The Presidential Election of 1968: A Overview of an Important Time in American History
The 1968 Presidential election was an important and influential one for the United States. It changed the shape of the nation’s politics forever, and it has since become a highly debated and discussed topic among political analysts. This article will provide an overview of the election, from the nominating process to the election of a new president, and will further analyze the effects that it had on the nation as a whole. This overview will cover key themes such as the Cold War, civil rights, and the Vietnam War, and it will survey the issues that drove voters to the polls.
The Nominations
The 1968 election saw the nomination of several presidential candidates. Two of these were liberals, Hubert Humphrey and George Wallace, while the other was a conservative, Richard Nixon. Humphrey was a well-known senator from Minnesota and previously served as Vice President under President Johnson. He was known for his support of liberal policies and civil rights while being a little ambivalent on the Vietnam War. He was the ultimate Democratic candidate, and the Nixon campaign believed he was too liberal for most people.
Meanwhile, George Wallace was a far-right governor of Alabama and a staunch segregationist. He gained traction for his anti-civil rights policies, and he was passionate about the Vietnam War. He ran for president under the populist American Independent Party, and he garnered support from people who wanted to protect the status quo.
The Republican Party nominated Richard Nixon, the former Vice President under President Eisenhower. Nixon ran on a “Law and Order” platform, and he was largely considered to be the conservative’s choice. He was vehemently anti-Communist, and he claimed to have a plan to end the Vietnam War while also restoring law and order in the United States.
The Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was one of the main issues during the 1968 election. The war had been going on for several years, and the opinions of the voters had changed significantly. By 1968, a majority of Americans were against it, as they had seen the devastating toll it had taken on the troops. Humphrey and Nixon had very different strategies in regards to the war. Humphrey wanted to continue the efforts of the Johnson administration while Nixon proposed the “Vietnamization” of the war, which meant training the South Vietnamese to take over the duties of the US troops. Wallace was the only candidate to openly oppose the war, which gave him support from the more liberal voters.
Civil Rights
The Civil Rights movement was another major issue in the 1968 election. By this time, the movement had gained significant momentum, and the civil rights laws were being enforced throughout the country. Humphrey and Nixon both supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but Wallace was openly opposed to it and wanted to defend segregation. This was especially true in the southern states, where many voters supported Wallace because of his stance on civil rights.
The Cold War
The Cold War was another important theme during this election, as the US and the Soviet Union had been in competition over world dominance. During this election, both the Democratic and Republican candidates had differing views on the conflict. Humphrey was in support of the Johnson administration’s policy of containment while Nixon was in favor of a more aggressive approach towards the Soviets. Wallace, on the other hand, was strongly against any kind of cooperative relationship with the Soviet Union.
The Election Outcome
In the end, Richard Nixon won the election with a total of 301 electoral votes. The popular vote was much closer, and Nixon won by only 1.2%. Humphrey gained more votes in populous states, such as California and New York, but Nixon had more support from the Midwest and the South. George Wallace had the third largest number of electoral votes, but ultimately his campaign failed to catch fire nationally.
The 1968 presidential election was an important time in American history. It saw several candidates vying for the highest office in the nation, and the election had reverberations that are still felt today. The election was largely centered on the Vietnam War, civil rights and the Cold War, and it was the first time that a Southern populist was seriously considered for the presidency. In the end, Richard Nixon ended up winning the election, and he would go on to lead the United States for two full terms.
