U.S. Presidential Election of 1968
1968
The 46th presidential election of the United States concluded on November 5th, 1968, resulting in Richard Nixon’s election as president of the United States. Nixon, the Republican candidate, used a “southern strategy,” designed to appeal to the southern conservatives, who usually voted democrat, however the independent candidate, George Wallace, managed to win most of the voters that Nixon was targeting. Nixon’s campaign was based on a theme to restore “law and order,” which attracted many voters, especially those who were angry about the increasingly violent riots in previous years. The Democratic candidate, Hubert Humphrey, on the other hand, criticized Nixon’s campaign, claiming it was promoting racism, while Nixon provided a counterpoint in his forced desegregation of school busses. The election was incredibly close, with Nixon winning in the pivotal states of California, Ohio, and Illinois, by only three or fewer percentage points in each, for the popular vote. The electoral vote was much clearer cut, with Nixon having 301 electoral votes to Humphrey’s 191, and Wallace’s 46.
The 46th presidential election of the United States concluded on November 5th, 1968, resulting in Richard Nixon’s election as president of the United States. Nixon, the Republican candidate, used a “southern strategy,” designed to appeal to the southern conservatives, who usually voted democrat, however the independent candidate, George Wallace, managed to win most of the voters that Nixon was targeting. Nixon’s campaign was based on a theme to restore “law and order,” which attracted many voters, especially those who were angry about the increasingly violent riots in previous years. The Democratic candidate, Hubert Humphrey, on the other hand, criticized Nixon’s campaign, claiming it was promoting racism, while Nixon provided a counterpoint in his forced desegregation of school busses. The election was incredibly close, with Nixon winning in the pivotal states of California, Ohio, and Illinois, by only three or fewer percentage points in each, for the popular vote. The electoral vote was much clearer cut, with Nixon having 301 electoral votes to Humphrey’s 191, and Wallace’s 46.