alternatehistory.com
Primary Concern
Primary Concern
Since the beggining of 1968, it seemed clear that Richard Nixon would be the Republican candidate for the general election. A conservative and a longtime veteran of the washington stablishment, Nixon was a stable and tested choice.
A former Vice-President, He new the executive well, and had for the last decade sought out the presidency. First agains't democratic nominee John F. Kennedy, and now agains't whatever liberal got to the top, be it McCarthy or Kennedy.
The father of the Southern Strategy, Nixon had secured deep south states for Goldwater in 1964, altering the balance of southern politics for the first time in many decades. This was a man who knew how to get results, and was not afraid of the lines he crossed to get them. By 1968, he was sure that it was his time. Lyndon B Johnson better watch out.
And then in 31st of March LBJ announced that he would not run, and life seemed easier for Nixon. With the president out of the way, his chances improved. The democratic political machine would now be split. And so it seemed for a while. Kennedy had the vote of the hispanics, and the blacks, McCarthy of the young liberals in the colleges, and Humphrey of the old stablishment. The three would break each other apart. The convention would probably be split and a strong republican candidate, himself of course, would take the White House with the vote of the silent majority. And then Humphrey got shot.
The days following the assassination of the Vice-president, LBJ "peaceful warrior" and Kennedy's second Aeschylus were some of great concern for the Republicans. The Democratic party wasn't so split after all. Both Kennedy and McCarthy had a very similar agenda, and that agenda was now unifying the democrats in ways Nixon could not have predicted.
This ideologically united democratic party was in favor of a progressive agenda. A end to Vietnam and deeper support for civil rights was now the battle cry of the party, and perhaps the GOP would have to find a progressive of their own.
Besides Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Nelson Rockfeller where the two other main conteders. Reagan was a conservative through and through. Rockfeller, on the other hand, was the face of the moderate republican. A man that represented the eastern republican stablishment. and was respected by many liberals around the country.
As the primaries began to move, it became clear to Nixon that his support was growing weaker. In states like New Hampshire and Winsconsin he beat Rockfeller with easy, but in Pennsilvania for example, Rockfeller beat him. Them came Ohio.
Firmly held by favorite son James Rhodes, he seemed sure to take his state with ease. A long time power in the state, Rhodes was a well respected figure in the party. 3 days before the primary, however, declared his support for Rockfeller. It was a great surprise that stunned Nixon. Rockfeller ended up taking the state vote with ease.
Around that time it was generally believed that Michigan favorite son George Romney, another powerful moderate, would seek the the vp slot in Rockfeller ticket, delivering another blow to Richard Nixon campaign.
As said before, this change of heart for many on the GOP was caused by the democratic campaign, and it's important to observe how it was developing.
As the months of april and may went by, Kennedy continued to soar in popularity while McCarthy refused to consider droping out of the race. Just like with the republican primaries, favorite sons started to publicly endorse one or the other. On the Ohio primary, Stephen M. Young, a former suporter of Humphrey threw his weight behing Kennedy, giving him over 70% of the vote in that state. On Florida, on may 17th, George Smathers did the same, giving Kennedy a even bigger edge. California was won by Kennedy on June 4th, in a very close race. Still McCarthy refused to drop out. In the New York primary, both candidates would fight ferociously, and McCarthy great support in the city would eventualy give him a slight edge. This gave McCarthy a big confidence booster, wich would be taken away when Kennedy carried Illinois with ease on June 11th. At this point it seemed that for the second time in less than a decade, a Kennedy would be the democratic nominee.
June 4th was a day of victory not only for Kennedy, but for Ronald Reagan as well. The former actor was extremely popular, and was beloved in California, a state in wich he was governor. It was his only victory in the primaries, but California was far from being a small state, and as such it carried a lot of weight. A stauch conservative, Reagan matched Nixon in a lot of political stances.
On June 10th, Rockfeller would proclaim in a speech that "Our involvment in Vietnam must be analysed. Many error have been commited and we must look for new ways to resolve the situation quicly and definitively." To many, this was seem as Rockfeller declaring he desired to withdraw from Vietnam, while to others it meant he just wanted to seek a new aproach. Regardless, it seemed to bolster Rockfeller popularity even more.
As Nixon just barely took New Jersey, and lost Illinois in a much constested primary to Rockfeller, he would seek a way to unite the conservative faction of the party around him once and for all and take the nomination,
On June 12, Nixon would call Governor Reagan and make him a historical offer.
The End and the Beginning of a Era, Marcus P. Edginton
............
So, sorry for the delay. Next update will cover the Democratic National Convention. It will either come in a couple of days, or in a week. Aways open and, in fact, entusiastic, about you opinions so far.
