Washington
Waukesha
D. C.
October 5, 1960
Dear Dick:
Most all the polls have you running behind in Wisconsin, because
of the farm situation.
you have been relying quite heavily on Professor Henry Ahlgren
of the University of Wisconsin for your farm program, and he
is terrific. I know, because he was my college roommate at
the University of Wisconsin. He is well liked among the
farmers here in Wisconsin, and if you could see your way clear
to make some kind of a statement that Ahlgren would be "considered"
or possibly chosen as your Secretary of Agriculture should you be
elected to the Presidency, I am sure you can carry practically
all of the farm vote here in Wisconsin.
If this announcement could be made in the near future, it would
have a tremendous affect upon your winning this state.
of course you realize, you are still fighting the Benson phychology
here in Wisconsin, and that anti-propaganda would be completely
forgotten if some constructive statement would be made regarding
Ahlgren and the part he would have to play in your administration.
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Vice President Richard Nixon - 2 - -
October 5, 1960
We are working hard for you here, and believe we can still win
this state for you, but this one announcement on your part
if it does not embarrass you other places in the country, would
be the crowning touch to bring us victory here in Wisconsin.
Good Luck!
Sincerely,
Leo W. Roethelce
Leo W. Roethe, Chairman
Second Congressional District
Republican Party of Wisconsin
LUR: cmc
CC: Henry Ahlgren
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
OFFICE
OF
THE
vice
Betty WASHINGTON
the Elephant Shot
10 prints of
to
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
LEO W. ROETHE
JORDAN 3-2446
PRESIDENT fild print
NASCO
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY CO.
FORT Atkinson, WISCONSIN
SPECIALISTS IN EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR VO-AG INSTRUC-
TORS, COUNTY AGENTS, EXTENSION WORKERS AND FARMERS.
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
COPY
July 15, 1960
Roethe, Leo W.
Mr. Leo W. Roethe, Chairman
Republican Party of Wisconsin
Second Congressional District
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
Dear Mr. Roethe:
This is the first opportunity I have had to thank you
for your letter of May 17. As you have surmised, yours is not
the only letter 1 have received on the difficult and sensitive
x I
issue of discounts on government insured mortgages.
folder
As you say, the question of lowering interest rates
generally is a difficult one. Interest rates are influenced by
so many interrelated factors that controlling one without con-
trolling the other would probably be ineffective, and trying
to control them all would probably do more harm than good.
x - Subj: Monetary Policy
The discount of FHA and VA loans is a product of
an effort at partial control. The Congress has set a ceiling
on FHA and VA interest rates which under present circumstances
is less than the money market requires for investment in this
type of loan. Since the interest rate cannont be adjusted, the
lender effects the adjustment by establishing a discount which
will produce the return demanded by the market.
The previous attempt to control discounts was
dropped because it was difficult if not impossible to enforce,
and because the practical result was to limit the supply of
FHA and VA mortgage money available. Since we should not and
cannot compel investors to lend money, when the return to the
lender becomes non-competitive with other investment sources,
the lender simply lends the money elsewhere. In other words,
when FHA and VA interest rates and discounts are controlled,
this is complete control in one sector of the money market
only, with a strong resulting tendency to drive the money into
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Mr. Leo W. Roethe
COPY
Page 2
non-controlled sectors of the market. People who before had a
choice between paying the marke t price for the loan or refusing
to borrow are left with ao choice at all. Of course, this process
would never dry up the Insured mortgage market altogether,
because other local factors would always operate to maintain
a market of some sixe, but the effect would be so significant
as to deprive far more people of loans than does the present
half-free system. Discount controls were dropped not so much to
reake mortgage money cheaper as to make it available as freely
as possible.
This Administration has recommended to Congress
that the statutory controls on FHA and VA interest rates be
removed. If this were done, the price of money would be reflected
entirely in the interest rate, and the discount would not exist
any more than in conventional loans. The insured mortgage lenders
would get his effective rate of return, but in the form of interest,
not partly by discount. One evil of the present system, as you
point out, is that the buyer who absorbs the discount in the price
of the house pays interest on the discount from the beginning.
Another evil attending this form of advence interest payment is
that the home buyer who prepays his loan for any reason recaptures
none of the discount. Another fault of the discount pattern is
that its results are not uniform, in that the burden falls in vary-
ing degrees upon buyers and sellers in different transactions and
in different parts of the country.
I believe we must work boldly and with determination
for basic cures for evils such as this. One of the baste differences
7. sea between the Republican Party and those who now control
the Democratic Party is that we work toward lasting solutions to
our problems within the framework of a free economy, while they
frequently propose measures which through excessive sponding
or regulation interfere with the operation of CREE free economy,
and which once begun require ever further spending or regulation.
In this instance, a. basic solution requires that unnenessary com-
petitive pressures on the mortgage money market be reduced or
eliminated. When the Federal Government goes into the money
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Mr. Leo W. Roethe
COPY
Page 3
market for billions of dollars of new borrowings, the amount of
money available for mortgages is diminished.
The Federal Government is so vast in comparison
with any individual that it is difficult to maintain a constant personal
concern over unnecessary government spending and unbalanced
budgets. However, the hard fact is that every dollar which the
Federal Government takes out of the money market by new borrow-
ing reduces the amount of money available for private lending,
including mortgage lending, and thereby contributes to the
pressure for high interest rates and discounts. The most con-
structive assistance we can give to the home owners and buyers
of the country is to eliminate all unnecessary Federal demands
on the money marks t. At the same time, we can help the Republican
Party and the Nation by encouraging public understan ding that their
own personal fortunes, very specifically including the payment of
high mortgage discounts and interest rates, are inescapably tied
to the Republican doctrine of fiscal sanity.
I know that the program I am suggesting is much more
difficult to explain to the voters than at statute or administrative
action which would promise some immediate help, however illusory.
That is why the interest of Republican leaders in these problems
is necessary to success in November. I very much appreciate
your expression of personal regard and 1. am hoping I shall have
an opportunity to see you in the course of the campaign.
With all good wishes,
Sincerely,
Richard Nixon
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
HOME TENANCE THE HOUSENG AGENCY
HOUSING AND HOME FINANCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.
Federal Housing Administration
June 22, 1960
Public Housing Administration
Federal National Mortgage Association
Community Facilities Administration
Urban Renewal Administration
MEMORANDUM FOR: Agnes Waldron
Office of the Vice President
I am attaching a draft of a proposed reply to a letter
addressed to the Vice President from Mr. Leo W. Roethe
of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, together with the original
incoming correspondence which you forwarded to me.
Lyman General Counsel Browsifuid
Attachments
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
for y- mml Saly: der HH: Monetary okpl Policy
DRAFT
Mr. Leo W. Roethe, Chairman
Republican Party of Wisconsin
Second Congressional District
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
(check Salutation) files for
?
