Source: Lawrence O'Donnell. Playing With Fire - The 1968 Election
and the Transformation of American Politics (2017)
and the Transformation of American Politics (2017)
The political resurrection of Richard Nixon in the New Hampshire Republican primary in 1968 went largely unnoticed due to Eugene McCarthy’s showing against LBJ. Nixon ran unopposed in New Hampshire and garnered 78% of the vote. Nixon’s showing was remarkable as well in that he had been branded a political loser in 1960 and 1962, which was worse than being politically unknown.
One can only wonder what Nixon could have become if he had been a Harvard or a Yale Man; instead, Nixon absolutely hated the Eastern Establishment. Nixon’s background in California was Working Class Poor; he had to work outside of school to help his family, and his family situation became more dire during the Great Depression. After graduating from Whittier College (CA), Nixon earned a scholarship at the Duke Law School, and he graduated 3rd in his class while going the extra mile to earn those grades. Nixon then went back to Whittier and practiced law, and soon thereafter married Pat Ryan.
After Pearl Harbor, Nixon moved to Washington, D.C., and was offered a job in the Office of Price Administration. Four months later Nixon enlisted in the U.S. Navy despite having an “out” being a Quaker. Nixon completed officer training school with flying colors and as a lieutenant he was placed in charge of an air transport unit at Guadalcanal. Nixon rose to the rank of lieutenant commander, and then soon afterwards resigned his commission in order to run for Congress.
One can only wonder what Nixon could have become if he had been a Harvard or a Yale Man; instead, Nixon absolutely hated the Eastern Establishment. Nixon’s background in California was Working Class Poor; he had to work outside of school to help his family, and his family situation became more dire during the Great Depression. After graduating from Whittier College (CA), Nixon earned a scholarship at the Duke Law School, and he graduated 3rd in his class while going the extra mile to earn those grades. Nixon then went back to Whittier and practiced law, and soon thereafter married Pat Ryan.
After Pearl Harbor, Nixon moved to Washington, D.C., and was offered a job in the Office of Price Administration. Four months later Nixon enlisted in the U.S. Navy despite having an “out” being a Quaker. Nixon completed officer training school with flying colors and as a lieutenant he was placed in charge of an air transport unit at Guadalcanal. Nixon rose to the rank of lieutenant commander, and then soon afterwards resigned his commission in order to run for Congress.
Nixon won in 1946 by stoking fears of “Communists Within”, and then rose to national prominence by doing the same thing in the Alger Hiss Case. In 1950, Nixon ran for a Senate seat against Helen Gahagan Douglas (who was married to the famous actor Melvyn Douglas). Nixon referred to Gahagan Douglas as the “Pink Lady”. and she coined the nickname “Tricky Dick” in response (that nickname followed Nixon for the rest of his political career). Nixon could change from a political pit bull to a sanctimonious saint on a dime, and Nixon’s campaign strategies worked in that he won the U.S. Senate seat with 59% of the vote.
No one in DC was on a faster track than Nixon, in that he was selected as Eisenhower’s running mate in 1952. But then the attacker was under attack, which resulted in the “Checkers Speech”, where Nixon saved his political career. The television address was Nixon at his sanctimonious best and Eisenhower kept Nixon on the ticket. It was at that point that the Eastern Elite Establishment’s point-of-view of Nixon was cemented, in that they would never accept Nixon as their political or social equal . . . Nixon was their enemy.
When Nixon ran for President in 1960 against JFK, he knew that the “Pink Lady” strategy wouldn’t work since JFK was a war hero. Nixon also couldn’t play the class-resentment card either, again because JFK was a war hero. Nixon’s favorite tactic, portraying his opponent as being soft on Communism was also out since JFK’s anti-Communist bona fides were beyond question. After Nixon’s crushing defeat to JFK, he had no political office on which to fall back, so Nixon made the unprecedented decision to run for a lesser office, and in 1962 he ran for Governor of California. When Nixon lost that race in a landslide, his political bitterness reached the abyss.
No one in DC was on a faster track than Nixon, in that he was selected as Eisenhower’s running mate in 1952. But then the attacker was under attack, which resulted in the “Checkers Speech”, where Nixon saved his political career. The television address was Nixon at his sanctimonious best and Eisenhower kept Nixon on the ticket. It was at that point that the Eastern Elite Establishment’s point-of-view of Nixon was cemented, in that they would never accept Nixon as their political or social equal . . . Nixon was their enemy.
When Nixon ran for President in 1960 against JFK, he knew that the “Pink Lady” strategy wouldn’t work since JFK was a war hero. Nixon also couldn’t play the class-resentment card either, again because JFK was a war hero. Nixon’s favorite tactic, portraying his opponent as being soft on Communism was also out since JFK’s anti-Communist bona fides were beyond question. After Nixon’s crushing defeat to JFK, he had no political office on which to fall back, so Nixon made the unprecedented decision to run for a lesser office, and in 1962 he ran for Governor of California. When Nixon lost that race in a landslide, his political bitterness reached the abyss.
