Intercommunal News - The White House Provides for Anti-McGovern Literature

(ZNS) The Justice Department is investigating reports that state department mailing labels were used to send out anti-McGovern literature.

The Los Angeles Times reports that 10,000 pieces of mail-labeling McGovern as an “Isolationist”-were sent to a number of Democrats whose addresses appear on certain state department lists. It is a violation of Federal law to use public lists for political purposes.

US Attorney Robert Smith in Atlanta said that he is investigating that matter after receiving complaints from Democrats. Smith said: “It sure looks like someone has access to the state department mailing lists.”

The anti-McGovern letter was signed by Leo Cherne, a member of the “Democrats for Nixon” Committee, who is a neighbor of President Nixon's in Key Biscayne. Cherne’s office said the list was provided to him “By the White House.”

A spokesman for the White House said the labels were used “by mistake.” The Democrats have complained that various governmental agencies, including the Labor Department, the Veterans Administration and the Housing and Urban Development Department, are mailing out what they call “Political propaganda” at public expense.