RICHARD NIXON- SPIRO AGNEWHUBERT HUMPHREY- EDMUND MUSKIE

GEORGE WALLACE- CURTIS LEMAY

1968 Presidential ElectionBy John Kleeb

A look at the important issues of 1968

Law and Order (Criminal Justice)Civil RightsThe War in VietnamThe Great Society (LBJ’s Domestic ProgramLyndon Johnson’s presidencyRiots

Lead up to the election (Democrats)

Anti War Senator Eugene McCarthy decided to challenge President Johnson in the primaries and came close to beating Johnson in New Hampshire,

On March 31st, President Johnson withdrew from the race and Vice President Humphrey became the candidate of Johnson loyalists.

Senator Robert Kennedy, also anti war enters the race too but is tragically assassinated in June following his win in the California primary.

Chicago Democratic National Convention

Kennedy’s death complicated the primaries and the Democratic convention that summer in Chicago was marked by riots. Anti-war activists were furious that a pro war candidate, Humphrey was to get the party’s nomination and riots ensued. McCarthy also refused to support Humphrey but eventually did in October.

http://www.xtimeline.com/__UserPic_Large/1678/ELT200802270632093554897.JPG

Wordle of Humphrey's Acceptance Speech

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=25964#axzz1fyoPxgDR

Lead up to the election (Republicans)

Richard Nixon got his party’s nomination despite having done in politics after losing to JFK in 1969 and then losing a run for governor in 1962

Future President and then California governor Ronald Reagan unsuccessfully challenged Reagan from the right..

Staunchly pro civil rights, New York governor, Nelson Rockefeller challenged Nixon from the left in the primaries.

Wordle of Nixon’s acceptance speech

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=25968#axzz1dKFMkqLt

American Independent Party

Governor George Wallace of Alabama was the nominee of the newly formed American Independent Party and a staunch segregationist on race.

http://www.vlib.us/amdocs/texts/wallace64.html

Background Introduction

The Democrats had won the previous two elections in 1960 and 1964. In 1960, then Senator John Kennedy had defeated then Vice President Richard Nixon in a close race but he was assassinated in 1963. The next year, President Lyndon Johnson whom had assumed the presidency following Kennedy’s death defeated Senator Barry Goldwater in a landslide.

 John F. Kennedy, Democratic 303, 34,227,096, BlueRichard M. Nixon, Republican, 219, 34, 107,646, Red Unpledged: Purple

1960 Presidential Map with electoral college votes

Election Map by Counties 1960

As you can see, Kennedy and Nixon won counties throughout the country at a fair level. There is no strong regionalism to either party outside the south.

Lyndon B. Johnson , Democratic ,486,  42,825,463, Blue  Barry M. Goldwater Republican 52,  27,146,969, Red

1964 Presidential election map with electoral votes

Election Map by Counties 1964

As you can see, Johnson won this election big, He loses very few counties north of the Mason Dixon-Line and wins many counties that Kennedy lost in.

National polls during the lead up to election day

Ngram for “Law and Order”

Humphrey’s late comeback

1968 Presidential Map with electoral college votes

 Richard M. Nixon Republican 301,  31,710,470 Red Hubert H. Humphrey Democratic 191,  30,898,055 Blue George C. Wallace American Independent,  46 , 9,906,473 Yellow

Election Map by Counties 1968

Wallace not surprisingly does best in his native South. Humphrey’s strongest areas are coastal New England and the Mid-Atlatnic while Nixon does well throughout the country.

Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, and New Jersey: Four close states

Percentage received by Democrats

Percentage received by Republicans and Independents

Comparing the percentage of the vote received by candidates in 1960, 1964, 1968

How Humphrey Could Have Won

Note: In this map Democrats are red and Republicans are blue. The shift involves Humphrey winning Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, and Missouri all which he lost only by a close margin in the real election.

No electoral majority (an unique scenario)

Note: In this map Democrats are red and Republicans are blue. This shift involves Alaska, Missouri, and New Jersey going to Humphrey all of which he lost by small margins in the real election.