Dear Leg: me. Roethe
2 have had to
This is the Jerse Thank you for your letter of May 17. As you may have surmised,
yours is not the only letter I have received on the difficult and
sensitive issue of discounts on government insured mortgages.
As you say, the question of lowering interest rates generally
is a difficult one. Interest rates are influenced by so many
interrelated factors that controlling one without controlling the
other would probably be ineffective, and trying to control them all
would probably do more harm than good.
The discount of FHA and VA loans is a product of an effort at
partial control. The Congress has set a ceiling on FHA and VA interest
rates which under present circumstances is less than the money market
requires for investment in this type of loan. Since the interest rate
cannot be adjusted, the lender effects the adjustment by establishing
a discount which will produce the return demanded by the market.
The previous attempt to control discounts was dropped because it
was difficult if not impossible to enforce, and because the practical
result was to limit the supply of FHA and VA mortgage money available.
lend
Since we should not and cannot compel investors to loan money, when
the return to the lender becomes non-competitive with other investment
lends
sources, the lender simply loans the money elsewhere. In other words,
when FHA and VA interest rates and discounts are controlled, this is
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
- 2 -
complete control in one sector of the money market only, with a strong
resulting tendency to drive the money into non-controlled sectors
of the market. People who before had a choice between paying the
market price for the loan or refusing to borrow are left with no choice
at all. Of course, this process would never dry up the insured
mortgage market altogether, because other local factors would always
operate to maintain a market of some size, but the effect would be so
significant as to deprive far more people of loans than does the present
half-free system. Discount controls were dropped not so much to make
mortgage money cheaper as to make it available as freely as possible.
This Administration has recommended to Congress that the statutory
controls on FHA and VA interest rates be removed. If this were done, the
price of money would be reflected entirely in the interest rate, and the
discount would not exist any more than in conventional loans. The insured
mortgage lender would get his effective rate of return, but in the form
of interest, not partly by discount. One evil of the present system, as
you point out, is that the buyer who absorbs the discount in the price
of the house pays interest on the discount from the beginning. Another
evil attending this form of advance interest payment is that the home
buyer who prepays his loan for any reason recaptures none of the discount.
Another fault of the discount pattern is that its results are not uniform,
in that the burden falls in varying degrees upon buyers and sellers in
different transactions and in different parts of the country.
I believe we must work boldly and with determination for basic cures
for evils such as this. One of the basic differences I see between the
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
- 3 -
Republican Party and those who now control the Democratic Party is that
we work toward lasting solutions to our problems within the framework
of a free economy, while they frequently propose measures which through
excessive spending or regulation interfere with the operation of our
free economy, and which once begun require ever further spending or
regulation. In this instance, a basic solution requires that unnecessary
competitive pressures on the mortgage money market be reduced or eliminated.
When the Federal Government goes into the money market for billions of
dollars of new borrowings, the amount of money available for mortgages
is diminished.
The Federal Government is so vast in comparison with any individual
that it is difficult to maintain a constant personal concern over
unnecessary government spending and unbalanced budgets. However, the
hard fact is that every dollar which the Federal Government takes out
of the money market by new borrowing reduces the amount of money available
for private lending, including mortgage lending, and thereby contributes
to the pressure for high interest rates and discounts. The most con-
structive assistance we can give to the home owners and buyers of the
country is to eliminate all unnecessary Federal demands on the money
market. At the same time, we can help the Republican Party and the
Nation by encouraging public understanding that their own personal
fortunes, very specifically including the payment of high mortgage
discounts and interest rates, are inescapably tied to the Republican
doctrine of fiscal sanity.
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
- 4 -
I know that the program I am suggesting is much more difficult
to explain to the voters than a statute or administrative action which
would promise some immediate help, however illusory. That is why the
interest of Republican leaders such as yourself in these problems is
necessary to success in November. I very much appreciate your expression
of personal regard and I am hoping that I shall have an opportunity to
see you in the course of the campaign.
Sincerely yours,
withougd wisher
Ru
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
HOME THE GNISUON AGENCY
HOUSING AND HOME FINANCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.
Federal Housing Administration
June 22, 1960
Public Housing Administration
Federal National Mortgage Association
Community Facilities Administration
Urban Renewal Administration
MEMORANDUM FOR: Agnes Waldron
Office of the Vice President
I am attaching a draft of a proposed reply to a letter
addressed to the Vice President from Mr. Leo W. Roethe
of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, together with the original
incoming correspondence which you forwarded to me.
Lynow Brownfield
General Counsel
Attachments
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
DRAFT
Mr. Leo W. Roethe, Chairman
Republican Party of Wisconsin
Second Congressional District
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
Dear Leo:
Thank you for your letter of May 17. As you may have surmised,
yours is not the only letter I have received on the difficult and
sensitive issue of discounts on government insured mortgages.
As you say, the question of lowering interest rates generally
is a difficult one. Interest rates are influenced by so many
interrelated factors that controlling one without controlling the
other would probably be ineffective, and trying to control them all
would probably do more harm than good.
The discount of FHA and VA loans is a product of an effort at
partial control. The Congress: has set a ceiling on FHA and VA interest
rates which under present circumstances is less than the money market
requires for investment in this type of loan. Since the interest rate
cannot be adjusted, the lender effects the adjustment by establishing
a discount which will produce the return demanded by the market.
The previous attempt to control discounts was dropped because it
was difficult if not impossible to enforce, and because the practical
result was to limit the supply of FHA and VA mortgage money available.
Since we should not and cannot compel investors to loan money, when
the return to the lender becomes non-competitive with other investment
sources, the lender simply loans the money elsewhere. In other words,
when FHA and VA interest rates and discounts are controlled, this is
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
- 2 -
complete control in one sector of the money market only, with a strong
resulting tendency to drive the money into non-controlled sectors
of the market. People who before had a choice between paying the
market price for the loan or refusing to borrow are left with no choice
at all. Of course, this process would never dry up the insured
mortgage market altogether, because other local factors would always
operate to maintain a market of some size, but the effect would be so
significant as to deprive far more people of loans than does the present
half-free system. Discount controls were dropped not so much to make
mortgage money cheaper as to make it available as freely as possible.
This Administration has recommended to Congress that the statutory
controls on FHA and VA interest rates be removed. If this were done, the
price of money would be reflected entirely in the interest rate, and the
discount would not exist any more than in conventional loans. The insured
mortgage lender would get his effective rate of return, but in the form
of interest, not partly by discount. One evil of the present system, as
you point out, is that the buyer who absorbs the discount in the price
of the house pays interest on the discount from the beginning. Another
evil attending this form of advance interest payment is that the home
buyer who prepays his loan for any reason recaptures none of the discount.
