The 1968 Election Antiwar candidate Senator Robert F. Kennedy, campaigning for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination was killed The Democratic National Convention of 1968 Democratic nominee Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey vs. former vice president Richard Nixon Republican nominee American Independent Party nominee segregationist George C. Wallace Democrats maintained control of Congress

1968 Presidential Campaign nominees

Although Nixon won the 1968 Presidential Election, Democrats maintained control of Congress

Richard Nixon’s Presidency Richard M. Nixon took office hoping to make his mark on history by applying his broad understanding of international relations to a changing world Anti-Communism remained central to U.S. policy National Security adviser Henry A. Kissinger In 1972, Nixon became the nation’s first president to set foot on Chinese soil Détente – Nixon and Kissinger’s term for easing conflict with the Soviet Union Left –wing movements in Latin America & Middle East

In February 1972, Nixon became the nation’s first president to set foot on Chinese soil Nixon’s visit created cultural and scientific exchanges and American manufactures began to find markets in China

Vietnam Becomes Nixon’s War From 1969 to 1972, Nixon and Kissinger pursued a three-pronged approach: strengthen South Vietnamese military & government, gradually reduced the U.S. presence in Vietnam, & replace U.S. forces with intensive bombing Support of a new pro-Western Cambodian government provoked outrage at home – Washington D.C., Kent State University, Jackson State College Pentagon Papers – a secret internal study of the war

As the graph demonstrates, U.S. troops in Vietnam peaked in 1968

With peace talks stalled, in December 1972 Nixon ordered the most devastating bombing yet. Though costly to both sides, it brought renewed negotiations Formal peace accord took place in Paris (January 27, 1973). The agreement required removal of all U.S. troops and military advisers from South Vietnam but allowed North Vietnamese forces to remain Although increasing numbers of legislators criticized the war, Congress never denied the funds to fight it The Legacy of Defeat

Emergence of a Grassroots Movement A conservative movement emerged early in 1964 presidential race Lyndon Johnson vs. Barry Goldwater Conservatives assailed big government in domestic affairs but demanded a strong military to eradicate “Godless communism” In the 1970s, grassroots protests against taxes grew alongside concerns about morality Nixon Courts the Right

Election of 1972 Nixon’s ability to attract Democrats and appeal to concerns about Vietnam, race, law, and order, and traditional morality heightened his prospects for reelection in 1972 Contenders for the Democratic nomination included New York congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, 1 st African American woman to make a bid for the presidency & South Dakota senator George S. McGovern The Watergate scandal called for an impeachment investigation on President Nixon

Nixon ’ s ability to attract Democrats and appeal to concerns about Vietnam, race, law, and order, and traditional morality heightened his prospects for reelection in 1972