50 years since conservatives broke through in the Republican Party
Key takeaways
- The rally for Reagan, was held at the Palm Beach Junior College.
- But on June 17, 1972, men connected to Nixon s reelection campaign had broken into the offices of the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate Office Building in Washington.
- He had begun to plan retirement, but accepted the nomination for vice president as a nice conclusion to his career.
Why this matters: political developments that affect policy direction and public trust.
The rally for Reagan, was held at the Palm Beach Junior College. (AP Photo/Robert H. Houston) Fifty years ago, the U.S. was in an unpredictable presidential election year. In 1972, President Richard Nixon emphasized a strong economy and adroit foreign policy. Faced by a disintegrating Democratic Party, he beat Sen. George McGovern (D-S.D.) in an electoral tsunami: He won every state except Massachusetts and took the Electoral College 520-17. He was also the first Republican to sweep the South.
But on June 17, 1972, men connected to Nixon s reelection campaign had broken into the offices of the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate Office Building in Washington. They started a time-bomb ticking under the administration.
In October 1973, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew had resigned, accused of tax evasion. For a replacement who could be confirmed by Congress, Nixon opted for long-term House Minority Leader Gerald Ford of Michigan, a likeable if limited politician — Lyndon Johnson remarked that Ford had played too much football without a helmet. He had begun to plan retirement, but accepted the nomination for vice president as a nice conclusion to his career.