Another fault of the discount pattern is that its results are not uniform,
in that the burden falls in varying degrees upon buyers and sellers in
different transactions and in different parts of the country.
I believe we must work boldly and with determination for basic cures
for evils such as this. One of the basic differences I see between the
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
- 3 -
Republican Party and those who now control the Democratic Party is that
we work toward lasting solutions to our problems within the framework
of a free economy, while they frequently propose measures which through
excessive spending or regulation interfere with the operation of our
free economy, and which once begun require ever further spending or
regulation. In this instance, a basic solution requires that unnecessary
competitive pressures on the mortgage money market be reduced or eliminated.
When the Federal Government goes into the money market for billions of
dollars of new borrowings, the amount of money available for mortgages
is diminished.
The Federal Government is so vast in comparison with any individual
that it is difficult to maintain a constant personal concern over
unnecessary government spending and unbalanced budgets. However, the
hard fact is that every dollar which the Federal Government takes out
of the money market by new borrowing reduces the amount of money available
for private lending, including mortgage lending, and thereby contributes
to the pressure for high interest rates and discounts. The most con-
structive assistance we can give to the home owners and buyers of the
country is to eliminate all unnecessary Federal demands on the money
market. At the same time, we can help the Republican Party and the
Nation by encouraging public understanding that their own personal
fortunes, very specifically including the payment of high mortgage
discounts and interest rates, are inescapably tied to the Republican
doctrine of fiscal sanity.
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
- 4 -
I know that the program I am suggesting is much more difficult
to explain to the voters than a statute or administrative action which
would promise some immediate help, however illusory. That is why the
interest of Republican leaders such as yourself in these problems is
necessary to success in November. I very much appreciate your expression
of personal regard and I am hoping that I shall have an opportunity to
see you in the course of the campaign.
Sincerely yours,
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
OFFICE OF THE VICE president
WASHINGTON
May 31, 1960
MEMORANDUM FOR
Mr. Lyman Brownfield
Housing and Home Finance Agency
We shall appreciate it if you will have
a draft reply prepared to the attached
and returned to us with the original
correspondence.
An
(Miss) Agnes Waldron
Staff of the Vice President
Enclosure:
Letter of May 17 from Leo W. Roethe
Re: home values
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
4537
Lymen Brown feels for Draft MAY 1 9 1960
Republican Party of Wisconsin
SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
LEO W. ROETHE, Chairman
Fort Atkinson
Vice President Richard Nixon
MRS. VERA IMHOFF, Vice-Chairman
Washington
Waukesha
D. C.
May 17, 1960
Dear Dick:
I am deeply concerned about our country's future. I believe
our country needs a young, vigorous, experienced, honest
and courageous President. I believe you are that man.
There are several actions that you might take that would help
insure your victory. One of which I will outline briefly.
Every American, who is a sober industrious worker, should have
an opportunity to own his own home, within his ability to pay.
The ЭНА has done and is doing an excellent service for all
Americans in this field.
As you know, the interest rates have increased considerably
these past five years. This reduces the value of the home the
buyer can afford. I do not believe that this can be changed
materially. A number of years ago the ЭНА established the
maximum discount a seller or builder could be charged by the
mortgage broker handling a loan, including the discount demanded
by the mortgagee. This was two or three points. Several years
ago this maximum permissable discount requirement was dropped.
It was claimed that this would reduce the cost of obtaining
mortgage money. The opposite is true.
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Vice Pres. Richard Nixon
- 2 -
May 17, 1960
Discounts now range from five to eleven or more points on
insured loans. This cost is supposed to be paid by the
seller, but you can easily see that it always is added to the
price the buyer pays, and what is even worse the buyer has to
pay interest on this additional cost for a period of twenty
five to thirty years.
I recommend that you use your efforts to reinstate the ceiling
on the number of maximum permissable points that can be charged
the buyer and seller on any insured loan. This action should
gain the votes of many now undecided voters in the building
trades (our largest industry), real estate and the home buying
public.
Best personal wishes, and Good Luck in the coming election.
Sincerely,
Leo W. Roethe/cc
Leo W. Roethe, Chairman
Second Congressional District
Republican Party of Wisconsin
LUR: cmc
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
COPY
3/4/60
March 4, 1960
Dear Mr. Roethe:
This is just a note to thank you for
your thoughtfulness in seeing that I received
"X" Copy
of our Party. Hardly a day goes by that
your safari seuvenir!
Gift 1960 folder
Roethe,
-
the tusks for the handsome miniature elephant.
Your African remembrance is a handsome and
valued addition to my collection of symbols
some visitor to my office doesn't admire
With appreciation for your kindness
in remembering me with this prized ebony
piece and with every good wish.
Leo W.----- folder
Sincerely,
le.
Richard Nixon
EN/fcc
Mr. Leo W. Roethe, President
National Agricultural Supply Company
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
NASCO
Registrant you
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY CO.
FORT
TELEPHONE JORDAN 3-2446
Vice President Richard Nixon
National Capitol
Washington, D. C.
not ATKINSON, pl WISCONSIN air
December 21, 1959
Dear Dick:
The picture of the Masai ebony elephant made a big hit in Africa.
The Mombasa, East African newspaper has carried a story on it,
which I sent down to the folks who did the carving, which I pre-
sented to you a couple of weeks ago.
I told them that the tusks had been lost or broken, so they sent
back additional tusks for you to repair the ebony elephant you have.
They are enclosed with this letter, and perhaps Mr. Hughes can easily
have one of your Capitol repairmen fix this for you.
Things are looking very fine for you here in Wisconsin, and we are
hopeful that is the case all over the United States.
Best personal regards.
Sincerely,
So
Leo W. Roethe, President
National Agricultural Supply Co.
Chairman, 2nd District, Republican Party of Wis.
LUR: cmc
Encl.
SUPPLY HEADQUARTERS FOR VO-AG INSTRUCTORS AND AGRICULTURAL LEADERS
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
WISCONSIN
Newspaper Service
235 Washington Building
MADISON 3, WISCONSIN
Clipping Bureau (notreet Division
Lake Mills Leader
NOV 12 1959
e
h
f
Roethe Tells of African Safari,
Shows Gift to Be Given Nixon
An African carved ebony ele-
Ethiopia on the west coast of Af-
phant that is being presented to
rica. Although this is equatorial
Vice President Richard Nixon by
latitude, the weather was in the
Badger Republicans at Wisconsin
pleasant 80's in the foothills of
Rapids today, was displayed in
Mt. Kilimanjaro, where the safari
Lake Mills briefly Tuesday noon.
was made.