Nixon’s bitterness started in 1960 when he carried all of Illinois except Chicago, and shenanigans by Mayor Richard Daley swung Illinois to JFK (and then there was LBJ and Texas). Daley simply waited until all the other precincts in Illinois reported their vote totals, and then Chicago’s vote totals magically produced enough to make JFK the winner; Nixon knew that demanding a recount was fruitless in that all Daley had to do was to keep playing the same game again and again . . . Nixon also feared the image of being portrayed as a sore loser.
Six years after losing the election for governor of California (and telling the press that they wouldn’t have Nixon to “kick around anymore”), Nixon ran unopposed in the New Hampshire Republican primary. No one in US political history had ever quit politics as definitively and bitterly as had Nixon in 1962, but soon Nixon realized that the Republicans didn’t really have anyone else that was electable . . . other than him. But Nixon understood that he had to change his image in order to have a chance at a comeback.
To Nixon, that meant becoming part of the Eastern Establishment, which he loathed. Nixon joined a NYC law firm, and went all-out to ingratiate himself and make, if not friends, acquaintances in the Establishment. In 1967, John Mitchell joined the law firm at which Nixon worked, and soon thereafter Nixon started to build what would become his campaign organization. Nixon decided to keep H.R. Haldeman close, since he had impressed Nixon in his 1962 gubernatorial campaign, and Rose Mary Woods was still with Nixon, a long-time secretary and friend-of-the-family.
Six years after losing the election for governor of California (and telling the press that they wouldn’t have Nixon to “kick around anymore”), Nixon ran unopposed in the New Hampshire Republican primary. No one in US political history had ever quit politics as definitively and bitterly as had Nixon in 1962, but soon Nixon realized that the Republicans didn’t really have anyone else that was electable . . . other than him. But Nixon understood that he had to change his image in order to have a chance at a comeback.
To Nixon, that meant becoming part of the Eastern Establishment, which he loathed. Nixon joined a NYC law firm, and went all-out to ingratiate himself and make, if not friends, acquaintances in the Establishment. In 1967, John Mitchell joined the law firm at which Nixon worked, and soon thereafter Nixon started to build what would become his campaign organization. Nixon decided to keep H.R. Haldeman close, since he had impressed Nixon in his 1962 gubernatorial campaign, and Rose Mary Woods was still with Nixon, a long-time secretary and friend-of-the-family.
After JFK’s Assassination, Nixon worked to position himself in the center of the Republican Party, knowing that Barry Goldwater was the party’s standard-bearer on the Right, and Nelson Rockefeller was the leader of the party’s liberal wing. In the New Hampshire Republican primary in 1964, Nixon finished 3rd with 17%, and he wasn’t even a formal candidate (Nixon also finished 4th in Oregon). When Goldwater became the presumptive nominee after winning the California Republican primary, Nixon formally endorsed him, even though Nixon told others that he believed he was the only Republican that could seriously challenge LBJ.
Nixon asked the party’s power-brokers if he could formally nominate Goldwater at the Republican National Convention at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, and he was allowed the honor as the GOP’s most recent nominee. To many, Nixon’s behavior was erratic, but Nixon’s plan was to rebuild his standing in the party, and to strategically place himself in the center between the conservative and liberal wings of the party.
The Republican National Convention in 1964 was perhaps the nastiest in the history of the GOP, with Rockefeller’s challenge seriously damaging Goldwater’s political standing nationwide. After the convention, Nixon became a major supporter of Goldwater during the campaign, even though Nixon knew Goldwater didn’t have a chance against President Lyndon Johnson. Nixon spoke on behalf of Goldwater over 150 times, and Nixon campaigned for as many Republican candidates as he could. After LBJ crushed Goldwater, the Republican Party was in disarray, with many believing its days as a viable challenger to the Democrats were over for good. Nixon used his growing influence to get the Republican National Committee to have a moderate as its chairperson, and the only Republican of any stature in the center of the GOP was Nixon. For Nixon to hold the center, he would have to spin in any direction at a moment’s notice.
Nixon asked the party’s power-brokers if he could formally nominate Goldwater at the Republican National Convention at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, and he was allowed the honor as the GOP’s most recent nominee. To many, Nixon’s behavior was erratic, but Nixon’s plan was to rebuild his standing in the party, and to strategically place himself in the center between the conservative and liberal wings of the party.
