Nixon, Haldeman & Butterfield on Vietnam War and Public Opinion Polling

3:02:27Another point I think you would make is the policies in the last two years are leading us into a period of stability.
3:02:32There's an all-in as to, you know, I think you can use the term, you can go a little too fast on anything.
3:02:37Yeah, and you could say that the government policies, that's the other thing, government policies have been disinflationary.
3:02:45It is our fiscal policies, and they still are.
3:02:50That is, they're still responsible as long as we don't exceed the O1 budget.
3:02:56the wage and prime spot can also be inflationary.
3:03:00Therefore, at a time when government is being responsible, we in business and labor should be responsible.
3:03:07Good luck.
3:03:09Thank you, sir.
3:03:09What do you do on a day when you aren't tired of busy?
3:03:12I do a lot of things.
3:05:05Yes, that girl who was here, she's going to advise him to go to jail.
3:06:59I was going to ask you one question.
3:07:00When I said Princess Grace Rainier to me, we talked about that at one time.
3:07:07I just want to determine that with you.
3:07:11The first one is that this is a real hanging flag.
3:07:15I'm going to give you the real hangings if you will.
3:07:24This is a tribute to Will Hayes, who just wrote a very mild letter against the Vice President.
3:07:32I don't know who the hell he is.
3:07:38Dr. Will Hayes of Santa Barbara?
3:07:42Yes, sir.
3:07:44I just wanted to get from what Brother Sagan has done.
3:07:48Have you ever worked on a campaign or something?
3:07:49Well, we've done it at a club in the back of Will Hays in the town of Granville.
3:07:53That's where it all came from.
3:08:22Well, I thought we'd do .
3:08:25. .
3:08:54That's what we'll say.
3:09:17And he doesn't worry.
3:09:19He doesn't always worry.
3:09:21That's the funny thing about Colin.
3:09:22Of course, you know, he's much more ambitious than the others.
3:09:27On the other hand, he doesn't worry about whether he's going to look bad next month.
3:09:33Yeah.
3:09:33Or whether his prediction is wrong or this or that.
3:09:36It's up against the ball.
3:09:37He realizes the main thing is to be up there and try to get it by contraction.
3:09:42That's our real problem.
3:09:43Most of our people sit down and cautious in the house and the Senate.
3:09:46They just want to make sure they don't look bad.
3:09:51I think a lot of our people are like that.
3:09:56I guess we're all in the same boat.
3:10:00You know what I'm saying?
3:10:29And they never make all that difference.
3:10:31They never make a lot of difference.
3:10:33I make less than perhaps anybody because I'm extremely careful.
3:10:37But if people are worried about this or that, they're good.
3:10:40They're good.
3:10:41But you've got to get out there and crack it now.
3:10:44You've got to say something that's very certain.
3:10:47And I think that's what I like.
3:10:48I like to be aggressive.
3:10:50You don't want to be stupid.
3:10:52That's it.
3:10:53That happens sometimes.
3:10:55That's it.
3:10:55It is.
3:10:59What the hell is he doing?
3:11:01I don't see him in the paper.
3:11:03He was in today.
3:11:05He was out somewhere in the Revenue Chair, which is why you don't see him in the paper.
3:11:11He's on his phone.
3:11:12He's trying.
3:11:13That's right.
3:11:15You don't see anybody in the paper in the Revenue Chair.
3:11:30It's true, however, it isn't going to make a lot of difference to people.
3:11:39People just don't understand what salt is.
3:11:54They don't understand the art of race, really, except in the very...
3:11:58They want to close their terms on iron cementation.
3:12:01We're not going to build it again.
3:12:04It'll be a peace move.
3:12:05You know what you said?
3:12:07No, I agree with you.
3:12:09I don't think...
3:12:25on the poll business.
3:12:26We'll poll tonight and get the demonstration stuff.
3:12:30I think we've got to work on a draft.
3:12:34I think we've got to put out.
3:12:40This makes a pretty good point that I think it's worth getting out now.
3:12:49This is a pretty good point.
3:12:50The popular notion that 7 out of 10 Americans won out of Vietnam in 1971, regardless of the consequences, turns out to be both false and misleading.
