Nixon's Enemies List

Nixon's Enemies List is the informal name of what started as a list of the Nixon administration's major political opponents compiled by Charles Colson and sent in memorandum form to John Dean on September 9, 1971. The list was part of a campaign officially known as "Opponents List" and "Political Enemies Project." The official purpose, as described by the White House Counsel's Office, was to "screw" Nixon's political enemies, by means of tax audits from the IRS, and by manipulating "grant availability, federal contracts, litigation, prosecution, etc."

In a memorandum from John Dean to Lawrence Higby, (August 16, 1971), Dean explained the purpose of the list succinctly:

"This memorandum addresses the matter of how we can maximize the fact of our incumbency in dealing with persons known to be active in their opposition to our Administration, Stated a bit more bluntly —how we can use the available federal machinery to screw our political enemies."

The original 20 names in Colson's memo (and his notes accompanying them) were as follows, although a later, much-longer list of "Political Opponents" was later developed as well:

1. Arnold M. Picker, United Artists Corp., New York; Top Muskie fund raiser. Success here could be both debilitating and very embarrassing to the Muskie machine. If effort looks promising, both Ruth and David Picker should be programmed and then a follow through with United Artists.
2. Alexander E. Barkan, national director of A.F.L.-C.I.O.'s Committee on Political Education, Washington, D.C.: Without a doubt the most powerful political force programmed against us in 1968 ($10-million, 4.6 million votes, 115 million pamphlets, 176,000 workers—all programmed by Barkan's C.O.P.E.—so says Teddy White in The Making of the President 1968). We can expect the same effort this time.
3. Ed Guthman, managing editor, Los Angeles Times national editor: Guthman, former Kennedy aide, was a highly sophisticated hatchetman against us in '68. It is obvious he is the prime mover behind the current Key Biscayne effort. It is time to give him the message.
4. Maxwell Dane, Doyle, Dane and Bernbach, New York: The top Democratic advertising firm — they destroyed Goldwater in '64. They should be hit hard starting with Dane.
5. Charles Dyson, Dyson-Kissner Corp., New York: Dyson and Larry O'Brien were close business associates after '68. Dyson has huge business holdings and is presently deeply involved in the Businessmen's Educational Fund which bankrolls a national radio network of five-minute programs, anti-Nixon in character.
6. Howard Stein, Dreyfus Corp., New York: Heaviest contributor to McCarthy in '68. If McCarthy goes, will do the same in '72. If not, Lindsay or McGovern will receive the funds.
7. Allard Lowenstein, Long Island, New York: Guiding force behind the 18-year-old "Dump Nixon" vote drive.
8. Morton Halperin, leading executive at Common Cause: A scandal would be most helpful here. (A consultant for Common Cause in February-March 1971) (On staff of Brookings Institution)
9. Leonard Woodcock, United Auto Workers, Detroit, Michigan: No comments necessary.
10. S. Sterling Munro Jr., Senator Henry M. Jackson's aide, Silver Spring, Maryland.: We should give him a try. Positive results would stick a pin in Jackson's white hat.
11. Bernard T. Feld, president, Council for a Livable World: Heavy far left funding. They will program an "all court press" against us in '72.
12. Sidney Davidoff, New York City, [New York City Mayor John V.] Lindsay's top personal aide: a first class S.O.B., wheeler-dealer and suspected bagman. Positive results would really shake the Lindsay camp and Lindsay's plans to capture youth vote. Davidoff in charge.
13. John Conyers, congressman, Detroit: Coming on fast. Emerging as a leading black anti-Nixon spokesman. Has known weakness for white females.
14. Samuel M. Lambert, president, National Education Association: Has taken us on vis-a-vis federal aid to parochial schools—a '72 issue.
15. Stewart Rawlings Mott, Mott Associates New York: Nothing but big money for radic-lib candidates.
16. Ronald Dellums, congressman, California: Had extensive EMK-Tunney support in his election bid. Success might help in California next year.
17. Daniel Schorr, Columbia Broadcasting System, Washington: A real media enemy.
18. S. Harrison Dogole, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: President of Globe Security Systems — fourth largest private detective agency in U.S. Heavy Humphrey contributor. Could program his agency against us.
19. Paul Newman, California: Radic-lib causes. Heavy McCarthy involvement '68. Used effectively in nationwide T.V. commercials. '72 involvement certain.
20. Mary McGrory, Washington columnist: Daily hate Nixon articles.

It has been written that there were as many as 490 names on the list, or that there were 600 names on the list and that the names changed constantly. Paul Newman has said that his inclusion on the list is one of his greatest accomplishments. The full list includes many notable people and publications, including Jane Fonda, Steve McQueen, Barbra Streisand, The New York Times, and the Washington Post.

External link

• Facts on File: A copy of the larger expanded enemies list (http://web.archive.org/web/20030621235432/www.artsci.wustl.edu/~polisci/calvert/PolSci3103/watergate/enemy.htm)