Pulling Nixon's Strings (PJW)

"Pulling Nixon's Strings" is an excerpt from personal correspondence from White House Chief of Staff Donald Rumsfeld to Pennsylvania Representative Frank Carlucci.

Pulling Nixon's Strings
Frank,

"Of course this is the time Agnew would resign!" was the first thing Nixon said when Spiro announced his resignation. As I replaced Agnew in Nixon's circle of closest consultants, the two of them talked less and less, and Agnew hadn't even told Nixon he was going to resign that day. "If his head wasn't attached to his body he wouldn't be able to find it!" Nixon's been in a rage all day. He's knows he's getting backed into a corner with no escape. The investigations are closing in and impeachments articles are being drawn up. He, like everyone else, knows the man he picks as Vice President will most likely lead the nation.

I've managed to dissuade him of nominating Arends or Romney - Arends wouldn't give up his position to serve as a lame duck president, and Romney isn't trustworthy enough, considering how he ran against Nixon in 1964. Ford is going to be harder to eliminate - little has stuck with him, he's just a meek little guy. Maybe an angle I can play is that he's too modest and humble for the Oval Office, where tough decisions must be made.

Of course, I've been drumming up support for you. Some of the other cabinet members have told Nixon they support nominating you as the Vice President. Pick Carlucci, he's moderate, he supports civil rights and integration as well as continuing inventions around the world against communism, all ideas Nixon likes.

It's becoming increasingly easier to pull strings and make Nixon dance. As Drake closes in on him, much of the day-to-day operations have fallen to me. The recent military operation in Vietnam? My idea. Of course he would never admit that, but that doesn't really matter to me. Once we're officially in power that's when we'll receive the glory that goes with it.

I've also had Hot Tub following Mills. I know what you're thinking - Hot Tub's vices could easily be used against him by our opponents - but he's been one of our best men and I don't consider him to be a liability. He's reported that Mills is a man of some vices as well. Mills is next in line for succession, perhaps information like this we'll be useful to us later.

- Donald