The New Yorker, November 15, 1969 P. 64
ANNALS OF POLITICS about the transfer of power in the government when Pres. Nixon took office last Jan., with special emphasis on the Dept. of Justice. John N. Mitchell became the new Attorney General, succeeding Ramsey Clark. His appointment was announced Dec. 11th. He had a reputation of being unapproachably aloof & disdainful of weakness in others. He made two hundred thousand dollars a year on Wall St. in the field of municipal bonds. Tells about former Attorney General Ramsey Clark's fears that his successor might not be prone to devote himself selflessly to the public interest. It was feared he would not understand problems faced by Negroes in regard to justice. Mitchell had been Nixon's campaign manager for the Presidential campaign. He devised the so-called Southern strategy, which had reportedly included commitments to men like Sen. Strom Thurmond, of S.C. After Mitchell was appointed, the press described his political views as ranging from conservative to deeply conservative. The "Times" said he appeared to be "far on the conservative side" and "Human Events", the newsletter of the extreme right wing, said that he was "known to have a 'J. Edgar Hooverish' view on law enforcement & that he had come "highly recommended for his new position by several conservative sources, including Sen. Strom Thurmond. Tells about interviews with Mitchell in which he tried to dispel this idea.
