At the candidate, and the phrase was adopted as the slogan of the plain-speaking former general's supporters. Wallace came to national prominence early in the 1960s as a staunch segregationist and broadened his appeal to the Right by lashing out at antiwar demonstrators. He notified the media that his decision on whether to run for president would be formally announced at some time between early December and February. He didn't campaign. But before that, he was a representative and senator from California who went on to become the Vice President of the US from 1953 to 1961.. "[87] Nixon campaigned in San Francisco in front of 10,000 supporters, amidst an array of protests. Material: Paper. [55] As he edged closer to the nomination, discussions about his running mate arose. His campaign generated slogans for supporters to turn into shareable content, which was eventually boiled down to a one-word message: "Change. [3], Nixon was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1946, representing California's 12th congressional district from 1947 until his election to the Senate in 1950. While Reagan continued to woo the conservative movement, Nixon picked off conservative leaders. [55] After the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, like the other candidates, Nixon took a break from campaigning. Reagan pitched himself as the candidate to drag America out of its economic malaise under Carter. The Vietnam War and the . [40] At the end of April, Nixon called for a moratorium on criticism of the Johnson policy in Vietnam as negotiations were underway: "The one man who can do anything about peace is Lyndon Johnson, and I'm not going to do anything to undercut him. Winning a close election on November 5, 1968, Nixon and Agnew were inaugurated as the 37th president of the United States and 39th vice president of the United States, respectively, on January 20, 1969. A political firestorm immediately erupted over whether a man with a history of mental illness should be next in line to become commander in chief in the nuclear age. Richard Nixon (1968): "This time, vote like your whole world . end the war in Vietnam. Republican Ronald Reagan's slogan from his winning 1980 presidential campaign may seem familiar: "Let's Make America Great Again. This continued to be a major theme of the Nixon campaign, and would continue to be used extensively during the general election. By the end of his address, he promised that "the long dark night for America is about to end. However, Johnson withdrew from the race before the primary, meanwhile Governor Reagan's name was on the ballot in Wisconsin, but he did not campaign in the state and was still not a declared candidate. his supporters chanted as he swept to victory in a movement built on a message of youth, inclusion and optimism. [92] Nixon addressed the American Conservative Union on October 9, and argued that George Wallace's American Independent Party candidacy could split the anti-Administration vote, and help the Democrats. ". [59] At the end of the month, Nixon had two-thirds of the required 667 delegates necessary to win the nomination. However perhaps more famous is Frank Sinatra's special version of his song "High Hopes", which he recorded for the candidate with the new lyrics. Researcher [46] Immediately following his entrance, he defeated Nixon in the Massachusetts primary 30% to 26%. However his pledge at the 1988 Republican convention "Read my lips, no new taxes," came back to haunt him, with Democrat Bill Clinton hammering him about the broken pledge during the 1992 election. Woodrow Wilson 1916 U.S. presidential campaign slogan, "War in Europe Peace in America God Bless Wilson" Woodrow Wilson 1916 U.S. presidential campaign slogan, "America First" 1920 US presidential campaign theme of, "Keep Cool and Keep Coolidge" The 1924 presidential campaign slogan of, "Who but Hoover?" [77] Starting the ground campaign tour, during his first stop in Springfield, Illinois, he discussed the importance of unity, stating that "America [now] needs to be united more than any time since Lincoln. The Gallup poll from February 1967 showed Nixon leading Governor George Romney, his closest rival, 52% to 40%. [80] Shortly before the convention and throughout the general election, Nixon received regular briefings from President Johnson on developments in the Vietnam War. Slogans and symbols sum up a candidate's point of view and serve as a rallying cry for supporters. And he is the man who, after the greatest campaign in history, will be Mr. PresidentBarry Goldwater." PapasGoodOleDays. When in 1966 Australian premier Harold Holt declared that Australia would be "all the way with LBJ" in Vietnam, he was derided as an an American lackey. Behind him finished Governor Rockefeller, second with 277 delegates, followed by Governor Ronald Reagan, in third place, having just entered the race, accruing 182 delegates. [110] In his inaugural address, Nixon said that "the greatest honor history can bestow is the title of peacemaker", outlining the direction Nixon sought to take, such as his visit to the People's Republic of China in 1972, opening diplomatic relations between the two nations, and dtente plus the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the