Richard Nixon Presidential LibraryContested Materials CollectionFolder List

Box Number Folder Number Document Date Document Type Document DescriptionNo Date Subject

47 27 9/27/1972 Memo To: Buchanan. From: Khachigian. RE: Thoughts for Romney's speech. With draft attached. 8pgs.

Campaign

47 27 Other Document Handwritten notes. 2pgs.Campaign

47 27 9/24/1971 Newspaper Draft article. "Running with Muskie -- How to Snatch Defeat from the Jaws of Victory". 11pgs.

Campaign

Tuesday, March 27, 2012 Page 1 of 1

9/27/71

• FOR: BUCHANAN

FROM: KHACHIGIAN

THOUGHTS FOR ROMNEY'S SPEECH

While he should go on the attack against RN's critics, I think

a spirited defense of the Administration would be useful. The

defense however, should be selective rather than across the board.

1. e., Romney s'tould defend on our long suits.

- - Should make the case for RN in foreign policy. The whole idea

should be to picture RN as the heavY'-veight when matched up against

any of the potential Dem candidates. Again: good points to make

on Vietnam, SA LT, etc.

But the main point is the thematic one of RN as leading America's

foreign policy with 'ta golden hand. II The sturdy, thoughtful, precise

maker and executor of foreign policy.

-- Domestic policy. There is a case to be made, but not so much

a programmatic one as a symbolic one. The RN who didn't overpromise,

who didn't bring bombast to his pronouncements, who simply went out

to do the job that was needed. Result: a more stable society in the

institutional sense, in our streets, etc.

- - I would put in a good word for the Nixon approach of calm in

place of charisma - - but would not overdo the style thing.

Page 2

Hitting the opponents should be a central rationale for the

ech, and if, as you say, name s can be used, I suggest some of

the following portrayals of the opposition. Henry Jackson: A n able

supporter of the President on foreign policy and renouncer of

extremism in Dem ranks. But it ends there, for Scoop is an

ADA liberal, bent on making the Federal government the ultimate

decision point in our lives. His attacks on the President's handling

of the economy have been just short of Demagogy - - not the best

characteristic for a man of decent instincts, but who has been driven

by a political party which has as its sworn purpose the destruction

of Richard Nixon no matter what the cost.

Ed Muskie: Ml:skie would be one of the worst choices for President.

He knows nothing about foreign policy (was swayed by Kosygin in the

famous Moscow meeting), would be totally untrustworthy in the

important discussions of foreign policy. He just can't swing it. He

is temperamental and prone to follow the troops. He is really a

non-entity fashioned by the liberal press into some kind of Democratic

Moses. Query: What one thing can you point to that Muskie stands

for or has accomplished? In short, he is a faceles s man, a man

utterly without the credentials to be President of the United States.

Imagine him meeting with Chou En Lai?

Page 3 "

Teddy Kennedy: Immature, aloof, doesn't know what hard times

are. Quick on the trigger; irrational, incapable of being decisiv;e

in a crises. He's like a little kid -- take away his rattle and he'll

run crying to momma. The least likely person we would want

to entrust affairs of state. rhaps cite the example of Teddy's

insult to Pakistani ambassador as a trait of Teddy the Tot.

George McGovern: A petulant, crybaby who sees nothing but the

worst in his country. He wails and cries, loves the IIkids" and

will never say a bad word against them. A total joke as a candidate;

he signed peoples peace Treaty with North Vietnam. Imagine his

credibility ,,;ere he elected President and then asked to lead

negotiations with NVN.

Hubert Humphrey: So characteristic of the worst in the Dem party -­

the hack who cries when things go bad. He's probably never made an

honest decision in his life, and probably never been held responsible

for any decision made on his behalf. The Humphrey, New Deal,

high-taxes, Vietnam candidate was beaten back in 1968 and

deservedly so. He's in the hands of the unions, and if it weren't

for George Meany, HHH would just be another homely face.

The Others: A bunch of amateurs playing the game. They are

laughable when put up against the sturdy experience of RN. It is

characteristic of the Dems today that they can't produce a President

only a bunch of vice-presidential hopefuls; party hacks who are

beholden to every pressure group and interest group which ever

infiltrated the Democratic party.

Page 4 , * * * * * * * * * * * *

The essence of the speech should be to show how, in contrast,

every Dem is a tenor in a bass choir. Not one of them is capable

of making the hard decisions RN has. Yet they run around the

country with their "Chicken Littleism" -- a faint-hearted approach

to American problems, holding the belief that America has lost

its wilL A bunch of hogwash which will be exposed in November

of 1972 when the American public will realize it has a President

to select.

Also suggest a few cracks at Congress dragging its feet -­

setting the staJe for RN versus Congress.

