Haldeman, after an unspecified trip: "I want you to see that the PR group knocks off billboard advertising wherever they can across the country. For us to have great numbers of flashy billboards and McGovern to have none would give the opposition a ready-made issue. "On the other hand, I am disappointed that on my trip out here I have yet to see a Nixon bumper strip except for the one on Presley's car.
As we have learned from experience, don't hand them out at rallies because people will not put them on. They will only take them home and put them on their mirrors." Nixon suggested young campaign workers "hit parking lots" with the stickers.
Rumsfeld, a future defense secretary, tells Haldeman in a memo that Nixon should show voters his capacity for feeling: "A danger for our Administration is in its competence we seem harsh, in our strength we seem tough, in our pragmatism we seem goalless and idealless. "McGovern is weak and would be a disastrous President. But his warmth, concern, decency are appealing because people dream, hope, aspire, and want to be better than themselves, want better for their children, and because they have fears.
" Evangelist Billy Graham's advice to Nixon, in an Aug. "I would seriously question the wisdom of your becoming personally involved in the campaign before early September. If the polls and the mood of the country continue as is you may be wise to do only a minimum of campaigning.
I think Senator McGovern is perfectly capable of making further mistakes." A March 1970 memo by Harry S. Dent, a political affairs aide for Nixon, on attempts to patch up relations with Ronald Reagan, then California governor: "While in California last week to talk to the textile industry leaders at their annual convention, I stopped by and had a one-and-a-half hour conversation with Governor Reagan regarding his relationship with the White House.
...
We have been receiving a number of reports from mutual friends, primarily big contributors, indicating that we have a problem with the governor. The Governor has been concerned about not being able to get the President on the telephone when he calls. Fortunately, he called last week on a 'test call' and the President returned the call promptly.
" A May 1970 memo from TV adviser Roger Ailes, now president of Fox News Channel, to Haldeman, expressing a need for Nixon to be more sensitive to his public appearance, especially when he is with wife Pat: "I think it is important for the President to show a little more concern for Mrs. Nixon as he moves through the crowd. At one point he walked off in a different direction.
Nixon wasn't looking and had to run to catch up. From time to time he should talk to her and smile at her. Women voters are particularly sensitive to how a man treats his wife in public.
" From the 1970 Ailes memo: "The President looked good outdoors with his hair blowing in the wind, but I think he should wear make-up or at least beardstick ...
. A double layer of beardstick should be applied to the area above the upper lip. He is especially dark there.
" Haldeman apparently wasn't sold on that. A note scribbled on the margin says: "I disagree if he's going thru the crowd.
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