The Republican National Convention in 1964 was perhaps the nastiest in the history of the GOP, with Rockefeller’s challenge seriously damaging Goldwater’s political standing nationwide. After the convention, Nixon became a major supporter of Goldwater during the campaign, even though Nixon knew Goldwater didn’t have a chance against President Lyndon Johnson. Nixon spoke on behalf of Goldwater over 150 times, and Nixon campaigned for as many Republican candidates as he could. After LBJ crushed Goldwater, the Republican Party was in disarray, with many believing its days as a viable challenger to the Democrats were over for good. Nixon used his growing influence to get the Republican National Committee to have a moderate as its chairperson, and the only Republican of any stature in the center of the GOP was Nixon. For Nixon to hold the center, he would have to spin in any direction at a moment’s notice.
Nixon knew what to say in front of specific audiences, and the GOP officials had noticed and appreciated Nixon’s tireless campaigning for Goldwater in 1964; Nixon was trying to basically become all things to all Republicans. Mitchell became Nixon’s campaign manager, but Nixon had been in campaign mode since the Congressional Elections of 1966, where he again campaigned on behalf of as many Republican candidates as possible. At the same time, Nixon set himself up as LBJ’s main political antagonist.
The stiff and inflexible Nixon that had lost two major elections was now the smooth and confident “New Nixon”, who spoke without notes. Nixon wanted LBJ to attack him, using the strategy of starting his remarks on Vietnam in support of LBJ, but then he would offer advice on how to better prosecute the war. Nixon was trying to bring LBJ to a boil, but LBJ wouldn’t take the bait . . . yet. As the strife of the late-1960s escalated, Nixon knew he had a new issue that worked in his favor: law and order. Nixon kept mentioning in his speeches that it was LBJ’s fault that US society had descended into chaos.
Nixon understood that if the Vietnam War ended, his bid for the GOP nomination and the Presidency was doomed, and Nixon held his breath in 1966 while LBJ was in Asia. Nixon brought Patrick Buchanan on board, wanting and needing a conservative perspective, and Nixon also included an economic advisor by the name of Alan Greenspan.
The stiff and inflexible Nixon that had lost two major elections was now the smooth and confident “New Nixon”, who spoke without notes. Nixon wanted LBJ to attack him, using the strategy of starting his remarks on Vietnam in support of LBJ, but then he would offer advice on how to better prosecute the war. Nixon was trying to bring LBJ to a boil, but LBJ wouldn’t take the bait . . . yet. As the strife of the late-1960s escalated, Nixon knew he had a new issue that worked in his favor: law and order. Nixon kept mentioning in his speeches that it was LBJ’s fault that US society had descended into chaos.
Nixon understood that if the Vietnam War ended, his bid for the GOP nomination and the Presidency was doomed, and Nixon held his breath in 1966 while LBJ was in Asia. Nixon brought Patrick Buchanan on board, wanting and needing a conservative perspective, and Nixon also included an economic advisor by the name of Alan Greenspan.
Nixon’s decision to be part of the Eastern Establishment paid off on the day before the Congressional Elections in 1966 when Nixon was on the front page of the New York Times labeling LBJ’s Asia agreement “mutual withdrawal”. Nixon predicted victory by the Communist forces if the agreement was honored, and finally LBJ attacked Nixon in the media. LBJ accused Nixon of playing politics with the lives of US troops in Vietnam, and LBJ made the Congressional Elections of 1966 about Nixon. That meant Nixon could attack LBJ while remaining the statesman, and Nixon upped the ante with such accusations as claiming that LBJ stifled domestic dissent concerning Vietnam.
The Republicans gained 47 seats in the House of Representatives, and Ronald Reagan (every bit conservative as Goldwater), was elected Governor of California. The Democrats still controlled the Senate, but they appeared to be losing their grip on power in D.C. Meanwhile, Nixon remained alone in the center of the Republican Party, which had been his strategy all along.
In order to avoid worrying about campaign finances, Nixon added Maurice Stans to his campaign, and Haldeman brought in John Ehrlichmann. The “New Nixon” was confident, relaxed, mature, and a statesman, steady and well-rested, never appearing to be trying too hard . . . and the “New Nixon” even had a sense of humor (the “New Nixon” appeared to be very much like JFK in 1960). On 2 February 1968, Nixon formally announced his candidacy for the Presidency in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Addendum: Nixon and the 1968 New Hampshire Primary . . .
The Republicans gained 47 seats in the House of Representatives, and Ronald Reagan (every bit conservative as Goldwater), was elected Governor of California. The Democrats still controlled the Senate, but they appeared to be losing their grip on power in D.C. Meanwhile, Nixon remained alone in the center of the Republican Party, which had been his strategy all along.
In order to avoid worrying about campaign finances, Nixon added Maurice Stans to his campaign, and Haldeman brought in John Ehrlichmann. The “New Nixon” was confident, relaxed, mature, and a statesman, steady and well-rested, never appearing to be trying too hard . . . and the “New Nixon” even had a sense of humor (the “New Nixon” appeared to be very much like JFK in 1960). On 2 February 1968, Nixon formally announced his candidacy for the Presidency in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Addendum: Nixon and the 1968 New Hampshire Primary . . .