9/27/71

FOR': BUCHANAN

FROM: KHACHIGIAN

THOUGHTS FOR ROMSEY·S SPEECH

While he shomld go on the attack against RN's critics,

I think a spirited defense of the Administration would

be useful. ~The defense however, shomld be selective ..

rather than accoss the board. I.e., Romney should'" defend

on our long suits.

-- Shomld make the case for RN in foreign policy. The

whole ... idea should be to picture RN as the heavyweight

when matched up against any of the potential Dem candidates.

Again: good points to make on Vietnam, SALT, etc.

But the main point is the thematic one of RN as

__ leading America I s ~ foreign policy with Ila golden

hand.!! The sturdy, thoughtful, precise maker and executor

of foreign poli9Y.

Domestic policy. There is a case to be made, but

not s~ much a programmatic one as a symbolic one. The

RN who didn't overpromise, who ., didn'~bring bombast

to ... his pronouncements, who simply went out to 60 the

job. that was needed. -..Result: a more stable society

in the institutional sense, peace in our. streets, etc.F. -- I would put in a good word .. for the Nixon approach

of • calm. in place of charAsma -- but would not overdo

page 2

the style thing.

Hitting the opponents should be a central rationale

for the speech, and if, as you say, names can be used, I

suggest" some of the following portrayals of the opposition.

Henry aackson: An able supporter of the Preisdent on foreign

policy and renouncer of extremism in Oem ranks. But it

ends there, for Scoop is an _ADA liberal, bent on making

the Federal government the ultimate decisinn point in our

lives. His attacks on the Presmdent's handling of the

economy have been. just short of Demagogy -- not the

best l 4 characteristic for a man of decent instincts, but

who has been driven by a political party which has as

its sworn purpose the destruction of Richard Nxxon no matfer

what the., cost. one of

Ed Muskie: Muskie would be,(the worst choice for President.

He'" knows nothing about foreign POliCy~was swayed by

Kosygin in the famous Moscow meeting~WOUld be totally

untrustworthy in the4lr important discussions of foreign policy.

He • just can't swing it. He is tempermental ann ____ prone

to_ follcwthe troops. He is really a non-entity fashioned

by the liberal press into some kind of Democratic Moses.

Wuery: What one tming can you point to that Muskie stands

for or has accomplished? In short, he is a faceless man,

a man utterly without the credentials to be President of the

united States. Imagmne him meeting with Chou Bn Lai?

page 3

Teddy Kennedy: Immagure / '" aloof, doesn't know what

hard times are. Quick on the. trigger; irrational;

incapable of being decisive in a crisis. He's like a little

kid -- take away his rattle and he'll run crying to momma.

The least likely person we would want to entrust affairs

0f state. Perhaps cite the example of Teddy·s insult to

Pakisaani arnaassador as a trait of Teddy the ~_1?i'1j 7

George McGovern: A petulant , crybaby who sees nothing but

the 2 worst in his country. He wails and cries, ....

loves the "kids" and will never say a bad word" against

them. A total joke as a candidate; he signed ieoPles ,eace

treaty with North Vietnam. Imagine his credibility..,.. Co were he elected • ~r;sident and then asked to le ad.

negotiations with NVN.

Hubert Humphrey: So characteristic of th~wors~in the

..... Dem part y -- the hack who cries when things go bad. He's

"­probably'" never made an honest decision in his life,

an,j probably never been held ~ responsible for any

decision made on his behalf. The. Humphrey, New Deal,

. ... I .hlgh-taxe" Vletnam candidate_was beaten back

in 1968 and deservedly so. He's in the han.is of the unions,

and if it weren't for George Meany', HHH would just be

~ another homely fac.e . ...... The Others: A bunch of amateurs playing the game. They

3 k are laughable when put up against the sturdy experience

page 4

of RN. It is characteristic of the .... Dems today that

they can't produce a President -- only a bunch of vice-

presidential hopefuls; party hacks who are beholden to

every pressure group and ........ interest group which

ever infil~ated the Democratic party.

* * * * * The essence of the speech should be to show! how,

in contrast, .... every Dem is a tenor in a bass choiz.

Not" one of them is capable of making the hard decisions run

RN has. Yet they ~around the country with their

" Chiaken Littleism " -- a faint-hearted approach to American

problems, holding the k IE a belief that America has

lost its will. A .... bunch of hogwash which will be

exposed • in November of 1972 when the Ameiican public will

realize it has a President to select •

•

draft.

look:.; b I he's going to see

r just as sura as

is a forloi:n 1

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page 2

a dark horse emerging. Bad news for the (Juy 'Uley said 'would

walk away from the f 1d in 1972.

\\Thy the turnaround on Hur;kie?

\'va shington co1UITIlliists, Dvans 2lnd Novak,

reported that Muskie has lost ground

SAr s of errors and mls t.s. Il pol 1 miscues

have made Democratic governors dison (~d VJii.:.l'l B

and t.his J.G C~l.se the: reason b:~

as Ohio I s John Gilligan :(,8 9

.\-',-J.esons to pre on in ·their

prirf'aries.

