Reagan backers accused of plotting Anderson said

June 11, 1980

Democratic chairman John White says he sees a Reagan-connected "plot" to strengthen the Anderson candidacy as a device to help elect Ronald Reagan, Monitor correspondent Budge Sperling reports. Mr. White charges that "Republican leaders associated with Reagan" are "moving to distort the law, bend the law, or ignore the law" in their efforts to see that Mr. Anderson gets on state ballots all over the United States.

Mr. White said the Reagan Republicans were not in league with Mr. Anderson but that "they are taking advantage of the naive, well-intentioned congressman." The "plot" focused on efforts of GOP state attorneys general and secretaries of state who were working throughout the country to get Mr. Anderson on the ballot so as to take votes away from President Carter and thus elevate Mr. Reagan to the White House, Mr. White said.