Soviet Union, all in his first term. In the first presidential election since the end of World War II, incumbent Harry S. Truman, a Democrat, was widely expected to lose. "[30] He used those dictatorships in Latin America as an example, stating: "I am talking not about marching feet but helping hands. Nixon was the 37th president of the United States and served from 1969 to 1974.. I don't promise that we can eradicate poverty and end discrimination in the space of four or even eight years. Johnson expressed his outrage to Nixon supporters Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen and Senator George Smathers of Florida, but he did not go public because he did not have knowledge of Nixons personal involvement and did not want to disclose U.S. surveillance of its ally. ", But it was the unofficial slogan, initially first used by Clinton's advisers, that caught the imagination: "It's the economy, stupid.". Clinton offered vague promises during his 1996 campaign for re-election as the millennium approached, pledging to start "Building a Bridge to the 21st Century.". He did not connect crime to racial rioting, drawing praise from Civil Rights leaders. His 1968 campaign slogan was "This Time, Vote Like Your Whole World Depended On It", But in 1972 he won a landslide re-election with the slogan "Now, More Than Ever.". Nonetheless, Nixon staffers believed that if such a scenario occurred, liberal Rockefeller delegates in the Northeast would support Nixon to prevent a Reagan nomination. Republicans in the Midwest pushed for Mayor John Lindsay of New York City. Find your thing. [39] With Johnson removed from the race, Nixon fell behind Democratic candidates Eugene McCarthy, Hubert Humphrey and Robert F. Kennedy in head-to-head match-ups. 1960: For the future 1968: Nixon's the One. And Nixon's decision to bomb North Vietnam and mine Haiphong Harbor to stop a Communist offensive proved highly popular. Nixon won 49 out of 50 states, taking all but Massachusetts. Nixon started the general election campaign with a double-digit lead over Humphrey, even in the face of a serious third-party challenge from candidate George Wallace. 1948 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Harry S. Truman, "Give Em Hell, Harry!" At the candidate, and the phrase was adopted as the slogan of the plain-speaking former general's supporters. The. It was neither. [68] Nixon's early nomination occurred partly because he held on to delegates in the South largely influenced by Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, and delegate Charlton Lyons of Louisiana.[69]. There he iscirca August 1971: Richard Nixon. Although it was an extremely close race with respect to the popular vote, Nixon won the electoral college by a 3 to 2 margin. Franklin D. Roosevelt, "Willkie for the Millionaires, Roosevelt for the Millions" Franklin D. Roosevelt, "Carry on with Roosevelt" Franklin D. Roosevelt, "No Third Term" 1940 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of, "No Fourth Term Either" Wendell Willkie, "Roosevelt for Ex-President" 1940 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Wendell Willkie, "There's No Indispensable Man" 1940 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Wendell L. Willkie, "We Want Willkie" 1940 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Wendell L. Willkie, "Win with Willkie" 1940 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Wendell L. Willkie. [85], In mid-September, Nixon's running mate Spiro Agnew went on the offensive against Humphrey; he referred to the Vice President as being "soft on Communism", along with softness on inflation, and "law and order," comparing him to former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. The Country's Risin', for Henry Clay and Frelinghuysen!" Riding high on an America's economic boom during his first four years in the White House, Reagan won a second term in 1984 under the slogan "It's Morning Again in America" broadcast into American households in an iconic campaign ad. ", "Jeb can fix it," and "All in for Jeb" used by, "Defeat the Washington Machine. [10] He returned in August to conduct meetings with his advisers to formulate a solid campaign strategy. [34] Nixon easily won the New Hampshire primary on March 12, pulling in 80% of the vote with a write-in campaign, while Rockefeller received 11%. [20], By mid-September 1967, the Nixon campaign had organized headquarters in four states deemed critical to the Republican primaries. Following nomination, Nixon held his hands in the air with his trademark "V" sign of victory, delivering an acceptance speech written over the preceding weeks. 