Nus}:ie I s ition on the cEntral

hj_H1 troul)lG. Il:Ls (]c)\\7r1",tfl:·: .... 1 VuA.~~,~~';;~," ,-~.""'•• : ••'".".,•.••..• , ...•"' ••• ".,.

"

.. VJ11i} 'tlC,

n~)vertb .. t. bu

. it:;: .1;' ")(:

------------------------------p'age 3

destruction of thewould rapidly bring the

neighborhood school concept.

millions of parent.s who p:r:ccf.~cr "cheir childJ:~"';n I~; 8QU.cixtion

to be peaceful instead of disruptive, and if Muskic c0ntinues

to abet. t.he

\'::/t:he fat cats \'1110 are bank:c)lJ.in9 MlJ.~:;kiG 1Y;;~ttc:x: be adv~;)'~:'d

:tl:'::;~~ze, lout.

of touch \d.t.h union rank an6 fLLe. /i":;'

(J 4

siden~i21 hopeful t:roub

ieanAs if t.o !i.ZlstC:il made (as

Hugh Scott noted) o. "v

sens cit..:b:,enr; can playa

role, s. Big Ed, who

rna ins t:h::"t. he t f3 c~f 1 J:1J]ht.s as much as

I enrc.tg

, they

:to

iCc','cion ly

stcd Musk p2 ':3 19 ial

to I ..,1. of rrLack

vote:rs a.t t. f·or the

page 5

most faithful Black fol1ovlers. 01

Too bad for Muskie, but severnl B IGeJlers v.r0nldn' t

accept his -your-black--step-back at:.ti t:udc. Black

Congres f>hirley Chi I bas nG\'J annou..l1ced

d~"clcn:c for the Presidency on Ne\; Years and ente:c Cit

least tlnee ing in North Carolina,

Flor and CztJ.ifo)7nia, he could

take the hI

.c:O.l.. ra'l.:.iDJ1

1 .)

e aCt C' l:: I c(-l.l

out. • Nu ha S 11.0

s h~ outI. lX:g pc:

," )(l" C:+"l " • , i ~ ~~\ L) ,._, .,

V

d \..7eTo sum up t

1 eelit

J,-.

'­

page 6

What should really make norvous is

his r 1 blood and won I i.~ the nornin on

to the amateurish antics of the Downeast hero.

Kennedy has

is clearly reappraising his

own coy i t,ion. is di with

Ie :La 1i8m s not

1f, that

:3':1(; 9 I':cGovc rn

like 2 fou~th-str lback 1 soon convince Teddy

the Kennsdy torch

on t,() Ed I·)u::;;1:ie.

1, 'the de r:i

1,

( ; l :i:;

e '1

).:ies to

befo:re he: 8 too r, Kennedy will

entor, l}() old \lho \lere wet-nursing

llcGe\Tc ;':nel t 7, the De1'(i',';c}:a, National Convent.ion

get the

carry in~! lit " At least, that is

forces SC2 it, ana to get there, only Muskie

1 h_~c t ~'I''''t ... r.. ...

()f pr s are no·t~

ya:rCl,

at: a high qO<ll

, . 1 _( ~ ~ ,,' :in

a st to where he s evarything going for him, then he in

Other Democratics are v l1y eoneed New

faces only because

the traditio~ of first:. p

7 the New Hampshire

vote, he is 9 n~ to ing int:o Florida where his

hirn jn good ste

11 Ploy bal.lot un sa they

won't ru~ for Presid <lndI

way or the other.

i::. (j ~; the

Sh IS 9

I Vi 11 aL:;o

.! l.

9

litH st;:onsin lOltm F ida # and 11uskie

blecdi camp2.,ilJIJ in to feisty HcGovcrn ylho:6e

sell-out--Vietn<:,m views find amon9 a great. number

Not only will McGovern

bG sur:c: to give Mu ie trouble t but \'Jisoons 's popule'!

Proxlhire I is almost to make run ..,

i.n.t,Q a cdn 9

~~...~Q''''''.;'-''''-;.':!fo

b C;:nl t.ak -to Hiclmi t,() h:ro}u~r tJw

ie

J -the (1:r y

he

lhe \1

13 Ill: t:he 0:-. p

. '.

mal:e

r:

page 10

Berrnon. IS pro in9 stance won I t help hint in Di.:d.e,~

t1n.dZi~i he just might f it a good t~o get out. to

and

Henry IS back yard, and his popula

Nort1.f::rest is goin;'J to ma1·~e Huskie I s recovery SO;licwhat difficuli:.

ltlcC;o\l() :cn 11 haVe it. out "co on, Li ".'5.11

be on t:rlC~-;

the pioces in Calif0~n

Having s

si icaltC::'3ted, hi 'I .L

t

page 11

to Miami vlill not be an easy one for the guy who" just.

weeks ~ ago everyone said had it made.