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Electing Nixon in 1968: Channeling Dissent and Dividing Government America

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Published in Resilient America: Electing Nixon In 1968 Channeling Dissent And Dividing Government (American Presidential Elections)

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The 1968 United States presidential election was a watershed moment in American history. The election pitted Republican Richard Nixon against Democrat Hubert Humphrey and Independent George Wallace. Nixon ultimately won the election, capitalizing on a divided electorate and a nation weary of war and social unrest.

Resilient America: Electing Nixon in 1968, Channeling Dissent, and Dividing Government (American Presidential Elections)

by Michael Nelson

4.5 out of 5

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The Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was one of the most divisive issues in the 1968 election. Many Americans opposed the war, and they saw Nixon as the candidate who would end it. Nixon promised to "bring us together" and to "restore law and order" to the country.

Humphrey, on the other hand, was a strong supporter of the war. He argued that it was necessary to contain communism in Southeast Asia. Wallace also supported the war, but he appealed to white voters who were angry about the civil rights movement.

The Civil Rights Movement

The civil rights movement was another major issue in the 1968 election. Many African Americans were frustrated with the slow pace of progress on civil rights. They saw Humphrey as a moderate who was not committed to their cause.

Nixon, on the other hand, appealed to white voters who were concerned about the growing power of the civil rights movement. He promised to enforce the law and to maintain order.

The Counterculture

The counterculture was a youth movement that emerged in the 1960s. The counterculture rejected traditional values and embraced individualism and experimentation. Many young people were drawn to the counterculture, and they saw Nixon as a symbol of the establishment.

Humphrey tried to appeal to young voters by promising to end the war and to promote social change. Wallace, on the other hand, appealed to white voters who were angry about the counterculture.

The Election

The 1968 election was one of the closest in American history. Nixon won the popular vote by a narrow margin, and he won the Electoral College by a wider margin. Humphrey won the most votes in the Northeast and Midwest, while Nixon won the most votes in the South and West. Wallace won five states in the South.

Nixon's Presidency

Nixon's presidency was marked by both progress and controversy. He ended the Vietnam War, but he also presided over the Watergate scandal.

Nixon's foreign policy was based on the idea of détente, or relaxation of tensions. He improved relations with the Soviet Union and China. He also negotiated the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I),which limited the number of nuclear weapons that the United States and the Soviet Union could possess.

On the domestic front, Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). He also proposed a number of welfare reforms, but these were not passed by Congress.

The Watergate scandal began in 1972, when Nixon's re-election campaign broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate Hotel. Nixon tried to cover up the break-in, but the truth eventually came out. In 1974, Nixon resigned from office to avoid impeachment.

The 1968 election was a watershed moment in American history. The election pitted Republican Richard Nixon against Democrat Hubert Humphrey and Independent George Wallace. Nixon ultimately won the election, capitalizing on a divided electorate and a nation weary of war and social unrest. Nixon's presidency was marked by both progress and controversy. He ended the Vietnam War, but he also presided over the Watergate scandal.

Resilient America: Electing Nixon in 1968, Channeling Dissent, and Dividing Government (American Presidential Elections)

by Michael Nelson

4.5 out of 5