THE AMERICAN POLITICAL REPORT THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01315R000100360001-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 8, 2004
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 30, 1973
• Content Type: REPORT

Vol. III, No. S
Y lie ~U;c o. i=17r J:4
November 30, 1973
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Approved For Release 2004/10/13: CIA-RDP8 - M 0 36bt3b~l~7 ~~~ /- ~~ j'ai' `
Published by the American Political Research Corporation
4720 Montgomery Avenue
Bethesda, Maryland 20014
Telephone [phone]
i
.r
Converging multiple crises are once again dropping. the odds on the sur-
vival of RR chard Nixon and his hard-pressed Administration. White House credi-
bility among politicians and legislators is crumbling with every new tapes ab-
surdity, and hitherto pro-Nixon businessmen are panicking in the face of the
the energy crisis and the rising threat of a severe-recession and increasing
unemployment. Political, economic and legal timetables appear to be moving to-
wards a February or March crunch if RMN can't turn things around in the mean-
time (see p. 2 for an analysis of possible resignation triggers).
Confidence is weakening on all fronts: Sindlinger & Co. consumer, data
shows a massive late November slide in U.S. economic confidence. It's mostly
the energy crisis finally hitting home... .energy is now fast becoming the na-
tion's top issue (with all that implies for economic and foreign policy deci-
sionmaking), but as late as Nov. 16-22, public opinion did not take the energy
crisis seriously (see polls, p. 4). Because of the Watergate Syndrome, many
people -- especially Democrats -- initially suspected RMN of trickery. Under
other circumstances, the energy crisis could have been a great political oppor-
tunity. But not with a Watergate-staggered President afraid to get far ahead of
a disbelieving public. So far, sluggish measures have aggravated the crisis with
no compensatory political benefit. Look for more movement towards rationing
as polls (see p. 4) begin to convince the Administration of strong bipartisan
public sentiment in this direction.
Watergate remains the all-permeating issue. Speculation on who's who in
the White House or who's leaving the Cabinet is becoming steadily less meaning-
ful as the President relies more on the politically inept but personally loyal
Alexander Haig and Ron Ziegler. In the past, this narrowing circle (or "circle
the wagons") pattern has always led to a bust of some degree. And as RMN falls
back into the Haig-Ziegler. orbit, we see other GOP politicos becoming less and
less concerned with keeping the President in oifice. It's a very inauspicious
pattern....
As of this moment, Republican prospects are dimming up and down the poli-
tical line: In 1974 gubernatorial races, in Senate contests (see Special Survey)
and in Congressional races, where serious speculation about possible GOP House
losses is now reaching into the 30-40 seat range. After Gerald Ford's expected
Dec. 6 vice-presidential confirmation, party officials and GOP leaders in Con-
gress will begin to come to real grips with the ultimate question:.How much of
the U.S. economic and political crisis can be solved simply by RMN's resigna-
tion? So far, there is a lot of private talk -- and very little public specu-
lation by top Republicans. But in APR's opinion, RMN's credibility campaign
is now running against a steadily ticking political and economic clock....
Too many vital political and economic establishment. interests are being eroded
for much more indulgence.
O 1973. Published biweekly by the Arnerican Political Research Corporation at $85 a year. Reproduction or quotation without specific permission is prohibited by law.
Approved For Release 2004/10/13 : CIA-RDP88-01315RQ00100360001-7
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So far, says Arthur, none mont that he As broadcast- president Spiro Agnew had
By Stephen Isaaes of AIM's comp 1 a i n t s has in; from `Chile, the most brought his complaint about
Nva hington Post staff writer been of the nature of the democratic nation in South news leaks to the council In-
NEW YORK-The exper- type of grievance the coup \Illeri -a.' Now this may or stead of to court.
imental new National News ell was set up to investigate' may not be true: I am sure in one case where another
"We take their letters one there are many South Amer- ./~ Council's principal griev- by one" says Arthur. ic?arts who would dispute it. ? action was taken, 5chnur-
ance so far is not the cons- "That's the only way to deal Irowever, such a statement man says, the complainant
s'stricty a matter of ophl- might have preferred news
plaints about the media it is with them fairly.!' i
vve re council action.
J
t
l
receiving, but its own obscu?
rity.
In fact, few complaints
that would! come ttc:tier the
council's purview have been
received-probably because
so few people know of the
council's existence, says Wil-
liam B. Arthur, its executive
'director.
