Page:1976 Campaign Strategy Paper.pdf/44

 RELATIONSHIP WIT” STRAUSS AND THE DNC

We are laboring under one handicap at present that is not particularly significant now, but it will become more signifi- cant with the passage of time and increasingly difficult to correct or overcome. We look having a strong Carter supporter on the inside of the Party apparatus who can keep us general- ly informed and can effectively advocate a point of view on

inportant matters that is favorable to you.

As Bob Strauss has maintained a working majority on the Execu- tive Committee of the DNC. he has vested most of the responsibili- ties for making major and final decisions in that body. The really critical decisions on Party rules and PrOcedures are made by the Executive Committee and usually ratified by the full committee without much discussion or debate. The Executive Committee decides on the purpose. size and composition of the various committees and commissions and usually passes on the appointments to the commiss- ions by the Chairman.

Almost every potential Democratic candidate has someone on the Executive Committee who is close to them except us. George Wallace has a young man named Micky Griffin on the Executive Committee,

Askew has a woman named Hazel Evans on the Executive Committee,