The handsome black elephant
Besides shooting 67 animals in-
was shown at the Rotary club din-
cluding a record 11,000 lb. ele-
ner meeting by Leo Roethe of Fort
phant (most of the meat being
Atkinson, who brought it back
turned over to the natives) Roe-
among other souvenirs from his
the brought back some amazing
recent African safari.
color pictures of African wild-
Roethe, who is president of the
life, including a rare sequence of
National Agricultural Supply Co.
a cheetah killing a gazelle which
at Fort Atkinson and district G.
major movie studios had been un-
O. P. head, showed pictures, dis-
able to photograph before.
played souvenirs and told about
Roethe said that cape buffalo
his big game hunting as a pro-
was probably the most dangerous
gram feature at the Rotary meet-
animal in the region, even more to
ing. He was introduced by Char-
be feared than the lion or tiger
les Balaam.
because it does not wait to be at-
The magic spell of far-away
tacked and has no fear, whether
places came to life as Roethe told
alone or in a herd.
of his 7-week excursion into the
He said the country is a poten-
bush country of Kenya, south of
tial trouble spot because since
the Mau Mau uprising a few years
ago the British have taken fire-
arms from the natives, who are
therefore unable to secure their
regular game supply and are hun-
er
gry. The average wage, he said,
is 25 to 30 cents a day, and he
e
told of an incident in which he
1
was reprimanded by a British of-
ficial for giving too large a tip and
thus "spoiling" the natives.
He also told how one night,
while asleep, he was attacked by
millions of ants, capable of de-
vouring a man, coming from an
anthill 40 feet high only a short
distance from his tent.
He promised to return at a later
date to finish his fascinating
tory of the safari, and show more
of his slides and movies of Afric-
in wildlife.
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
RHF
NASCO
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY CO.
FORT ATKINSON, WISCONSIN
TELEPHONE JORDAN 3-2446
Mr. Hughes, Administrative Assistant
Vice President Richard Nixon
National Capitol
Washington, D. C.
November 23, 1959
Dear Mr. Hughes:
Thank you very much for the very efficient manner in which you
handled the picture which was taken Friday, of the Vice President
and myself holding the ebony elephant, carved by the Chief of
the Masai tribe.
I will surely appreciate it, if you can send me about ten 8
prints of this, which we can use to good advantage.
mark
I will be glad to pay you whatever the charge is for this trouble,
if you will only let me know the amount.
Things are looking very good here in the State for the Vice President,
and I am sure that if he decides to enter the primary here next year,
he is going to have a powerful team to help do the work.
Let us know when we can be of service.
Sincerely yours,
National Agricultural Supply Co.
Leo W. Roethe
President
2nd District Chairman
LWR. cmc
Republican Party of Wisconsin
SUPPLY HEADQUARTERS FOR VO-AG INSTRUCTORS AND AGRICULTURAL LEADERS
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
4:55
File
NASCO
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY CO
Shote
FORT WISCONSIN
TELEPHONE JORDAN 3-2446
Vice President Richard Nixon
United States Capitol Bldg.
Washington, D. C.
RN ATKINSON, made saw air mail
NOV 1 8 1959
November 17, 1959
Dear Dick:
It was good to have a chance to visit with you for a moment at the
Wisconsin Rapids Republican gathering last week. Your highly
efficient team got the Masai ebony elephant put away so quickly
that we didn't get a chance to have a picture taken with it.
As you know, Claude Jasper told you this was done by one of the
chiefs of the Masai tribe in Kenya in East Africa, while I was
there on Safari this summer. I am going to be in Washington on
Friday, November 20th, and am wondering if you would be able to
take 30 seconds from your very busy schedule to let me hold the
elephant and hand it to you while a photographer takes a picture
which I can send to the Masai chief in Africa. I believe it will
do a great deal of good politically, and it is something I would
appreciate very much personally.
I will give your office a ring when I get in town Friday.
Kind personal regards.
Sincerely,
Leo Rathilec
Leo W. Roethe
President, National Agricultural Supply Co.
2nd District Chairman Republican Party of Wis.
LUR: cmc
SUPPLY HEADQUARTERS FOR VO-AG INSTRUCTORS AND AGRICULTURAL LEADERS
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
Has no folder
Dear Mr. Roethe
?
Dear Leo ?
Please sign RICHARD NIXON
DICK NIXON
DICK
WEWOB
МУСИА
SHILLD @cirucs
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
COPY
February 19, 1959
Dear Mr. Roethe:
This is just a note to thank you for your letter of
February 3 concerning the invitation which has been extended
to me to speak at the 23rd Annual Convention of the National
Wildlife Federation which will be held in New York City on
February 27-March 1.
I want you to know how much I appreciate your
23rd annual convention of National Wildlife Federation
Invitation - New York, NEW YORK - Feb. 27, 1959 - TD
thoughtfulness in writing to me as you did about this matter.
Unfortunately, it was not possible for me to accept this invi-
tation and, in view of your interest, I thought you might like
to see the enclosed copy of my letter of February 3 to Mr.
Ernest Swift advising him to this effect.
With every good wish,
Sincerely,
Richard Nixon
form/amk
Mr. Leo W. Roethe, President
National Agricultural Supply Co.