As a result, Arthur, t h e
'59-year-old former editor, of
Lock magazine, and Ned
Scltntu man, associate dirce'
tor of the council and
former city editor at 1VCBS-
TV here, have had to be-
.eome promoters of the
1 't~'e'f-a public rela-
-T$R.ft L
counch i i
sh, always has a leer when he
tions role they do not reli
ions the President's that described a new drug rebut the program on the
So, says, Arthur, he and mentions "Today" show and by admit-
Sehntirman are accepting name. That's an emotional for treating gonorrhea. ting To certain errors in fact.
any speaking invitations that I'espoflse." "Gonorrhea is a terrible "Our postulation," says
they feel do not involve con- One letter-writer from problem," s a i d the letter, Schnurnlan, "is wouldn't it
Vancouver, Washington, 'but this (article) implies have been more interesting
filets of interest. Schuur- said that "I wish to propose some new drug. was discov if it had gotten before us
mail, for instance, in one to you investigation of na- trod." Instead', said the let- and gotten o ten open o hear
2?i-hour stopover in Chicago tional news coverage of the ter, the drug in the article 'hing stage. Couldn't en cool
scheduled five radio and abortion movement of the was not new, and a far jo to ts uldn try, have
televi.,ion appar ances while last five to six years." cheaper version' of the drug d 1, by h the i thin ub cit,1 h have TlieBC
there. "It is continuously clear," has `'been around about a would not nave h+_f+n obliged
The Twentieth Century said the letter, "that the pro- decade." to make the `Today' show
Fund and a task force con- abortion forces receive bet- The council's by-laws au- time available. I that pow
eider . d many potential pit- ter coverage than the anti- thorizc it to study First time had Rhie publicized in
falls of such a coil n(?ll--p05' abortion ones at all levels Aii end e cottuc 1 s. and last elic nough areas, wouldn't NBC
stele areas alnions the contention, , thea and in all media." itweek th an s first such study, to be have been better off. The
tweet and a media, , cl anrma rt reply stated: directed by Columbia Uni- kind of thing they did
ovt to interests and the Sl abortion issue is a versity constitutional law makes it look like they were
g
rove nment-before estab- eon:ul4:: one which does re- expert Benno C. Schmidt, Jr. guilty,"
lishir g It. tided a sizable amount of The study o, the potcn The N13C action, says
13u; the fund did not fully, ru(?d' coverage. However. it tial threat of a free press Selhnurman, had a further
antic:pate the dearth of is .wt our purpose , or posed by increased demands impact. in that other related
? llis Cott'! !snots that has greeted spirit in n which the council cil for access to the media-, impact in
' shclteel or put "have aside b becau ee n
se
the ( lunch's birth. +s conceived, to examine Was trig tired by a Florida
M' st of the complaints di- oral charttes of bias in court decision that extended of it, You have to ask your-.
rectc 3 to the cctu:cil in its th= nledia. If you can cite the FCC's equal time 1-rovi. self why,
few months of existence ''t" titre examples of media ions to new goner editorial- eluulrman s a v s he un-
tits lough inr; a national dcrstands that the AMA'
have b e e n fr0:n "Proles- r+ ?,4.s 0! ,anization we shall izillg on political cam;. signs. In. retrospect would have
sign; 1 letter writrs, obi- be happy to entertain con- "Maybe the results of
are known bi such ;l study will be directly
h
o
sons w
sidcration 0i y o u r corn- qultously to editors around plaint . . .' Valilable+" Says Schnurman,
the country. Another !Otter complained "in case that sonic clay goes
The council is hearinn acv- of "a sp elfic practice of all the way to the Supreme
eral time:; a wevk from Ac. C'l1S rac1:0 non's. I have no Court. At least we'll hope to
curacy it :'h'ello, Inc., a r.+ln v.,", of (lucum.:nting what I have this study published by.
profit \t"asl?lin,;toll urg:uilr.a- he rd. but perhaps my letter early 1974."
Lion that descrihcs itself a% will reinforce someone Schnul't11an and Arthur
an cduc:atonal or':1nilation cl ti's cum!raint." h")t?e been considerin" ali (I?,
;. t
1 n cn cuts of contention be-
( I
et
"We certaLl
y ope 1Q#t.and I strenuous Y o
not going to be used on a tyrtlris kind of prooagalldiz- Sclinurman says the Ameri=
regular basis by organiza- fin, in a so=called news re? can Medical Association
tions with big public rela- port. complained to the Federal
Lions departments," says Ar- ',This is not ex.:ctly an Communications Commis-
tlhur. "We hope to encourage earth-shaking matter, but I sioi2 about an NBC docu-
Complaints from far less or- find it indicative of the bias 'Ile !1 tar y last December
ganized sources." and irresponsibility that about the nation's health
So far, then, the several sometimes plagues the news care.
that have media. 'Credibility gap" is a A copy of the AMA's com-
hundred letters cliche, but it certainly does plaint was sent to the news
collie to the council are no exist." council, and AMA was told
barometer of either happy- In this case, the writer that, since it had its case
ness or discontent with the was told that complaints pending before a regulatory
media. They are, says Al'.. had to be more specific. . agency, the council could
thur, more emotional than Yet another letter com- not act.
substantive, ''like the pay- -,plained about a story carried NBC gave in before the
cholc~_list who wrote us and FCC was through hearing
by The ~~ashin.~ton Post-Los the case, Selmurman says,
Said 'that Harry Reasoner Times news service b riving the AMA tune to
y
continued
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find distortion in the news ,the reporter ended hip' ment, and have debated :I%%
ntedirt.'+ newscast with the flat stale- to what procedures t!u'y.
would have followed if VIM;