TLS signed “Dick Nixon,” one page, 8.5 x 11, Nixon, Mudge, Rose, Guthrie & Alexander letterhead, March 14, 1964. Nixon writes Balitmore County Executive Spiro T. Agnew. In full: “Due to a very heavy volume of mail, a particularly full schedule of legal and speaking commitments, and the fact that I have no secretarial staff at my disposal for the purpose of handling political correspondence, this is the first opportunity I have had to reply to your good letter of last month. My position with regard to the 1964 campaign, as indicated in the enclosed copy of the some statements I made in January, remains unchanged at this time. You may be sure, however, that I greatly appreciated your interest and kind offer of assistance.
No one knows what the future holds, but in any event I intend to continue to speak out on the issues to the extent that the demands of my legal practice and other commitments permit, with special emphasis on awakening the country to the dangers we face abroad unless we get new foreign policy leadership in Washington. In that connection, I thought you might like to see copies of my recent remarks, which are also enclosed. As you probably know, I am about to depart on a business trip to Asia. I will be returning the middle of April, and I would welcome receiving any comments or observations you may have on political sentiments or developments in your area at that time.” In fine condition, with a few wrinkles, pencil notation at the upper left corner, and an office stamping, none of which impacts the bold signature. Accompanied by a 1966 telegram from Nixon following Agnew’s election as Maryland governor and a copy of a reply letter sent to Nixon.
Despite the urging from some allies such as Agnew, who had pledged to assist Nixon if he ran for the White House, Nixon resisted the temptation to oppose Barry Goldwater in 1964, who had captured the devotion of many of the Republican Party's most faithful members. “You may be sure, however, that I greatly appreciated your interest and kind offer of assistance,” Nixon writes Agnew. During each step of his “business trip to Asia,” Nixon reaffirmed his stance that he would accept a presidential nomination only if the ‘party leaders ask me to run.’ When no such request was extended, Nixon chose to bide his time and “speak out on the issues...with special emphasis on awakening the country to the dangers we face abroad unless we get new foreign policy leadership in Washington.”
Nixon would, of course, publicly support Goldwater for the Republican nomination for president, and introduce the candidate to the Republican National Convention. Privately, he believed that the GOP would have little luck in unseating President Lyndon B. Johnson—at least in the short run. No one know what the future holds,” but Nixon surely had his suspicions. Slowly he assembled a strategy for 1968. Impressed with Agnew’s confidence, Nixon encouraged him to run for Maryland’s governor in 1966, and waited for the at-times controversial policies of the incumbent to strengthen the GOP stances—and pave the way for a Nixon-Agnew ticket to make a run for the White House. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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