 On January 7 , 1967 , Nixon held a secret meeting with his closest advisers to discuss a potential campaign , brainstorming strategies to obtain sufficient delegates to win the Republican nomination . He asked the attendees not to discuss the meeting with anyone , but to spread subtle hints that he would run for president . The next month , during an interview with the Saturday Evening Post , Nixon flatly denied he was running for president . Nevertheless , polls suggested that he was the front @-@ runner for the nomination . The Gallup poll from February 1967 showed Nixon leading Governor George Romney , his closest rival , 52 % to 40 % . At this time , he quietly began efforts to organize in Indiana , Nebraska , New Hampshire , Oregon , and Wisconsin , positioning to secure victories in those states ' primaries the following year . In March , he gained the support of the 1964 Republican nominee , Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona A " Nixon for President Committee " formed that month , and headquarters for the organization opened in Washington D.C. in late May . 
 On January 7 , 1967 , Nixon held a secret meeting with his closest advisers to discuss a potential campaign , brainstorming strategies to obtain sufficient delegates to win the Republican nomination . He asked the attendees not to discuss <a href='None' title='1'><mark>the</mark></a><a href='negative_concord' title='2'><mark>meeting</mark></a> with <a href='negative_concord' title='3'><mark>anyone</mark></a> , but to spread subtle hints that he would run for president . The next month , during an interview with the Saturday Evening Post , Nixon flatly<a href='been_done' title='4'><mark></mark></a> denied he was running for president . Nevertheless , polls suggested that he was the front @-@ runner for the nomination . The Gallup poll from February 1967 showed Nixon leading Governor George Romney , his closest rival , 52 % to 40 % . At this time , he quietly began efforts to organize in Indiana , Nebraska , New Hampshire , Oregon , and Wisconsin , positioning to secure victories in those states <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'</mark></a>primaries the following year . In March , he gained the support of the 1964 Republican nominee , Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona A " Nixon for President Committee "<a href='been_done' title='6'><mark></mark></a> formed that month , and headquarters for the organization opened in Washington D.C. in late May . 
On January 7 , 1967 , Nixon held a secret meeting with his closest advisers to discuss a potential campaign , brainstorming strategies to obtain sufficient delegates to win the Republican nomination . He asked the attendees not to discuss no meeting wid no anyone , but to spread subtle hints that he would run for president . da next month , durin an interview wwthe Saturday Evening Post , Nixon flatly done denied he was runnin fa president . Nevertheless , polls suggested dat he was tdafront @-@ runner ffirthe nomination . Thdaallup poll from February 1967 showed Nixon leading Governor George Romney , his closest rival , 52 % to 40 % . At this time , he quietly began efforts to organize in Indiana , Nebraska , New Hampshire , Oregon , and Wisconsin , positioning to secure victories in those states  primaries the following year . In March , he gained thedapport of the da4 Republican nominee , Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona A " Nixon for President Committee " been formed that month , and headquarters ffirthe organization opened in Washington D.C. in late May .