The Nation: Politics: The G.O.P Gears for '72

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TO kick off what will be the most lavishly financed presidential campaign in American history, the Republicans staged a warmup set of spectaculars last week. The star of the shows of course was Richard Nixon. In the space of seven hours, he spoke at $500-a-plate dinners in both New York City and Chicago. Closed-circuit TV carried the festivities to 18 other cities, where such Republican luminaries as John Wayne, Jackie Gleason, Art Linkletter and Martha Mitchell played deferential host. It was the President's evening; even Martha spoke for only two minutes.

In dramatic contrast to his stridently partisan approach in the 1970 campaign, the President was the very model of cool statesmanship. First, Bob Hope primed the well-heeled audiences: "I didn't make any phone calls [when I stayed at the White House]; it was just a thrill to hear J. Edgar Hoover breathing." Then the President sounded the theme that is going to be emphasized throughout the campaign: "Peace in Our Generation." But peace with honor. America, Nixon warned, must stay strong. He made a pitch for his domestic programs: revenue sharing, welfare reform, Government reorganization. "They are historic. They are revolutionary." He returned to a subject that is obviously worrying him: his feeling that America may go downhill, like past civilizations, because of a failure of nerve and will. "They turned away from greatness. They grew soft. They did not welcome the opportunity to continue to lead." The partisan duties of the evening were handed, as usual, to Vice President Agnew, who told a story about how the Democratic presidential hopefuls went to Miami, where they got lost and wound up in Disney World. "They really put a new look on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," said Agnew. "Now they are known as Grumpy, Sneezy, Dopey, Hubie, Lindsay, Muskie and Teddy."

No Shortage. Though the President has not yet announced that he is running for reelection, and will probably not do so until shortly before the January filing deadline for the New Hampshire primary, campaign planning is well under way. Attorney General John Mitchell is already supervising campaign activity for the Republican National Committee, as well as directing the Committee for the Re-Election of the President, a Washington-based outfit that has a staff of 30 and is scheduled to be doubled next year.