1) Martha Mitchell will not do
doing a syndicated column, probably for King Features.
1701 staff writer will prepare the material;
2) The Attorney General told Lyn Nofziger he would not be the
California Campaign Manager. Magruder believes it will be
Gordon Luce, but the Attorney General has not decided;
Additional office space is being acquired at 1701 in anticipation of the staffing up between November 1 and January 1;
4) The Attorney General was pleased that the GOP Moderates Meeting at the Army Navy Club leaked to the press pursuant to plan. believes that this undermined the "dump Agnew" overtones. Attorney General has a list of those who attended;
5) The New Hampshire Committee for the Re-Election of the President, with Lane Dwinell as chairman and Allen Walker as the action person, will be announced toward the end of October. There will be no direct connection with the national Committee for the Re-Election of the President, and the press policy will be the same: no Presidential or White House involvement but occasional discussion with the National Committee for the ReElection of the President;
6) Although the Attorney General has not reviewed Ken Rietz' youth
campaign plan, he has approved Rietz plan for a new voter regis-
tration plan in Orange County, Florida, beginning with a
kickoff speech by Senator Brock on November 1. The drive will
conclude November 20, to be followed with appropriate publicity;
8) Bob Marik, who prepared the Computers, Polling, and Research Planning Study for Flanigan's signature, went to New York to assess the reapportionment project in New York. The Attorney General directed Magruder and Marik to work with Dick Scolaro on the reapportionment project but with (Chuck) Lanigan for political matters such as strengthening the RNC NY Republican party cooperation;
We are to give HD money to no ow
9) Magruder suggested to the Attorney General that when Governor
Reagan returns from Taiwan and other Asian countries it would be
appropriate for Reagan to speak to the National Press Club and
reaffirm his support for the President's dialogue with China.
The Attorney General agreed. The National Press Club speech by
Reagan could be immediately after Reagan's personal report
"to the President on the results of his findings" according to
Magruder;
10) After you acted on the Bull-Chapin memorandum on the scheduling
of Senator Goldwater and other surrogate candidates, Magruder checked
with the Attorney General to confirm his understanding that there
were no conflicts between your decisions and the Attorney General's
views. The only minor divergence concerned the role of the White
House Speakers Bureau. You decided that "official spokesmen from
official non-political functions up through the Convention" should
be handled by Colson's operation. The Attorney General gave
a tentative approval "pending further consideration."
11) Al Kaupinen will join Harry Flemming at the Committee to
enter work with State Nixon-organizations on November 1.
requests continuation of White House mess privileges,
Jeb Magruder and Hugh Sloan at the Committee currently have
mess privileges.
That Kaupinen not retain White House Mess privileges.
12) After the YAF Convention debacle, Buchanan was asked to
comment on suggested methods of courting Conservatives.
Buchanan urged extreme caution on all the suggestions including
the NSC talking paper on China (a Kilpatrick column would be
better); post-Presidential speech telephone calls (several might not
ven accept the call); assistance getting Administration explanations
in Battle Line, etc. (the key editors and writers have already
broken with the Administration so extraordinary assistance would
be of no value); only Presidential Commissions and invitations
might be accepted, but Buchanan or Dave Keene of the Vice
President's office will see that these are handled correctly.
The Democratic Contenders
Pat Buchanan, as the chairman of the Attorney General's task
force on the Democratic Contenders, supervises the RNC
research on the contenders, drafts materials for Monday,
and clears "political hard ball" suggestions for Magruder 's
implementation. Buchanan reports that he has had significant
success in all three areas.
Ed DeBolt at the RNC supervises the preparation of weekly reports on the Democratic Contenders which are detailed and useable Venough to preclude the necessity to "assign one White House staff member to . each candidate" according to Buchanan.
Both Monday and the anti-Democratic Contenders' signs, demon-
strations, State Chairmen statements, and letters to the editors
have been "not inconsiderable in terms of harrassing our adversaries."
He forwarded the attached memorandum and clippings to prove
his point.
In addition, Buchanan has prepared an excellent updated strategy
memorandum entitled "Dividing the Democrats". A copy is attached
as you may want to read it prior to the general discussion of
approach to the Democrats with the Attorney General.
has led the attack against Muskie but now asks guidance as to
Whether the attack shouldn't be shifted to "Kennedy, whom some
consider (Nofziger among them) the most difficult candidate the
President could face." Buchanan also believes that Jackson
should receive his share of the attack as a Democratic
contender.
Finally, Buchanan reports that "Bob Finch feels very strongly
that the time has come to lay the groundwork for the "Do Nothing"
Congress charge. Finch believes that the President should open a
Cabinet meeting, "clear of Aides," encourage the Cabinet to do
a series of speeches supporting the President, and then "depart
leaving Bob Finch to fill in the details."
Finch
As mentioned in my September 24 Political Matters memorandum
some involved in the campaign are concerned that the Attorney
General is not spending the time necessary to make the early
important decisions. Rumsfeld and Flanigan now agree with Dent
and Magruder that the time has come for hard decisions by the
Attorney General in these areas, for which the Task Force
"planning studies" have been completed:
1) Young Voters for Nixon Rietz proposal;
2) Polling, computers, and research - Flanigan
recommendation;
3) Democratic Contenders Strategy
41 RNC Convention Appointments - Timmons suggestions;
5) Voter Block Staff Requirements
61 Advertising Director The Attorney General saw
Peter Dailey on October 11 and will see Richard O'Reilly
on October 13;
10) State Organizations: Flemming is doing only the
preliminary, light weight work which is being
criticized by Chotiner and Sears. The Attorney
General has not held a "political meeting" since June.
None of the State organizational dinners, first
suggested in February 1971 will occur before January
1972.
That you arrange a political meeting with the Attorney General at the earliest mutually convenient date to discuss all pending matters
Agree, Strachan set date.
Disagree, raise again in one month.
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