3:12:58That's one result of the latest survey of national opinion taken last week by the Australian Research Corporation President of Jersey.
3:13:04Well over half the American people opposed the December 31, 1971 deadline for withdrawal, if that withdrawal means a communist takeover of South Vietnam.
3:13:13By almost seven to one, Americans oppose any year-end withdrawal that threatens the lives of sacred American Christians at war.
3:13:20The polls clearly show that Americans' faith in ending our involvement in the war by the year's end
3:13:26but not at the expense of our prisoners and not at withdrawal means of communist takeover.
3:13:34By 72% to 18%, Americans support, quote, support President Nixon in his plan to hand over the Southeast Asian.
3:13:43From these surveys, the following conclusions can be drawn.
3:13:46First, the American people, by an overwhelming margin, approve President Nixon's plans to end the war in Vietnam.
3:13:52Second, support for the Congressional plan for ending American involvement by December 31 is razor thin.
3:13:59Faced with the possible consequences of the Congressional plan, such as the Communist takeover, public support for the Congressional plan almost evaporates.
3:14:07Third, while the American people will support almost any plan that promises to bring an end to the war, they will support no plan that either jeopardizes our prisoners or results in a communist South Vietnam.
3:14:20Fourth, the belief that three out of four Americans wanted a December 31, 1971 deadline for troop withdrawal is a misleading myth, a myth that dissolves when Americans are asked about the possible consequences of that policy.
3:14:32Who do you think?
3:14:40I don't know if ORC will buy it exactly that way.
3:14:45They may have to modify it a little bit because it's pretty editorialized.
3:14:51But we can get all of those points.
3:14:53I think we need to get out in a poll that has no bearing on demonstrations.
3:14:58And then we'll see what the demonstrations do.
3:15:07I really want to get a hold of the real, I can't emphasize too strongly, you gotta get the names of Democrats, Democratic leaders, it must be personally,
3:15:27Take it to the address to look, I want to show it to you, and I want to read it, and I want you to read my words.
3:15:33Take it around.
3:15:34Do not just mail.
3:15:36And to key people, let's get the goddamn thing around.
3:15:40I don't think we brokered the polls well enough.
3:15:43I know what I mean.
3:15:45It's no one's fault.
3:15:46I think the worst one would actually say, well, let's get it in the paper.
3:15:50That doesn't mean anything.
3:15:52Or mail it to their offices.
3:15:53That doesn't mean anything.
3:15:54The bastards don't read what they get in their offices.
3:15:57Do they, Bob?
3:15:57He doesn't.
3:16:02What I've been trying to do is get rid of that 73% Gallup figure, because that figure writes all the time, and it's been expanded now where they now use it to say 73% of the American people won out of the war.
3:16:16The war is opposed by 73% of the people.
3:16:19How about the thing with Gallup?
3:16:23If we get this, then we use this point with Gallup.
3:16:28I'm trying to get the other points also.
3:16:31I don't think they'll use the term men, so you probably won't understand, but we'll try.
3:16:40They might, but it's exactly what it's written.
3:16:42Instead of men, they might say a distortion of figures, or something like that.
3:16:47It's a misleading distortion, which is awesome, right?
3:16:50Interesting.
3:16:54We could use those words.
3:16:55We could pick up their release and then write a top sheet on it.
3:16:59Top sheet.
3:17:00Let us make an experiment with the names, the numbers, the names and numbers of all of them.
3:17:07Yeah, unless we always do that.
3:17:09That's a god-damning, that's a god-damning, pressing quote.
3:17:14But we've done this three times now, so we know the figures are right.
3:17:17We know the errors.
3:17:19I know that at Gallup, they did the same thing.
3:17:24They did the same principle.
3:17:27Yes, you know the figures.
3:17:30The very fact that I've mentioned it after a press conference is still a point that would do many false points that I've made.
3:17:36Even the support of the President on the war, his ruling of 49-40, which ain't bad, considering the fact that everybody wants to get out of it.
3:17:45And what it shows is that still the majority believe that that's what you're doing.