2 minutes. Nixon won his first term only narrowly. He asked the attendees not to discuss the meeting with anyone, but to spread subtle hints that he would run for president. Richard M. Nixon. Fair or not, the campaign turned on the bitter legacy of Richard Nixon. Kennedy brother-in-law Sargent Shriver, an architect of John F. Kennedy's Peace Corps and Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty, replaced Eagleton, but the damage was already done. Most observers agree that if Nixon had simply "retired" from politics after 1960, the Republicans would have gladly given him a 2nd try for the Presidency 4 years later. [51] At the following primary in Oregon, Reagan seemed more willing to compete with Nixon, and Rockefeller sat out,[52] but Nixon won with 72%, fifty points ahead of Reagan. "[24] Making appearances at fundraisers in his adopted home state of New York, Nixon helped to raise $300,000 for the re-election campaign of Senator Jacob K. Javits. [67], The 1968 Republican National Convention was held from August 5 to 9 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida. Advertisement. His diplomatic opening to China reached fruition with a widely televised trip to Beijing. Presidential Campaign: Richard Nixon 1968. [25], Nixon entered 1968 as the front-runner for the Republican nomination. Amid the Vietnam War, riots on the streets, and the counterculture, Richard Nixon appealed to the fears of what he termed the "Silent Majority," disturbed by the changes sweeping America. He pointed to the peace and prosperity of the Eisenhower administration and assured the voters that he would maintain American prestige, leadership, and military strength. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. If selecting a vice president is the first presidential decision that a nominee ever makes, McGovern, by choosing and then rejecting Eagleton, had in effect admitted he made the wrong decision. The team organized a question and answer session with seven members of the New Hampshire Republican Party, taping Nixon's responses for editing and use in advertisements. [82][102] The final Harris poll before the election indicated that Nixon was trailing Humphrey 43% to 40%, but Gallup's final poll showed Nixon leading 42% to 40%. Prosperity. Nixon won the election. [4] As a member of Congress, he gained a reputation as a firm anti-Communist. "[41] He also began to discuss economics more frequently, announcing plans to cut spending while criticizing the Democrats' policy of raising taxes. On the strength of a single, nationally televised speech, Reagan took Goldwater's place as first in the hearts of the conservative movement, confronting Nixon with a formidable rival for the 1968 nomination. The candidate took on the protesters first-hand, and delivered his "forgotten American"[88] speech, declaring that election day would be "a day of protest for the forgotten American",[88] a group that included those that "obey the law, pay their taxes, go to church, send their children to school, love their country and demand new leadership. Nixon Rides the Backlash to Victory: Racial Politics in the 1968 Presidential Campaign Jeremy D. Mayer The 1968 presidential campaign between Richard Nixon, Hubert Humphrey, and George Wallace was suffused with the politics of race. Humphrey was buoyed when the North Vietnamese accepted President Johnson's proposal for peace talks in Paris in return for a bombing halt. But in. [103][105] Overall, Nixon spent $6,270,000 on television advertising, most of which was judged to have only reinforced supporters.[106]. Goldwater, Senator Strom Thurmond, and other mainstays of the Republican right-wing lined up behind Nixon. The tactic for choosing Eisenhower's 1956 re-election campaign slogan was to stick with what works: "I still Like Ike.". Another classic, "Don't change Dicks in the midst of a screw, vote for Nixon in '72," was also part of the election vernacular. 1936 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of Franklin D. Roosevelt, "Forward with Roosevelt" Franklin Roosevelt, "Better A Third Termer than a Third Rater" 1940 U.S. presidential campaign slogan of, "I Want Roosevelt Again!" [18] The next week, five staff members were fired after private investigators determined that information had been leaked to the campaigns of potential primary rivals Governors Rockefeller and Reagan. [21] Meanwhile, Nixon and his staff discussed handling the topic of the Vietnam War. Political slogans have a long history in the US, dating back at least to the 1840 election campaign for President William Henry Harrison. The results were very close, and not until early the following morning could news organizations call the election. However, polls suggested that in a head-to-head match up with incumbent President Lyndon Johnson, Nixon trailed 50% to 41%. 1) He believes in creating even greater opportunities for the individual in a free enterprise system. List of U.S. presidential campaign slogans, Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of United States political catchphrases, "The Quick 10: 10 Campaign Slogans of the Past", "Posters and Election Propaganda: "America First" Communication Management and Design Ithaca College", "One Hundred Years Ago, Eugene Debs Gave An Anti-War Speech That Landed Him in Prison", "1964 redux: The stakes are too high for you to stay at home", "The Genius of McGovern's 'Come Home, America' Vision", "Will Rabbe, Producer, Journalist & Historian Blog Most Underrated Political Slogan: "They Can't Lick Our Dick", "How Donald Trump came up with 'Make America Great Again', "Undecided: Hillary keeps shifting slogans", "McCain's Slogan: "Reform, Prosperity and Peace", "Hollywood double takes: Actors who take on famous faces - NY Daily News", "Jeb comes to South Florida, sans exclamation mark", "Jeb Bush, the 'joyful tortoise,' gives out tiny toy