[lc]

RICHARD NIXON

LA CASA PACIFICA
SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA

August 26, 1975

Dear Henry,

I thought that since you have been on the road so much, you might have missed George Ball's article in Newsweek on August 4.

I well recall your prediction, over two years ago, that in 1976 we might see Ball and his liberal establishment colleagues trying to position themselves to the right of our Administration's policy. If this article is any indication of things to come, your prediction proves, unfortunately, to be exactly on the mark.

It is shocking to see Ball, and others like him, who urged a bug-out in Vietnam and detente with the Communist nation's generally, now turning around in mid-air and attacking the very policies they once advocated.

I trust that you and the President will keep your eyes on this development and not let them get away with it. Otherwise, what we might see in 1976 is an unholy alliance between the Hawks on the far right and the Doves on the left, each with different motives, but supporting the same position. I think that voters across the country, even though they disagree, would understand the attitude of the far right, because they at least have the virtue of consistency. But, certainly, every possible effort should be made to expose the hypocrisy of those on the left who have, it seems to me, changed their position, for one reason only - their desire to topple the Administration and come into power.