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
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"ocrText": "DATE RECEIVED\nOCT 7 1960\nfolder\nCaler\nACTION Form\nSpec Ack No Ack\nFill In\nVIP Dear Peo /s/ DN\nRefer To stoven from RFS\nMisc\nENCLOSURES Marm\nHuron SD\nSnap Pack\nMAILING LIST #\nMATERIALS Gimmicks Speech Pack\nANALYSIS Yes Tallied Analyzed\nCOMMENTS Return\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nRepublican Parky of Wisconsin\ncalled\nSECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT\nLD92C\nLEO W. ROETHE, Chairman\nFort Atkinson\nVice President Richard Nixon\nMRS. VERA IMHOFF, Vice-Chairman\nWashington\nWaukesha\nD. C.\nOctober 5, 1960\nDear Dick:\nMost all the polls have you running behind in Wisconsin, because\nof the farm situation.\nyou have been relying quite heavily on Professor Henry Ahlgren\nof the University of Wisconsin for your farm program, and he\nis terrific. I know, because he was my college roommate at\nthe University of Wisconsin. He is well liked among the\nfarmers here in Wisconsin, and if you could see your way clear\nto make some kind of a statement that Ahlgren would be \"considered\"\nor possibly chosen as your Secretary of Agriculture should you be\nelected to the Presidency, I am sure you can carry practically\nall of the farm vote here in Wisconsin.\nIf this announcement could be made in the near future, it would\nhave a tremendous affect upon your winning this state.\nof course you realize, you are still fighting the Benson phychology\nhere in Wisconsin, and that anti-propaganda would be completely\nforgotten if some constructive statement would be made regarding\nAhlgren and the part he would have to play in your administration.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nVice President Richard Nixon - 2 - -\nOctober 5, 1960\nWe are working hard for you here, and believe we can still win\nthis state for you, but this one announcement on your part\nif it does not embarrass you other places in the country, would\nbe the crowning touch to bring us victory here in Wisconsin.\nGood Luck!\nSincerely,\nLeo W. Roethelce\nLeo W. Roethe, Chairman\nSecond Congressional District\nRepublican Party of Wisconsin\nLUR: cmc\nCC: Henry Ahlgren\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nOFFICE\nOF\nTHE\nvice\nBetty WASHINGTON\nthe Elephant Shot\n10 prints of\nto\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nLEO W. ROETHE\nJORDAN 3-2446\nPRESIDENT fild print\nNASCO\nNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY CO.\nFORT Atkinson, WISCONSIN\nSPECIALISTS IN EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR VO-AG INSTRUC-\nTORS, COUNTY AGENTS, EXTENSION WORKERS AND FARMERS.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nCOPY\nJuly 15, 1960\nRoethe, Leo W.\nMr. Leo W. Roethe, Chairman\nRepublican Party of Wisconsin\nSecond Congressional District\nFort Atkinson, Wisconsin\nDear Mr. Roethe:\nThis is the first opportunity I have had to thank you\nfor your letter of May 17. As you have surmised, yours is not\nthe only letter 1 have received on the difficult and sensitive\nx I\nissue of discounts on government insured mortgages.\nfolder\nAs you say, the question of lowering interest rates\ngenerally is a difficult one. Interest rates are influenced by\nso many interrelated factors that controlling one without con-\ntrolling the other would probably be ineffective, and trying\nto control them all would probably do more harm than good.\nx - Subj: Monetary Policy\nThe discount of FHA and VA loans is a product of\nan effort at partial control. The Congress has set a ceiling\non FHA and VA interest rates which under present circumstances\nis less than the money market requires for investment in this\ntype of loan. Since the interest rate cannont be adjusted, the\nlender effects the adjustment by establishing a discount which\nwill produce the return demanded by the market.\nThe previous attempt to control discounts was\ndropped because it was difficult if not impossible to enforce,\nand because the practical result was to limit the supply of\nFHA and VA mortgage money available. Since we should not and\ncannot compel investors to lend money, when the return to the\nlender becomes non-competitive with other investment sources,\nthe lender simply lends the money elsewhere. In other words,\nwhen FHA and VA interest rates and discounts are controlled,\nthis is complete control in one sector of the money market\nonly, with a strong resulting tendency to drive the money into\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nMr. Leo W. Roethe\nCOPY\nPage 2\nnon-controlled sectors of the market. People who before had a\nchoice between paying the marke t price for the loan or refusing\nto borrow are left with ao choice at all. Of course, this process\nwould never dry up the Insured mortgage market altogether,\nbecause other local factors would always operate to maintain\na market of some sixe, but the effect would be so significant\nas to deprive far more people of loans than does the present\nhalf-free system. Discount controls were dropped not so much to\nreake mortgage money cheaper as to make it available as freely\nas possible.\nThis Administration has recommended to Congress\nthat the statutory controls on FHA and VA interest rates be\nremoved. If this were done, the price of money would be reflected\nentirely in the interest rate, and the discount would not exist\nany more than in conventional loans. The insured mortgage lenders\nwould get his effective rate of return, but in the form of interest,\nnot partly by discount. One evil of the present system, as you\npoint out, is that the buyer who absorbs the discount in the price\nof the house pays interest on the discount from the beginning.\nAnother evil attending this form of advence interest payment is\nthat the home buyer who prepays his loan for any reason recaptures\nnone of the discount. Another fault of the discount pattern is\nthat its results are not uniform, in that the burden falls in vary-\ning degrees upon buyers and sellers in different transactions and\nin different parts of the country.\nI believe we must work boldly and with determination\nfor basic cures for evils such as this. One of the baste differences\n7. sea between the Republican Party and those who now control\nthe Democratic Party is that we work toward lasting solutions to\nour problems within the framework of a free economy, while they\nfrequently propose measures which through excessive sponding\nor regulation interfere with the operation of CREE free economy,\nand which once begun require ever further spending or regulation.\nIn this instance, a. basic solution requires that unnenessary com-\npetitive pressures on the mortgage money market be reduced or\neliminated. When the Federal Government goes into the money\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nMr. Leo W. Roethe\nCOPY\nPage 3\nmarket for billions of dollars of new borrowings, the amount of\nmoney available for mortgages is diminished.\nThe Federal Government is so vast in comparison\nwith any individual that it is difficult to maintain a constant personal\nconcern over unnecessary government spending and unbalanced\nbudgets. However, the hard fact is that every dollar which the\nFederal Government takes out of the money market by new borrow-\ning reduces the amount of money available for private lending,\nincluding mortgage lending, and thereby contributes to the\npressure for high interest rates and discounts. The most con-\nstructive assistance we can give to the home owners and buyers\nof the country is to eliminate all unnecessary Federal demands\non the money marks t. At the same time, we can help the Republican\nParty and the Nation by encouraging public understan ding that their\nown personal fortunes, very specifically including the payment of\nhigh mortgage discounts and interest rates, are inescapably tied\nto the Republican doctrine of fiscal sanity.\nI know that the program I am suggesting is much more\ndifficult to explain to the voters than at statute or administrative\naction which would promise some immediate help, however illusory.