 Politicians generally reacted along party lines , with Senator Mundt stating , " Nixon 's speech is complete vindication against one of the most vicious smears in American history . " Democratic Senator Clinton Anderson of New Mexico stated , " I wish he had talked about the 18 @,@ 000 bucks — not the puppy dog ... Suppose someone sets up a fund to buy my meals . I could say I didn 't get one red cent of the money . " 