3:17:49But if you put it in terms of, if you put it in terms of you support President Nixon's plan, then the word goes to 60%, 70%.
3:17:5772.
3:17:57The code word is End The War.
3:17:59Ms. Plantey, End The War.
3:18:01That's right.
3:18:01And I'll guarantee you that if they went out and said to you to support, uh, Sandy Jones and Ms. Plantey, End The War, you'd probably be good to go.
3:18:11Yeah.
3:18:11Yeah.
3:18:12Anybody.
3:18:13They supported Ms. Plantey, End The War.
3:18:16Good.
3:18:17Great.
3:18:18Fire.
3:18:20Fire.
3:18:20So, we'll take a stab at that.
3:18:22Great.
3:18:23That's great.
3:18:30A strong suggestion is that you've approved Gateway East, which is this federal land thing.
3:18:40Gateway East?
3:18:42Yeah, Gateway East is going to go to the hill on Wednesday.
3:18:48When do you go up there?
3:18:49Once you go up there on Monday.
3:18:52Dr. Floyd Bennett Field helicopter.
3:18:57to the area and return employment and come back and re-extend the thing.
3:19:03The argument being that this is a, you know, a park that will be visited by 20 million people a year, which is three times as many as visit any other part of town.
3:19:13And therefore, as a big... Well, can we avoid it?
3:19:15Can we do it without a significant demonstration?
3:19:20No problem.
3:19:21Yes, because you land at Floyd Bennett Field.
3:19:23No problem there.
3:19:24Get in a helicopter and ride over the area and return to Floyd Bennett Field.
3:19:27Oh, I don't stop.
3:19:28You go to the Senate.
3:19:30You tour with Rockefeller and KDL and, you know.
3:19:33Oh, good.
3:19:35Let's see.
3:19:36They have ones, yeah.
3:19:37Next time.
3:19:39I just did the two governors.
3:19:41I think the governors.
3:19:42Maybe take Raj Morton and the Senate in Chicago.
3:19:45If that negative ride over the area, then have the press take pictures of it.
3:19:51This is a way of good formalizing a thing.
3:19:54It's a short trip.
3:19:55We can fly for it.
3:19:56Leave at 10 in the morning, be back at 1.
3:19:58Of course.
3:19:59And, uh, it's a way to get out.
3:20:01Another way to get out in the country without getting out in the country.
3:20:04We're, we're playing that game very well.
3:20:06Do you want to include something to play?
3:20:10Don't include it.
3:20:11Right now, do it.
3:20:13And it is, it's both Long Island and New Jersey, just the government.
3:20:16So I got my son in Rockapole, and we just had Rockapole in, I like Rockapole, and Rockapole in the jail.
3:20:24And the, uh, no, no, God, no.
3:20:32It gets too many people, that's right.
3:20:34Martin should go, right, Martin?
3:20:36Yeah.
3:20:41You know what I mean?
3:20:44They don't have a damn thing to do.
3:21:07In other words, doing it case by case, if you know it's going to be a good shot, you know what I mean?
3:21:13Right.
3:21:14It's going to be something.
3:21:15And then Nick should come in.
3:21:15But come right in with him.
3:21:17I'd like to get a poster shot of him or something.
3:21:19But he should walk right in with him.
3:21:21So it appears that he's part of it, not just sort of...
3:21:25I think the feeling that he feels already, and I think, too, the feeling that the people here, is, well, who the hell is that ball?
3:21:32Secret service or something.
3:21:33Maybe I have an order to send something on it, but I don't...
3:21:36I think it would be better to wear it that way.
3:21:38Now, if I have something that I think is, I can tell if there's something that I need to leave, then let's do it.
3:21:45Well, and if afterwards you have something that we didn't have something in and you think, you, you, I'll tell you.
3:21:50Do you think we should tell us and we'll pull it off the tape if we can get it?
3:21:54Otherwise, we don't want the tape as a curse.
3:21:57But nobody will know.
3:21:58We'll go back and pull it off the tape.
3:21:59Otherwise, all these papers will be filed.
3:22:01They are saved in place.
3:22:03Yeah, they're not done.
3:22:05But he can get a picture of where it is on the tape.