\nThat is why the interest of Republican leaders in these problems\nis necessary to success in November. I very much appreciate\nyour expression of personal regard and 1. am hoping I shall have\nan opportunity to see you in the course of the campaign.\nWith all good wishes,\nSincerely,\nRichard Nixon\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nHOME TENANCE THE HOUSENG AGENCY\nHOUSING AND HOME FINANCE AGENCY\nOFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR\nWASHINGTON 25, D.C.\nFederal Housing Administration\nJune 22, 1960\nPublic Housing Administration\nFederal National Mortgage Association\nCommunity Facilities Administration\nUrban Renewal Administration\nMEMORANDUM FOR: Agnes Waldron\nOffice of the Vice President\nI am attaching a draft of a proposed reply to a letter\naddressed to the Vice President from Mr. Leo W. Roethe\nof Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, together with the original\nincoming correspondence which you forwarded to me.\nLyman General Counsel Browsifuid\nAttachments\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nfor y- mml Saly: der HH: Monetary okpl Policy\nDRAFT\nMr. Leo W. Roethe, Chairman\nRepublican Party of Wisconsin\nSecond Congressional District\nFort Atkinson, Wisconsin\n(check Salutation) files for\n?\nDear Leg: me. Roethe\n2 have had to\nThis is the Jerse Thank you for your letter of May 17. As you may have surmised,\nyours is not the only letter I have received on the difficult and\nsensitive issue of discounts on government insured mortgages.\nAs you say, the question of lowering interest rates generally\nis a difficult one. Interest rates are influenced by so many\ninterrelated factors that controlling one without controlling the\nother would probably be ineffective, and trying to control them all\nwould probably do more harm than good.\nThe discount of FHA and VA loans is a product of an effort at\npartial control. The Congress has set a ceiling on FHA and VA interest\nrates which under present circumstances is less than the money market\nrequires for investment in this type of loan. Since the interest rate\ncannot be adjusted, the lender effects the adjustment by establishing\na discount which will produce the return demanded by the market.\nThe previous attempt to control discounts was dropped because it\nwas difficult if not impossible to enforce, and because the practical\nresult was to limit the supply of FHA and VA mortgage money available.\nlend\nSince we should not and cannot compel investors to loan money, when\nthe return to the lender becomes non-competitive with other investment\nlends\nsources, the lender simply loans the money elsewhere. In other words,\nwhen FHA and VA interest rates and discounts are controlled, this is\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n- 2 -\ncomplete control in one sector of the money market only, with a strong\nresulting tendency to drive the money into non-controlled sectors\nof the market. People who before had a choice between paying the\nmarket price for the loan or refusing to borrow are left with no choice\nat all. Of course, this process would never dry up the insured\nmortgage market altogether, because other local factors would always\noperate to maintain a market of some size, but the effect would be so\nsignificant as to deprive far more people of loans than does the present\nhalf-free system. Discount controls were dropped not so much to make\nmortgage money cheaper as to make it available as freely as possible.\nThis Administration has recommended to Congress that the statutory\ncontrols on FHA and VA interest rates be removed. If this were done, the\nprice of money would be reflected entirely in the interest rate, and the\ndiscount would not exist any more than in conventional loans. The insured\nmortgage lender would get his effective rate of return, but in the form\nof interest, not partly by discount. One evil of the present system, as\nyou point out, is that the buyer who absorbs the discount in the price\nof the house pays interest on the discount from the beginning. Another\nevil attending this form of advance interest payment is that the home\nbuyer who prepays his loan for any reason recaptures none of the discount.\nAnother fault of the discount pattern is that its results are not uniform,\nin that the burden falls in varying degrees upon buyers and sellers in\ndifferent transactions and in different parts of the country.\nI believe we must work boldly and with determination for basic cures\nfor evils such as this. One of the basic differences I see between the\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n- 3 -\nRepublican Party and those who now control the Democratic Party is that\nwe work toward lasting solutions to our problems within the framework\nof a free economy, while they frequently propose measures which through\nexcessive spending or regulation interfere with the operation of our\nfree economy, and which once begun require ever further spending or\nregulation. In this instance, a basic solution requires that unnecessary\ncompetitive pressures on the mortgage money market be reduced or eliminated.\nWhen the Federal Government goes into the money market for billions of\ndollars of new borrowings, the amount of money available for mortgages\nis diminished.\nThe Federal Government is so vast in comparison with any individual\nthat it is difficult to maintain a constant personal concern over\nunnecessary government spending and unbalanced budgets. However, the\nhard fact is that every dollar which the Federal Government takes out\nof the money market by new borrowing reduces the amount of money available\nfor private lending, including mortgage lending, and thereby contributes\nto the pressure for high interest rates and discounts. The most con-\nstructive assistance we can give to the home owners and buyers of the\ncountry is to eliminate all unnecessary Federal demands on the money\nmarket. At the same time, we can help the Republican Party and the\nNation by encouraging public understanding that their own personal\nfortunes, very specifically including the payment of high mortgage\ndiscounts and interest rates, are inescapably tied to the Republican\ndoctrine of fiscal sanity.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n- 4 -\nI know that the program I am suggesting is much more difficult\nto explain to the voters than a statute or administrative action which\nwould promise some immediate help, however illusory. That is why the\ninterest of Republican leaders such as yourself in these problems is\nnecessary to success in November. I very much appreciate your expression\nof personal regard and I am hoping that I shall have an opportunity to\nsee you in the course of the campaign.\nSincerely yours,\nwithougd wisher\nRu\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nHOME THE GNISUON AGENCY\nHOUSING AND HOME FINANCE AGENCY\nOFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR\nWASHINGTON 25, D.C.\nFederal Housing Administration\nJune 22, 1960\nPublic Housing Administration\nFederal National Mortgage Association\nCommunity Facilities Administration\nUrban Renewal Administration\nMEMORANDUM FOR: Agnes Waldron\nOffice of the Vice President\nI am attaching a draft of a proposed reply to a letter\naddressed to the Vice President from Mr. Leo W. Roethe\nof Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, together with the original\nincoming correspondence which you forwarded to me.\nLynow Brownfield\nGeneral Counsel\nAttachments\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nDRAFT\nMr. Leo W. Roethe, Chairman\nRepublican Party of Wisconsin\nSecond Congressional District\nFort Atkinson, Wisconsin\nDear Leo:\nThank you for your letter of May 17. As you may have surmised,\nyours is not the only letter I have received on the difficult and\nsensitive issue of discounts on government insured mortgages.