Since the beggining of 1968, it seemed clear that Richard Nixon would be the Republican candidate for the general election. A conservative and a longtime veteran of the washington stablishment, Nixon was a stable and tested choice.
A former Vice-President, He new the executive well, and had for the last decade sought out the presidency. First agains't democratic nominee John F. Kennedy, and now agains't whatever liberal got to the top, be it McCarthy or Kennedy.
The father of the Southern Strategy, Nixon had secured deep south states for Goldwater in 1964, altering the balance of southern politics for the first time in many decades. This was a man who knew how to get results, and was not afraid of the lines he crossed to get them. By 1968, he was sure that it was his time. Lyndon B Johnson better watch out.
And then in 31st of March LBJ announced that he would not run, and life seemed easier for Nixon. With the president out of the way, his chances improved. The democratic political machine would now be split. And so it seemed for a while. Kennedy had the vote of the hispanics, and the blacks, McCarthy of the young liberals in the colleges, and Humphrey of the old stablishment. The three would break each other apart. The convention would probably be split and a strong republican candidate, himself of course, would take the White House with the vote of the silent majority. And then Humphrey got shot.
The days following the assassination of the Vice-president, LBJ "peaceful warrior" and Kennedy's second Aeschylus were some of great concern for the Republicans. The Democratic party wasn't so split after all. Both Kennedy and McCarthy had a very similar agenda, and that agenda was now unifying the democrats in ways Nixon could not have predicted.
This ideologically united democratic party was in favor of a progressive agenda. A end to Vietnam and deeper support for civil rights was now the battle cry of the party, and perhaps the GOP would have to find a progressive of their own.
Besides Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Nelson Rockfeller where the two other main conteders. Reagan was a conservative through and through. Rockfeller, on the other hand, was the face of the moderate republican. A man that represented the eastern republican stablishment. and was respected by many liberals around the country.
As the primaries began to move, it became clear to Nixon that his support was growing weaker. In states like New Hampshire and Winsconsin he beat Rockfeller with easy, but in Pennsilvania for example, Rockfeller beat him. Them came Ohio.
Firmly held by favorite son James Rhodes, he seemed sure to take his state with ease. A long time power in the state, Rhodes was a well respected figure in the party. 3 days before the primary, however, declared his support for Rockfeller. It was a great surprise that stunned Nixon. Rockfeller ended up taking the state vote with ease.
Around that time it was generally believed that Michigan favorite son George Romney, another powerful moderate, would seek the the vp slot in Rockfeller ticket, delivering another blow to Richard Nixon campaign.
As said before, this change of heart for many on the GOP was caused by the democratic campaign, and it's important to observe how it was developing.
As the months of april and may went by, Kennedy continued to soar in popularity while McCarthy refused to consider droping out of the race. Just like with the republican primaries, favorite sons started to publicly endorse one or the other. On the Ohio primary, Stephen M. Young, a former suporter of Humphrey threw his weight behing Kennedy, giving him over 70% of the vote in that state. On Florida, on may 17th, George Smathers did the same, giving Kennedy a even bigger edge. California was won by Kennedy on June 4th, in a very close race. Still McCarthy refused to drop out. In the New York primary, both candidates would fight ferociously, and McCarthy great support in the city would eventualy give him a slight edge. This gave McCarthy a big confidence booster, wich would be taken away when Kennedy carried Illinois with ease on June 11th. At this point it seemed that for the second time in less than a decade, a Kennedy would be the democratic nominee.
June 4th was a day of victory not only for Kennedy, but for Ronald Reagan as well. The former actor was extremely popular, and was beloved in California, a state in wich he was governor. It was his only victory in the primaries, but California was far from being a small state, and as such it carried a lot of weight. A stauch conservative, Reagan matched Nixon in a lot of political stances.
On June 10th, Rockfeller would proclaim in a speech that "Our involvment in Vietnam must be analysed. Many error have been commited and we must look for new ways to resolve the situation quicly and definitively." To many, this was seem as Rockfeller declaring he desired to withdraw from Vietnam, while to others it meant he just wanted to seek a new aproach. Regardless, it seemed to bolster Rockfeller popularity even more.
As Nixon just barely took New Jersey, and lost Illinois in a much constested primary to Rockfeller, he would seek a way to unite the conservative faction of the party around him once and for all and take the nomination,
On June 12, Nixon would call Governor Reagan and make him a historical offer.
The End and the Beginning of a Era, Marcus P. Edginton
............
So, sorry for the delay. Next update will cover the Democratic National Convention. It will either come in a couple of days, or in a week. Aways open and, in fact, entusiastic, about you opinions so far.