turtles on trail", "2016 Presidential Campaign Slogan Survey", "Rand Paul unveils populist, anti-establishment slogan", "Huckabee's Hope is From "Tree Town" to Higher Ground", "Campaign 2016: Carly Fiorina, GOP Presidential Candidate", "Michelle Obama: 'When they go low, we go high', Unsuccessful major party presidential candidates, Unsuccessful major party vice presidential candidates, elections in which the winner lost the popular vote, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_U.S._presidential_campaign_slogans&oldid=1140907281, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles lacking in-text citations from September 2022, Articles with failed verification from March 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, "Reannexation of Texas and Reoccupation of Oregon", "Hurrah! "Yes we can!" List What exactly was Watergate? The Watergate scandal, which would consume the greater part of his second term, resulted in his ultimate resignation on August 9, 1974.[117]. "[45], On the last day of April, Rockefeller announced that he would campaign for the presidency, despite his previous statement to the contrary. The Vietnam War had split the Democratic party. Marking himself as a champion of the American Dream, he stressed greater unity, invoking the silent majority. It was used by former Allied Supreme Commander Dwight E. Eisenhower nicknamed "Ike" in his successful 1952 presidential campaign. "Nixon Now" - Richard M. Nixon, 1972 (also, "Nixon Now, More than Ever") "Come home, America" - George McGovern , 1972 [18] "Acid, Amnesty, and Abortion for All" - 1972 anti-Democratic Party slogan, from a statement made to reporter Bob Novak by Missouri Senator Thomas F. Eagleton (as related in Novak's 2007 memoir, Prince of Darkness ) Nixon. [11] At this time he quietly began efforts to organize in Indiana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Wisconsin, positioning to secure victories in those states' primaries the following year. "Yes we can!" Two days later, his campaign manager, Gaylord Parkinson, left his position to care for his ailing wife. or "The Better Man for a Better America" , "Prosperity and Progress" alternative slogan of the, "A Safer World and a More Hopeful America" , "Lighting the fires of Liberty, one heart at a time" used by. McGovern, on the other hand, stumbled early. He won the 1966 gubernatorial race in a landslide and immediately began seeking the presidential nomination. [84], Before his visit, he called upon Senator Edward Brooke of Massachusetts, the highest ranking African American in U.S. government, to campaign with him on trips to Illinois and California. There are also other phrases that are not strictly campaign slogans, but describe a policy or set of programs proposed . Humphrey labeled this charge as "irresponsible", causing Nixon to counter that Humphrey "doesn't know what's going on". and "Change." Nixon's the One! Observers noted that this move potentially hurt Nixon by straying from his reputation "as a foreign policy expert". Richard Nixon: For the Future: 1964: Lyndon B. Johnson: The Stakes are too High for You to Stay at Home: 1964: Barry Goldwater: In your Heart you Know he's Right: 1968: Richard Nixon: Nixon's the One: 1976: Gerald Ford: . [47] New Harris polls found that Rockefeller fared better against Democratic candidates than Nixon,[48] but the outlook started to appear better for Nixon after he won the Indiana primary over Rockefeller. However LBJ's popularity collapsed as America became further mired in the Vietnam War, and the slogan was turned against him. [72] In those Gallup polls following the convention, Nixon led Humphrey 45% to 29% and topped McCarthy 42% to 37%. Part two (page 1)", "The 'other' Goodell: How NFL commissioner's dad ran afoul of Nixon", "Despite Lead, Nixon Lacking Commitments", "Presidential Elections Ayn Rand 1932 to 1980", Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Nixon_1968_presidential_campaign&oldid=1139361148, This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 18:57. Out of the wreckage of Goldwater's candidacy rose a charismatic conservative star, Ronald Wilson Reagan. These programs showed Nixon at his best, answering questions posed by ordinary Americans, and shielded him from questions by reporters, who sometimes brought out his worst. "Change We Can Believe In," was Barack Obama's slogan when he successfully campaigned to become America's first black president in 2008. We need a President who believes in the individual. The items are unusual and seldom seen, such as the Richard Nixon showerhead where water sprays from his mouth and a Teddy Roosevelt beer tray, Mihaly said. With the advent of mass communications after World War II, slogans became a vital way of distinguishing candidates jostling for attention on the airwaves. He established an early lead over the Democratic nominee, Senator George McGovern of South Dakota and never lost it. [66] Sources within Washington reported that Reagan caused greater concern for the Nixon campaign than Rockefeller. , "The Union now and forever" Stephen A. Douglas, "Union, liberty, peace" Abraham Lincoln, "For Union and Constitution" Abraham Lincoln (Also "The Union and the Constitution"), "An honorable, permanent and happy peace."