\nAs you say, the question of lowering interest rates generally\nis a difficult one. Interest rates are influenced by so many\ninterrelated factors that controlling one without controlling the\nother would probably be ineffective, and trying to control them all\nwould probably do more harm than good.\nThe discount of FHA and VA loans is a product of an effort at\npartial control. The Congress: has set a ceiling on FHA and VA interest\nrates which under present circumstances is less than the money market\nrequires for investment in this type of loan. Since the interest rate\ncannot be adjusted, the lender effects the adjustment by establishing\na discount which will produce the return demanded by the market.\nThe previous attempt to control discounts was dropped because it\nwas difficult if not impossible to enforce, and because the practical\nresult was to limit the supply of FHA and VA mortgage money available.\nSince we should not and cannot compel investors to loan money, when\nthe return to the lender becomes non-competitive with other investment\nsources, the lender simply loans the money elsewhere. In other words,\nwhen FHA and VA interest rates and discounts are controlled, this is\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n- 2 -\ncomplete control in one sector of the money market only, with a strong\nresulting tendency to drive the money into non-controlled sectors\nof the market. People who before had a choice between paying the\nmarket price for the loan or refusing to borrow are left with no choice\nat all. Of course, this process would never dry up the insured\nmortgage market altogether, because other local factors would always\noperate to maintain a market of some size, but the effect would be so\nsignificant as to deprive far more people of loans than does the present\nhalf-free system. Discount controls were dropped not so much to make\nmortgage money cheaper as to make it available as freely as possible.\nThis Administration has recommended to Congress that the statutory\ncontrols on FHA and VA interest rates be removed. If this were done, the\nprice of money would be reflected entirely in the interest rate, and the\ndiscount would not exist any more than in conventional loans. The insured\nmortgage lender would get his effective rate of return, but in the form\nof interest, not partly by discount. One evil of the present system, as\nyou point out, is that the buyer who absorbs the discount in the price\nof the house pays interest on the discount from the beginning. Another\nevil attending this form of advance interest payment is that the home\nbuyer who prepays his loan for any reason recaptures none of the discount.\nAnother fault of the discount pattern is that its results are not uniform,\nin that the burden falls in varying degrees upon buyers and sellers in\ndifferent transactions and in different parts of the country.\nI believe we must work boldly and with determination for basic cures\nfor evils such as this. One of the basic differences I see between the\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n- 3 -\nRepublican Party and those who now control the Democratic Party is that\nwe work toward lasting solutions to our problems within the framework\nof a free economy, while they frequently propose measures which through\nexcessive spending or regulation interfere with the operation of our\nfree economy, and which once begun require ever further spending or\nregulation. In this instance, a basic solution requires that unnecessary\ncompetitive pressures on the mortgage money market be reduced or eliminated.\nWhen the Federal Government goes into the money market for billions of\ndollars of new borrowings, the amount of money available for mortgages\nis diminished.\nThe Federal Government is so vast in comparison with any individual\nthat it is difficult to maintain a constant personal concern over\nunnecessary government spending and unbalanced budgets. However, the\nhard fact is that every dollar which the Federal Government takes out\nof the money market by new borrowing reduces the amount of money available\nfor private lending, including mortgage lending, and thereby contributes\nto the pressure for high interest rates and discounts. The most con-\nstructive assistance we can give to the home owners and buyers of the\ncountry is to eliminate all unnecessary Federal demands on the money\nmarket. At the same time, we can help the Republican Party and the\nNation by encouraging public understanding that their own personal\nfortunes, very specifically including the payment of high mortgage\ndiscounts and interest rates, are inescapably tied to the Republican\ndoctrine of fiscal sanity.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n- 4 -\nI know that the program I am suggesting is much more difficult\nto explain to the voters than a statute or administrative action which\nwould promise some immediate help, however illusory. That is why the\ninterest of Republican leaders such as yourself in these problems is\nnecessary to success in November. I very much appreciate your expression\nof personal regard and I am hoping that I shall have an opportunity to\nsee you in the course of the campaign.\nSincerely yours,\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nOFFICE OF THE VICE president\nWASHINGTON\nMay 31, 1960\nMEMORANDUM FOR\nMr. Lyman Brownfield\nHousing and Home Finance Agency\nWe shall appreciate it if you will have\na draft reply prepared to the attached\nand returned to us with the original\ncorrespondence.\nAn\n(Miss) Agnes Waldron\nStaff of the Vice President\nEnclosure:\nLetter of May 17 from Leo W. Roethe\nRe: home values\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n4537\nLymen Brown feels for Draft MAY 1 9 1960\nRepublican Party of Wisconsin\nSECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT\nLEO W. ROETHE, Chairman\nFort Atkinson\nVice President Richard Nixon\nMRS. VERA IMHOFF, Vice-Chairman\nWashington\nWaukesha\nD. C.\nMay 17, 1960\nDear Dick:\nI am deeply concerned about our country's future. I believe\nour country needs a young, vigorous, experienced, honest\nand courageous President. I believe you are that man.\nThere are several actions that you might take that would help\ninsure your victory. One of which I will outline briefly.\nEvery American, who is a sober industrious worker, should have\nan opportunity to own his own home, within his ability to pay.\nThe ЭНА has done and is doing an excellent service for all\nAmericans in this field.\nAs you know, the interest rates have increased considerably\nthese past five years. This reduces the value of the home the\nbuyer can afford. I do not believe that this can be changed\nmaterially. A number of years ago the ЭНА established the\nmaximum discount a seller or builder could be charged by the\nmortgage broker handling a loan, including the discount demanded\nby the mortgagee. This was two or three points. Several years\nago this maximum permissable discount requirement was dropped.\nIt was claimed that this would reduce the cost of obtaining\nmortgage money. The opposite is true.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nVice Pres. Richard Nixon\n- 2 -\nMay 17, 1960\nDiscounts now range from five to eleven or more points on\ninsured loans. This cost is supposed to be paid by the\nseller, but you can easily see that it always is added to the\nprice the buyer pays, and what is even worse the buyer has to\npay interest on this additional cost for a period of twenty\nfive to thirty years.\nI recommend that you use your efforts to reinstate the ceiling\non the number of maximum permissable points that can be charged\nthe buyer and seller on any insured loan. This action should\ngain the votes of many now undecided voters in the building\ntrades (our largest industry), real estate and the home buying\npublic.\nBest personal wishes, and Good Luck in the coming election.\nSincerely,\nLeo W. Roethe/cc\nLeo W. Roethe, Chairman\nSecond Congressional District\nRepublican Party of Wisconsin\nLUR: cmc\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nCOPY\n3/4/60\nMarch 4, 1960\nDear Mr. Roethe:\nThis is just a note to thank you for\nyour thoughtfulness in seeing that I received\n\"X\" Copy\nof our Party. Hardly a day goes by that\nyour safari seuvenir!