Nixon, Johnston & Bush on Republican National Committee and Electoral strategy

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I'm awake.

This is working.

I don't see how you did so much money for years.

Well, I haven't heard, even pretty close touch on others, of course, with your deputy, but the people over here, and Armstrong, of course, is so interested in politics and all that sort of thing.

But we don't want you to be here as a woman.

I think that's very important.

part of our whole team.

So we need that work.

You've got probably probably one of the most popular national channels you ever had.

He's one of the few that are playing live.

Yeah.

You see, I've learned in my political life, Charlie,

But again, it's awfully hard.

The hardest thing is to let it go.

Well, I've done it now.

Do they get jobs?

I don't know if the ones that deserve it.

And then some of it, it just got pretty bad.

You just don't need it.

We've got the money.

We're fair, safe.

Now you're getting along with Brock and Buck Brown.

Who's Brock?

Well, Bud is not.

Well, Bud is, but Bud's scared because Bud and Michael are going to run head-to-head, and Bud doesn't want to give... Is Bud going to run?

Well, he's going to run.

Jerry told me yesterday that he thought it was going to be a race.

And so if Bud doesn't run... Well, they're both good men.

They're both good men.

You can work with them.

But if Michael wins, well, Bud's still a division.

I doubt it.

I mean, he should do it, and Michael's going to ask him to do it.

is the top job, that's great, too.

I think he and Michael are on a deal.

Whichever one wins, the other one works on another thing.

But Buggs is a better candidate.

Michael's got the votes.

I have made something clear to Michael that we're not going to have the White House, that there will be no intervention yet.

Buggs would have been very acceptable.

Now, this is how it's done.

I said to Gordon, let's not wait until that damn day, and I didn't get it over there.

And Michael thinks it's going to come a little earlier, so I told Bob, I said, look, we're not intervening, but if there's some way to get it, we are intervening.

It's saying whatever happens, happens soon, so we can get this Reese thing.

Why would it have to wait?

Maybe I'd go back now and have it run that last one.

See, we run it last.

And now that would, you know, why can't Bob say, look, I'm trying to do it.

And they think that what I've set up with this reason that I explained, it is kind of a threat.

I'm going to speak to Sam Devine, the 100 GOP guys next week, and I know we can work it out once we get the change in.

Because both Michael and Brad, this is a hell of a good idea.

Oh, that, you know, the Sam Devine regulars, the conservatives, the 100, he says, in the conference.

And this is everybody else.

Yeah, and this is everybody.

But these are the mix, the strongest thing.

Well, we, you know, they write letters.

The guy I was referring to, one of the less famous of all.

I think it's the only time he never voted with us.

He said, I feel like the president is, I don't know how big a son of Jeff Rocky did on him, but I feel like this is a wonder.

He's made my day.

He's made my whole year.

Now I'm going to see the president.

If you want to see him, I'll be someone to move him on that.

But I think it's a right move.

Well, you tell him.

I want to see, and I tell him I'd like to see him as I get a little closer to thinking about the trade deal when Schultz gets back.

He and Schultz and I would like to talk about the trade deal.

I'd like to do some thinking about the trade deal because when Schultz gets back, he and Schultz and I would be fair now.

One last question.

On the K-Hill thing, I know they put the pressure on you.

I know we've agreed to it.

And I talked to, as you told me, with the Rocky meeting.

I got a hold of Mitchell.

Mitchell says...

to say, all right, we'll see the president, but do not inject it if you agree with him, if you want to get a different telling.

I can endorse.

All right, keep him out of that battle.

I can endorse.

I can endorse between those two.

I tried to talk Charlie out of it, and he's my friend.

I went into Congress on the same.

Charlie, look at the divide today.

He said, George, this stuff is serious.

Oh, the other thing.

Well, probably, but I'm still worried that even inadvertently,

You get it right.

We get it right.

and Obenshain, who got her off to run for lieutenant governor, they think that two of the remaining three Democrats will switch before the 74 election and be Republicans.

They think that they can get Obenshain into a military lieutenant governor, and then we've got something to say.

Now, now, we're going to have an interview.

Sorry, let me say this.

This is really exciting.

Let me tell you this.

You didn't celebrate any...

I think so.

I'd love to chat with you for 10 minutes on that, but someday we have it, because it affects how he does it.