3:22:07I'll just run back and pull that off.
3:22:11And we would like you, instead of the State Department, to see our ambassador to Bolivia, who is here.
3:22:17Consultations.
3:22:18Sir, if you didn't see him when he left for Bolivia.
3:22:22And he gave a good speech defending our foreign policy.
3:22:25I know.
3:22:26Because of the tin business thing.
3:22:27I'll say it.
3:22:29He's the one that I pulled up off the floor of his room.
3:22:32I said, hey, ask me already.
3:22:34He said, why don't you tell our ambassadors?
3:22:38We've got to decide here, at least consider whether you want to consider at all doing that NATO conference on cities in Indianapolis.
3:22:46No.
3:22:46On May 28th.
3:22:51which is our audience primarily, is that you created the committee and suggested a conference.
3:22:57Internationally, it's good politics for you to attend, since cap and officers from NATO countries will be there, as well as provincial and local officials.
3:23:05I say it was good politics because it underscores shift of priorities to domestic-urban problems.
3:23:10You turned NATO into more than just a military group.
3:23:14Pretty bipartisan on leading Democrats there.
3:23:17Good high road.
3:23:20And we've got more than a presidential trip for mayorality stuff, political trip.
3:23:27And to talk about shifting priorities.
3:23:31There's going to be very big press coverage of this by all the networks, BBCs, Canadian and all that.
3:23:38Today's show is coming to the end.
3:23:40Don't do the speech.
3:23:43The speech is next day.
3:23:45So no, the speech is Monday.
3:23:46Apparently not.
3:23:49The race is Saturday the 29th.
3:23:52This conference was timed for these people to be there.
3:24:00And if you do a speech there, it will go and tell us our coverage.
3:24:04I don't care about that.
3:24:05I don't care about that.
3:24:06I don't care what it's going to be.
3:24:30The fact that Estelle started around the world and becomes a man in the U.S., it'll be a big event.
3:24:36If you do it, you've got to say something.
3:24:40I know everybody's concerned about his parents being domestic predators.
3:24:46I know a lot of people that are not that big concerned about it, except in terms of jobs.
3:24:55I think jobs are the cause for it.
3:24:57Others don't agree.
3:24:58Jobs are the cause for all the assignment.
3:25:00They mull it around because they run with the side.
3:25:02Which you don't know about.
3:25:04Now let's face it.
3:25:06I ran a question on it.
3:25:08Jobs, modern society, and all that sort of thing.
3:25:15Oh, well.
3:25:17Let's go ahead and develop a theme at all.
3:25:19I mean, consider it.
3:25:21And they say, why don't we do something like this?
3:25:27It starts at 10 in the morning.
3:25:33The problems are at the beginning.
3:25:40You shouldn't go to the beginning of it.
3:25:45You should go at the end and present the trophy.
3:25:49You should go for the last half hour, 45 minutes, watch the last laps, and then go down and give the trophy to the winner, which is the
3:25:56That's a good picture.
3:25:59But he's just, and I suppose the person I used to date in the morning got to figure that on any trip at this point, Bob was going to be related to our, this hypersensitivity with regard to, you know, even though whenever we, you know, were in an house before we had some chemistry, we'll have some now.
3:26:22And the only question is, is it good to,
3:26:26It's good to give the press to write that story, a chance to write that story rather than this story.
3:26:31I don't think the problem is too great.
3:26:34And the track, you've got a few.
3:26:36You're probably too bad there.
3:26:39Indiana, it's so important.
3:26:43Why are you watching Indiana?
3:26:44Why are you watching Iowa?
3:26:48Somebody's smart.
3:26:49Sort of feel it out in terms of, well,
3:26:57Yeah.
3:26:58Or maybe 28.
3:27:00We might.
3:27:02We might.
3:27:03The only thing I can see positive for the lifetime is about the heat.
3:27:19I see.
3:27:19Yeah.
3:27:20Well, we've got salt.
3:27:22We'll add it then.
3:27:23We're going to get it now.
3:27:28What do you think, what do you think about L.A.'s, what about Joe Kraft's, I hear a lot of questions about Nixon.
