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Show IHiilf ihi Tr y" r THELOCKHORNS ' NO, t HAVENT HAP A LITTLE TOO MUCH. I'VE HA? A LOT TOO MUCH " Where They Stand Insider Considers Next Campaign, Watergate Impact Editors ot The Washington Monthly With the midterm congressional campaigns little more than a year away, Republican pro fessionals are bracing for the possible impact of Watergate. One of the few GOP insiders willing to talk on the record about this problem is Jim Allison, who was deputy chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1969 to 1971. Currently he is a partner in a campaign consultant and public relations firm along with Harry Treleaven, who ran Richard Nixons television ampaign in 1968 B Q. What Impact do you see Watergate having on the 1974 congressional elections? A: 1 am inclined to think it will affect both parties in general more than Republicans In particular. I can see the public looking on virtually all politicians with suspicion and contempt. If thats the rase, the mood In 1974 could easily become throw the rascals out " Q: Then you could see a number of incumbents of both next year? A : Yes, There is likely to be some kind of feeling. Watergate may also turn off large segments of the public to politics. Voter turnouts will decline even further, and will discover that attracting volunteers and raising money will become increasingly diificult parties being defeated for Q: flow would you advise a Republican congressional candidate to handle Watergate? A: I'd advise him to take the defensive. For example, Id have him make his personal finances public and call for full disclosure by all public officials. Id also have him stress that the Repubbcan party itself was not involved in Watergate. It is no secret by now that the Republican party was entirely closed out of the Presidents efforts. Tarty Hack Label? Q: What about someone like House Minority Leader Gerry Ford who has been outspoken in his support of the President throughout the whole Watergate affair? Dont you think administration loyalists such as Ford run the risk of being labeled parly hacks? A: It all depends on how the President comes out of the Watergate affair. It certainly could hurt people like Ford. But even tf Nixon himself is permanently hurt, the electorate has a tendency to judge a man on his ow n --ecord, not his degree of support for the President Remember, Nixon had no positive coattails in 1968 and 1972, and this may mean he won't have any negative coattails cither. Q: Two states, Virginia and New Jersey, have gubernatorial races this year. Do you see any trend developing there which may foreshadow the 1974 races nationally? A: Perhaps the most important thing to watch is the voter turnout. If it's low it may signal that the main consequence of Watergate is voter apathy. If anything will hurt the Republicans in those two races, it is much more likely to be the economy than Watergate. In Virginia, for example. Henry Howell is trying to run a populist campaign against the Republicans and, because of the economy, I suspect he may have a strong impact Techniques to Change? Q: Do you think campaign techniques will change in 1974 because of Watergate? A: Yes, definitely. In the last few months I have heard a number of people In this business talking about placing a such as ringing greater emphasis on organizational efforts doorbells and decreasing reliance on television advertising. Especially because of the cynicism about politics deriving from Watergate, the public is apt to be extremely skeptical of campaigns that revolve around television or other types of media manipulation. Instead the emphasis is likely to be on contact and on the nuts and bolts of political a people-to-peop- organization. Q: Do you think the Watergate hearings have made presidential contenders out of the Republicans on the Ervin Committee? A: You certainly can't deny that Howard Baker is now a contender especially after that recent poll which shows him running with Ted Kennedy. But the same cant be said of Ed Gurney or Lowell Welcker. I ran Gurney's Senate campaign m and I know he isnt Interested in national office. As for he could never be nomiWeicker, he is so nated by a Republican convention whatever his plans are. t I9 Were moving next door What about people like Nelson Rockefeller? He's far removed from Watergate and could campaign on a slogan like I'm too rich to sleaL q. tially completed ZCMJ Center while our magnificent guy orthodox Republicans opposed in 1964 and 1968. Hes been a hell of a team player for Nixon perhaps more loyal than any of the governors. Including Reagan. But he may be handicapped by his age. I think John Connally makes a better bet ZCMI is still ZCMI. But from now on, you probobly think in won't of us the same way. Well be tearing down the old downtown store soon. And starting tomorrow we'll move a few departments at a time into our temporary, but we think very nice, accommodations. Q: Even if Apew Is not indicted, does the cloud cf suspicion hanging over him rule him out for 1976? A: No. If he comes out of this tiling without an indictment, of will commend his forthrighfefpproach. a lot jpopie new Of course Q: But wont Connally be subject to the same kind of scrutiny Apew now faces? State government in Texas has never been clean; something suspect might turn up if reporters dig deep enough. A. That could be. One thing Im certain of Is that 1976 wall place the personal finances of presidential candidates under l be greatest scrutiny In history, and its possible you could find a lot more about a John Connally than, say, a Hubert Humphrey, i par- downtown store is being finished. tonnally a Better Bet A: Rockefeller Is no longer viewed as the same kind of I - only temporarily - to the I m a ah. |