\nGift 1960 folder\nRoethe,\n-\nthe tusks for the handsome miniature elephant.\nYour African remembrance is a handsome and\nvalued addition to my collection of symbols\nsome visitor to my office doesn't admire\nWith appreciation for your kindness\nin remembering me with this prized ebony\npiece and with every good wish.\nLeo W.----- folder\nSincerely,\nle.\nRichard Nixon\nEN/fcc\nMr. Leo W. Roethe, President\nNational Agricultural Supply Company\nFort Atkinson, Wisconsin\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nNASCO\nRegistrant you\nNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY CO.\nFORT\nTELEPHONE JORDAN 3-2446\nVice President Richard Nixon\nNational Capitol\nWashington, D. C.\nnot ATKINSON, pl WISCONSIN air\nDecember 21, 1959\nDear Dick:\nThe picture of the Masai ebony elephant made a big hit in Africa.\nThe Mombasa, East African newspaper has carried a story on it,\nwhich I sent down to the folks who did the carving, which I pre-\nsented to you a couple of weeks ago.\nI told them that the tusks had been lost or broken, so they sent\nback additional tusks for you to repair the ebony elephant you have.\nThey are enclosed with this letter, and perhaps Mr. Hughes can easily\nhave one of your Capitol repairmen fix this for you.\nThings are looking very fine for you here in Wisconsin, and we are\nhopeful that is the case all over the United States.\nBest personal regards.\nSincerely,\nSo\nLeo W. Roethe, President\nNational Agricultural Supply Co.\nChairman, 2nd District, Republican Party of Wis.\nLUR: cmc\nEncl.\nSUPPLY HEADQUARTERS FOR VO-AG INSTRUCTORS AND AGRICULTURAL LEADERS\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nWISCONSIN\nNewspaper Service\n235 Washington Building\nMADISON 3, WISCONSIN\nClipping Bureau (notreet Division\nLake Mills Leader\nNOV 12 1959\ne\nh\nf\nRoethe Tells of African Safari,\nShows Gift to Be Given Nixon\nAn African carved ebony ele-\nEthiopia on the west coast of Af-\nphant that is being presented to\nrica. Although this is equatorial\nVice President Richard Nixon by\nlatitude, the weather was in the\nBadger Republicans at Wisconsin\npleasant 80's in the foothills of\nRapids today, was displayed in\nMt. Kilimanjaro, where the safari\nLake Mills briefly Tuesday noon.\nwas made.\nThe handsome black elephant\nBesides shooting 67 animals in-\nwas shown at the Rotary club din-\ncluding a record 11,000 lb. ele-\nner meeting by Leo Roethe of Fort\nphant (most of the meat being\nAtkinson, who brought it back\nturned over to the natives) Roe-\namong other souvenirs from his\nthe brought back some amazing\nrecent African safari.\ncolor pictures of African wild-\nRoethe, who is president of the\nlife, including a rare sequence of\nNational Agricultural Supply Co.\na cheetah killing a gazelle which\nat Fort Atkinson and district G.\nmajor movie studios had been un-\nO. P. head, showed pictures, dis-\nable to photograph before.\nplayed souvenirs and told about\nRoethe said that cape buffalo\nhis big game hunting as a pro-\nwas probably the most dangerous\ngram feature at the Rotary meet-\nanimal in the region, even more to\ning. He was introduced by Char-\nbe feared than the lion or tiger\nles Balaam.\nbecause it does not wait to be at-\nThe magic spell of far-away\ntacked and has no fear, whether\nplaces came to life as Roethe told\nalone or in a herd.\nof his 7-week excursion into the\nHe said the country is a poten-\nbush country of Kenya, south of\ntial trouble spot because since\nthe Mau Mau uprising a few years\nago the British have taken fire-\narms from the natives, who are\ntherefore unable to secure their\nregular game supply and are hun-\ner\ngry. The average wage, he said,\nis 25 to 30 cents a day, and he\ne\ntold of an incident in which he\n1\nwas reprimanded by a British of-\nficial for giving too large a tip and\nthus \"spoiling\" the natives.\nHe also told how one night,\nwhile asleep, he was attacked by\nmillions of ants, capable of de-\nvouring a man, coming from an\nanthill 40 feet high only a short\ndistance from his tent.\nHe promised to return at a later\ndate to finish his fascinating\ntory of the safari, and show more\nof his slides and movies of Afric-\nin wildlife.\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nRHF\nNASCO\nNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY CO.\nFORT ATKINSON, WISCONSIN\nTELEPHONE JORDAN 3-2446\nMr. Hughes, Administrative Assistant\nVice President Richard Nixon\nNational Capitol\nWashington, D. C.\nNovember 23, 1959\nDear Mr. Hughes:\nThank you very much for the very efficient manner in which you\nhandled the picture which was taken Friday, of the Vice President\nand myself holding the ebony elephant, carved by the Chief of\nthe Masai tribe.\nI will surely appreciate it, if you can send me about ten 8\nprints of this, which we can use to good advantage.\nmark\nI will be glad to pay you whatever the charge is for this trouble,\nif you will only let me know the amount.\nThings are looking very good here in the State for the Vice President,\nand I am sure that if he decides to enter the primary here next year,\nhe is going to have a powerful team to help do the work.\nLet us know when we can be of service.\nSincerely yours,\nNational Agricultural Supply Co.\nLeo W. Roethe\nPresident\n2nd District Chairman\nLWR. cmc\nRepublican Party of Wisconsin\nSUPPLY HEADQUARTERS FOR VO-AG INSTRUCTORS AND AGRICULTURAL LEADERS\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\n4:55\nFile\nNASCO\nNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL SUPPLY CO\nShote\nFORT WISCONSIN\nTELEPHONE JORDAN 3-2446\nVice President Richard Nixon\nUnited States Capitol Bldg.\nWashington, D. C.\nRN ATKINSON, made saw air mail\nNOV 1 8 1959\nNovember 17, 1959\nDear Dick:\nIt was good to have a chance to visit with you for a moment at the\nWisconsin Rapids Republican gathering last week. Your highly\nefficient team got the Masai ebony elephant put away so quickly\nthat we didn't get a chance to have a picture taken with it.\nAs you know, Claude Jasper told you this was done by one of the\nchiefs of the Masai tribe in Kenya in East Africa, while I was\nthere on Safari this summer. I am going to be in Washington on\nFriday, November 20th, and am wondering if you would be able to\ntake 30 seconds from your very busy schedule to let me hold the\nelephant and hand it to you while a photographer takes a picture\nwhich I can send to the Masai chief in Africa. I believe it will\ndo a great deal of good politically, and it is something I would\nappreciate very much personally.\nI will give your office a ring when I get in town Friday.\nKind personal regards.\nSincerely,\nLeo Rathilec\nLeo W. Roethe\nPresident, National Agricultural Supply Co.\n2nd District Chairman Republican Party of Wis.\nLUR: cmc\nSUPPLY HEADQUARTERS FOR VO-AG INSTRUCTORS AND AGRICULTURAL LEADERS\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nHas no folder\nDear Mr. Roethe\n?\nDear Leo ?\nPlease sign RICHARD NIXON\nDICK NIXON\nDICK\nWEWOB\nМУСИА\nSHILLD @cirucs\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum\nCOPY\nFebruary 19, 1959\nDear Mr. Roethe:\nThis is just a note to thank you for your letter of\nFebruary 3 concerning the invitation which has been extended\nto me to speak at the 23rd Annual Convention of the National\nWildlife Federation which will be held in New York City on\nFebruary 27-March 1.\nI want you to know how much I appreciate your\n23rd annual convention of National Wildlife Federation\nInvitation - New York, NEW YORK - Feb. 27, 1959 - TD\nthoughtfulness in writing to me as you did about this matter.\nUnfortunately, it was not possible for me to accept this invi-\ntation and, in view of your interest, I thought you might like\nto see the enclosed copy of my letter of February 3 to Mr.\nErnest Swift advising him to this effect.\nWith every good wish,\nSincerely,\nRichard Nixon\nform/amk\nMr. Leo W. Roethe, President\nNational Agricultural Supply Co.\nFort Atkinson, Wisconsin\nReproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum"
}