President Nixon and his 1972 re-election campaign tried to tie Democrats to the mob, gay liberation and even slavery, according to newly released papers and tapes betraying bare-knuckle tactics from the dawn of the Watergate scandal.
Still, even as Nixon's lieutenants explored every avenue for defeating Democrat George McGovern and nullifying critics of all stripes - "hit them" was a favorite phrase - the president brooded over his reputation as a hard man whose gentle side was not being seen by the public.
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13 July 2007, 10:27 AM
Nixon Wanted to Be Seen As 'Nicey-Nice'
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