Election of 1968

In this election, though not running against Lyndon B. Johnson, Nixon used Johnson's presidential flaws to reflect upon Democrats and the New Left to win the battle for presidency. There were multiple players in this election (McCarthy, Wallace, Humphrey, Nixon and Robert Kennedy). At first, Kennedy had the definite lead, due to the legacy of his older brother. However, Kennedy was assassinated, leaving Nixon and Humphrey in the lead.

At the Democratic convention in Chicago, there were massive riots that quickly led to violence from anti-war protestors who were still riled up against Johnson's Vietnam tactics. This put Humphrey on a bad start, as the riots dominated the news coverage. Nixon easily came in in the electoral college, but the populace vote was more thinly split. View the results here.

Election of 1964

This election was definitely not as heated as its predecessor. After Kennedy's assassination and popular presidency, the vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson inherited the office. The election of 1964 was his re-election after the brief presidency he had held due to Kennedy's death. In this election, he got the nickname "Landslide Lyndon," due to the 90.3% of electoral votes that he had garnered. Johnson ran against Goldwater, whose stance was to use nuclear weapons in Vietnam if it became necessary, cut social programs, end the sale of the Tenensee Valley Authority and make voluntary social security participation rather than mandatory. Johnson wanted to conitnue socail programs, and have limited involvment in Vietnam. His presidency became cotradictory to this statement.

In Johnson's inauguration speech, given on January 20, 1965, Johnson stated:

"Our destiny in the midst of change will rest on the unchanged character of our people and on their faith."

See a color coded map of the drastic landslide here!

Election of 1960

At first, the election of 1960 was thought to go undoubtedly towards Kennedy. However, on election day ballots started shifting towards Nixon. The battle became equal and the election was not settled until early morning the next day; not the usual 12 o'clock. Of the 68 million votes cast, there was a mere difference of about 113,ooo votes between the leaders of the race (Kennedy and Nixon). When the vote was settled in the morning, the Republicans stated that there had been probable voting fraud. Nixon ended his battle here, but the Republican party pursued. Evidence of fraud was found, but no recount was made available. The Department of Justice referred the investigation to the attorney general who, with the new cabinet in place, was Robert Kennedy, John F. Kennedy's brother.

Earl Mazo, national correspondent for the New York Herald Times went to individually investigate the voting fraud. He made the following statements:

"There's no question in my mind that [the election] was stolen."

"I remember a house. it was completely gutted. There was nobody there. But there were 56 votes for Kennedy in that house."

In his inauguration speech on January 20, 1961, Kennedy delivered the famous line: 

"Ask not what your country can do for you-- ask what you can do for your country." 

Some other notable events of the election were the first televised debates, which helped Kennedy, the more attractive of the two lead candidates. Kennedy also gained black support through his ties with Martin Luther King, Jr. and also massive mob support.

View graphs of the election here