Revelations of Nixon's Hatchet Man'
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28 Dec 70 8'2Chronicle Revelations of Nixon's Hatchet Man' By Vera Glaser and Chotiner as a hatchet man." Malvina Stephenson copyright 1970, Knight Newspapers Int To appease Chotiner, she said, John Mitchell, now Washington Attorney General, and Rob- PRESIDENTNixon's ert Finch, now counselor to close and sometimes mys- the President, offered Cho- terious relationship with tiner three other jobs Murray Chotiner, his con- which he turned down. troversial aide,willbe "It was so ridiculous; aired in a forthcoming I'm still laughing," Mrs. book by Chotiner's es- Chotiner said. "First was tranged wife, Mimi. Postmaster General.I A sharp-tongued e x- said, 'Murray, you must be model, Mrs. Chotiner plans kidding, it is a losing prop- to string together what she osition,' et cetera." describes a s "hilariously "He said, 'I didn't take funny" vignettes about her it, I didn't take it." husband's 25-year political "I said, 'Well, what was association with Nixo n, the second one?' which ultimately broke up their marriage. "He •said it was head of Selective Service. That was The tie between the two RICHARD NIXON MURRAY CHOTINER. Similar looks ... and thinking when Hershey (General men has fascinated observ- Lewis B. Hershey) still had ers since 1946 when Choti- it. I said, 'Murray, you've ner managed Nixon's first was nominated to the Cab- House request and asked never even been .in the Congressional race. inet. for a desk at GOP head- service.' He said, 'I didn't Chotiner, dropped out of Mrs. Chotiner said her quarter s. Bliss resigned take it, I didn't take it.' sight in the '50s after a husband told her he per- soon afterward, but re- "I said, 'I'm afraid to Senate committee investi- sona 11 y "fired" former fused to confirm that ask, what was the third?' gated him for alleged influ- GOP Chairman Ray Bliss Chotiner wielded the axe. "He said head of ;Civil ence peddling. He then in 1969 on orders from new- Chotiner expected to get Defense, at which point I reappeared in Nixon's 1968 ly elected President Nixon. laughed my head off. I Presidential race. the job, Mrs. Chotiner re- Reached in Akronit'Ohio, , called, but she said Nixon said, • 'Both you and Civil Now 61 and a sp Bliss confirmed-that Ctioti- "shafted" him by giving it Defense have been a na- counsel in the White Hou ner called on him at White to Morton after "using Mr. tional joke for 25 years'." Chotiner's political chord' .■■ remain. controversial and largely supersecret. He was unavailable for comment, but has told re- or time to the obscure " House,", she chuckled, "Be- porters he cannot imagine Chotiner relationSliiP over job of general counsel to cause that's 'whom I have what material Mrs. Choti- the years was based on the special representative been sending my 'unpaid ner might have for a book. t-; "expediency," and noted for international trade ne- bills." that the two men possess a gotiations. Shortly before she wed "I know plenty," MF14. number of similarities in Chotiner said as she pre- Referring to the job as Chotiner in 1965, she re- looks and thinking. "political Siberi a," Mrs. called, he showed her his viewed her book in a tele- nress- clippina-s. ( "He saves phone interview from her Both are "loners, with Chotiner cracked, "The home in Newport Beach. many of the same habits. longer the title, the lousier every line of print about They even play the piano the job." h to f"). She said she She revealedthather alike, the same type of rin- Born in Oak Park, Ill., was "horrified" at the crit- husband is holding in his ky-dink music." Mrs. Chotiner's brief ical blasts and extracted a safe deposit box signed modeling career was pur- promise from Chotiner memoranda from Nixon One of Mr. Chotiner's pnoblems, according to his sued in Phoenix and Wash- never to return to politics, promising Chotiner the ington, D.C. on which he rater reneged. chairmanship of the Re- former wife, is a tendency to be "a blabbermouth." It Her book will be titled She predicted ixon publican National Commit-, would- shaft him ag tee in 1969. 'caused him to be relegated "In Care of the White The position went up for grabs again when GOP Chairman Rogers Morton .