February 25, 1976

R W Apple Jr analysis of NH Pres primary results; claims failure of any candidate to cut across ideological lines, as documented in NY Times/CBS News Poll, should deliver negative message to all those seeking to be Pres; notes Carter's strong running among blue‐collar workers, older people, and others; sees Sargent Shriver on brink of elimination from race; claims Morris K Udall has established himself as favorite of Dem's liberal wing; notes Fred R Harris failed to prove his contention that his populism appeals most to powerless in Amer; sees Sen Birch Bayh losing ground to Udall and Carter; claims Reagan‐Ford contest is too close to draw any conclusions; notes that Ford benefited from what electorate took to be his personal honesty, as well as fact of his incumbency; claims size of vote cast for ‘others,’ totaling 10%, is sign of voter dissatisfaction with available options (M)

NYS Assemblyman Alan Hochberg protests his innocence after being indicted by state grand jury on charges of official misconduct and violating state election law; charges involve allegedly offer to bribe Charles Rosen to keep Rosen from running for Hochberg's Assembly seat; Hochberg says he suspects Rosen of ‘skimming’ funds from money contributed by tenants in rent strike; Rosen charges that Hochberg attempted to bribe him to take him out of running for Assembly seat; denies ‘skimming’ and says steering com at Co‐op City had publicly announced that it was reimbursing Rosen for his expenses (M)

retired NYS Sup Ct (Bronx) Justice Joseph A Brust indicted on Feb 24 on charges of lying when he denied being influenced by former City Councilman Anthony Mercorella, now Civil Ct Judge, in several ct matters, including dispute between 2 factions in Bronx Terminal Mkt and another involving contested estate and disputed $10,000 lawyers fee; 3d case involves apptmt by Brust, allegedly at Mercorella's behest, of 3 lawyers to patronage positions in receivership and guardian litigation; Judge Mercorella, who is subject of 2 inquires by special state prosecutor Nadjari, figures in 11 of 12 perjury counts against Brust; illus of Brust (M)

Pres Ford has invoked exec privilege to prevent FBI and Natl Security Agency from furnishing information to HR Govt Information and Individual Rights subcom about Govt's interception of messages carried by telegraph cos; invocation comes in form of memo to Defense Sec Donald H Rumsfeld and Atty Gen Edward H Levi dated Feb 17 (S)

ex‐Pres Nixon denies his toast at Feb 22 banquet in Peking implied any criticism of Helsinki agreement signed by Pres Ford last summer; Nessen comments (S)