3:27:38I have Joe Kraft right at hand.
3:27:39I think so.
3:27:41There's a lot of, I don't know who they have here, you know, to vote against people because of that.
3:27:46I don't know if somebody didn't get along with the Russians.
3:27:50Those people aren't going to vote for you.
3:27:51Actually, I've been kidding on people into thinking we were going to vote for the Russians.
3:28:01If you do that, one thing you ought to consider is that it piles up a substantial amount of travel time, doesn't it?
3:28:08And what then matters?
3:28:10Oh, you're in Florida.
3:28:11Texas the weekend before.
3:28:13Yes.
3:28:15NATO thing that weekend.
3:28:18And Tulsa the weekend after that.
3:28:22And midway if you go following that.
3:28:25I think it's great.
3:28:26What the hell?
3:28:26And Trish's wedding weekend.
3:28:28What the hell wrong with that guy?
3:28:30I think it's good.
3:28:31It's clearly business.
3:28:32Sure.
3:28:32We're not doing it.
3:28:34The other problem is you've got that puppy retirement dinner which is in Indianapolis a month later.
3:28:41Sure.
3:28:42I agree to do that.
3:28:43Yeah, but I don't think you have to.
3:28:52it's not very presidential unless there's just a possibility you're on your way back to california that that will just stop you there in the way i don't think that's bad if you just you know kind of pushed in that way
3:29:16Just hop in like we do to the White House Correspondents, you know, give them a little wave and say hello.
3:29:21I'm not going to go to another vendor in my life where I said, here, don't you agree?
3:29:27Not anything.
3:29:28I'm the Al Smith.
3:29:30You should.
3:29:31You're better off not to.
3:29:33Okay.
3:29:36I take the name of the vendor.
3:29:39Well, I think that you spend two or three days to get a good feel of it.
3:29:46Yeah.
3:29:48I realize you can't retail.
3:29:50I don't know if that could be a problem.
3:29:53I don't have any idea that you're going to run into so much trouble in Des Moines.
3:29:58But I'm not concerned about the trouble, except that I don't particularly want it to happen right now.
3:30:04See?
3:30:04Yeah.
3:30:05I don't want it to happen right now.
3:30:22I don't think going to a racetrack is too heavy.
3:30:35That's such a big race.
3:30:47You know who are the lowest class of people in sports?
3:30:55Bowlers.
3:30:55Have you ever heard of anybody in your set bowling?
3:31:17They're all there, they're all there.
3:31:18There are a bunch of very bad and tough people.
3:31:21So racing is still the reason.
3:31:23The more we're racing, the more we're buying, buying, buying, buying.
3:31:28But you see, my point is, yeah, so with race car drivers, at least they're very normal, you know, shall we say, masculine type people, aren't they?
3:31:38Yep.
3:31:39And they sure are.
3:31:41Come on, you.
3:31:44They go after blood.
3:31:46Like the people who go to the box office.
3:31:48And certainly those drivers are all, the big stars are all nice and tidy.
3:31:52They're mostly Italian.
3:31:55Just that Andy Granatelli will love them.
3:31:57I don't know.
3:32:01I mean, the Atlas, which is...
3:32:02I mean, I thought that... Well, provided we... Well, the trouble is, it's not the older night.
3:32:11How about, how about thinking instead of a Saturday?
3:32:16The other thing, you just go to the beginning of the race and then leave.
3:32:24But that just got off.
3:32:25There's got to be at the end of the race.
3:32:32I wouldn't know at the end if it was under trophy.
3:32:47I have to call up and check to see whether any presents are not there.
3:32:52That's another thing, too.
3:32:53This thing, anyway, Bob, I want you to show some normal, interesting middle America, especially that kind, you know, because that's baseball and football, football, both kinds, like others.
3:33:13It's just like we went to the Kentucky Derby.
3:33:15This is the Kentucky Derby of auto racing, which is the biggest sport in the United States.
3:33:27It's getting huge.

Nixon, Haldeman & Butterfield on Vietnam War and Public Opinion Polling

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Nixon Library Finding Aid

Also recorded on May 6, 1971

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