1968 Republican National Convention

Political context

Main article: 1968 Republican Party presidential primaries

Former Vice President Richard Nixon, emerged as the frontrunner again for the 1968 Republican presidential nomination. Nixon had been the Republican Party nominee in the 1960 presidential election, and lost to Democratic Party candidate John F. Kennedy.

The so-called "New Nixon" in the 1968 presidential election devised a "Southern strategy," taking advantage of the region's opposition to racial integration and other progressive/liberal policies of the Democratic Party and President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Nixon was nominated on the first ballot with 692 votes to 277 votes for Nelson Rockefeller, 182 votes for California Governor Ronald Reagan and the rest scattered. He was able to secure the nomination to the support of many Southern delegates, after he and his subordinates made concessions to Strom Thurmond and Harry Dent on civil rights, the Supreme Court, and the selection of a vice presidential candidate.

Nixon decided not to re-select his 1960 running mate Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., and House Minority Leader Gerald Ford of Michigan proposed New York City Mayor John Lindsay for vice president. Nixon turned instead to another perceived moderate, Maryland Governor Spiro Agnew. Agnew, former Baltimore County Executive in the Baltimore City suburbs (1963–1967), and since Governor of Maryland, had come to Republican leaders and Nixon's attention when he summoned several Black civic, religious, and political leaders in Baltimore to the local State Office Building complex, following the disastrous April 1968 riots which enveloped Black sections of East and West Baltimore in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee. Agnew complained of the Black leaders' lack of support after a number of what he perceived to be positive projects, programs and support by his Republican administration for the minority communities in the city. Agnew's biting comments caused many in the audience to walk out. Agnew was seen as a candidate who could appeal to Rockefeller Republicans, was acceptable to Southern Conservatives, and had a solid law-and-order record.

In his acceptance speech, Nixon deplored the state of the union and urged a return to law and order both at home and abroad:

Nixon also said that he had "a good teacher", referring to Eisenhower, and made the delegates happy with the statement "Let's win this one for Ike!" Eisenhower was not present during Nixon's speech nor during any part of the convention. Due to failing health, he was under doctor's orders not to travel, but addressed the convention by telephone. He died the following March.

Balloting

The following were placed into nomination:

Nominated for President

File:RichardNixon.png| File:Ronald-Reagan-governor-California.jpg| File:NelsonRockefeller.png| File:George W. Romney official portrait.jpg| File:Jim Rhodes in Bettsville, Ohio October 15, 1981.jpg| File:Clifford P Case.jpg| File:Frankcarlson(r-ks).jpg| File:Fong.jpg|

Nominated for Vice President

File:Spiro_Agnew.jpg| File:George W. Romney official portrait.jpg|

The Republican Convention Tally results

This was the last time during the 20th Century that two siblings (the Rockefeller brothers) received votes at a convention.

Results by state

The balloting by state was as follows:

Notes

References

Bibliography

References

1. Perlstein, Rick. (2008). "Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America". [[Charles Scribner's Sons.
2. Perlstein, pp. 299-304
3. "Address Accepting the Presidential Nomination at the Republican National Convention in Miami Beach, Florida".
4. (August 8, 1968). "Lebanon Daily News".
5. (August 8, 1968). "The News-Herald".
6. (August 1968). "1968 Republican Convention Roll Call".