The answer is clearly yes, and then what happens is you see the people that have been talking because of your Democratic lines.

Is he saying he's a Democratic right-hand man?

He is.

But I think the Virginians should be prepared to go earlier than Conley goes, because Conley should be following.

I'm a big fan of yours.

Call me every night.

I'm willing to switch the cover.

But if there's some scenario, a call from you to make him publicly do it, or maybe even from me if you tell me to call him.

We need to chat about five minutes on the topic next time.

what he needs in texas is a visible success for another republican this guy was upsetting look the only way that can happen would be for you he's talking to me about running for government if we can get a candidate that

Karen, think about it.

If John Smith comments switches, I think he'll reconnect.

I have talked to all over with him in terms of, if he does switch, without putting him on the spot, because this is a terribly wrenching thing for him if he switches.

But if he does, I don't know, but you just let me know.

I'm telling you, he ought to cover the country because he's in California.

I've got to look through that and I would like to work with him.

And then they might have it.

I don't know.

He's making $7,600.

the 76th word that you need to use is fundamental.

Yeah.

Well, we, well, they, you know, they write letters.

That's right.

They write letters.

The guy I was referring to, one of the less famous of all.

Yeah, yeah.

I think it's the only time he never voted with us.

He said, I'm Janet's rock.

I'm going off to Janet's.

Janet says, I feel like the president is, I don't know how big a son of Jack Rocky hit on him, but I feel like this is a wonder.

He's made my day.

He's made my whole year.

Now I'm going to see the president.

If you want to see him, I'll be someone to move him on that.

But I think it's your right move.

Well, you tell him.

I want to see, and I tell him I'd like to see him as I get a little closer to thinking about the trade deal when Schultz gets back.

He and Schultz and I would like to talk about the trade deal.

I'd like to do some thinking about the trade deal because when Schultz gets back, he and Schultz might be turning.

One last question.

On the K-Hill thing, I know they put the pressure on you.

I know we've agreed to it.

And I talked to, as you told me, with the Rocky meeting.

I got a hold of Mitchell.

Mitchell says...

get them to say, all right, we'll see the president, but do not inject it if you agree with him.

If you want to get a different comment.

I can't endorse.

All right, keep him out of that battle.

He's a legitimate primary.

He's got to get some company.

I wouldn't want to endorse him.

And I'm supposed to support him.

And I'll tell you, Sandman's our friend.

That's just Jacob.

So I can't endorse between those two.

I tried to talk Charlie out of it, and he's my friend.

I went into Congress on the side of Charlie.

He said, George, this stuff is serious.

Now, the other thing

Well, probably, but I'm still worried that even inadvertently,

You get it right.

We get it right.

Well, you do know that I won't get dragged in, except we haven't been.

That's the problem.

I need these conversations.

You've got to do it.

And they all grab you.

And they all see you, right?

You get it right.

And Holton is...

Before the 74 election, this group, which was two Democratic congressional leaders, Jan Marr, Seth Coleman, and Owen Shane, who got an officer run for the candidate, they think that two of the remaining three Democrats will switch before the 74 election and be Republican.

I think so.

I'd love to chat with you for 10 minutes on that for something that we haven't because it affects how we get answers, clearly yes, and then what happens is you see the people that are going to talk to you.

He said, I know a county wants a county.

I said, look, I say that you've got to make it clear publicly that you want to be a Republican, but I just had a feeling that I had it in my head.

Well, they're away at this point, but I think the Virginians should be prepared to go earlier than Conley goes, because Conley should be followed by

I'm a big fan of yours.

Tell me that I'm willing to switch the cover.

But if there's some scenario, a call from you to make him publicly do it for me, even for me, if you tell me to call him.

We need to chat about five minutes on the topic next time.

But from John's standpoint, what happens is, you see, the moment he goes, he's a candidate for president.

That's right.

But what he needs in Texas is a visible success for another Republican.

This guy was upsetting.

Look, the only way that can happen would be for you.

He's talking to me about running for government, and I'm going to do that.

But if Conley, if we can get a candidate that Scott Lee can support openly, and then he can help elect some of these

He's making $7,600.

I think the 76th word that you need to use is fundamental now that it's trying

Nixon, Johnston & Bush on Republican National Committee and Electoral strategy

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Nixon Library Finding Aid

Also recorded on March 9, 1973

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