alternatehistory.com

September 27, 1968

Humphrey declared winner of three-man debate

Viewers expected a fight, and yesterday’s much-awaited presidential debate did not disappoint. Humphrey seemed a little off his game, but still managed to come out on top, say pundits. Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who said he was “feeling terrific” after a three-week bout with the flu, managed to dodge barbs from both of his opponents. Governor George Romney made a good showing, while former Governor George Wallace was assailed by both of his rivals.

Both Humphrey and Romney were very critical of third-party candidate George Wallace. Romney described his campaign as “racist, separatist, totalitarian, and militarist.” [1] “If there is one political blasphemy in this campaign it is George Wallace saying ‘stand up for America’ because if the man were elected President, he would tear down America by violating America’s sacred pledge to every man,” said Romney. “Wallace offers answers that are beguiling in their simplicity but has perverted their meaning and twisted their intent so insidiously that they become in his hands, instruments for the destruction of essential American principles and even America itself.” [2] Humphrey likewise condemned Wallace, calling him “the creature of the most reactionary underground forces in American life – one who does not speak for millions of decent Southerners and Northerners who reject bigotry and hate… America has many problems, but they won’t be solved by a candidate who can think of nothing better to do than threaten to run people down with his car.” [3]

Wallace, for his part, spent little time attacking his opponents directly, instead choosing to blame America’s woes on newspaper editors, bureaucrats, and “pointy-headed” intellectuals. He promised voters an end to federally-mandated busing, and the indictment of college professors and students who supported the Communists and Vietnam. [4]

Romney and Humphrey used the debate as an opportunity to sling some mud at each other as well. Romney charged Johnson and Humphrey for leaving behind “a dismal legacy of four long years of mismanagement, miscalculation, and mistrust,” [5] while Humphrey took a few jabs at Romney and his running mate Ronald Reagan, referring to him dismissingly as “that movie actor”. [6]