To me it has always been slightly surprising that Richard Nixon didn't face serious conservative opposition in the 1972 GOP primaries. (I don't consider Congressman John Ashbrook's campaign very serious.) Budget deficits, the creation of the EPA, wage-price controls, closing the gold window, race-based affirmative action (the Philadelphia Plan), detente with Red China and the USSR, even a proposed guaranteed annual income--apparently none of them could break the Right's support of Nixon. (He had not yet proposed universal "pay or play" health insurance, though--that was to come after the election.) Of course, liberals by demonizing Nixon as if he were a hard-line right-winger no doubt improved his standing with the Right, but still I would expect him to get something more than token primary opposition. After all, his primary opponent could always say, "I am a good Republican and of course will support
Mr. Nixon against the Democrats if he wins renomination."
Any idea of who a more serious conservative primary opponent than Ashbrook would be, or how well he could do?
Mr. Nixon against the Democrats if he wins renomination."
Any idea of who a more serious conservative primary opponent than Ashbrook would be, or how well he could do?