Professor Nicole Hemmer

They're very critical of the social welfare state that many moderate Republicans had bought into and had participated in building and expanding under Eisenhower and Johnson and Kennedy and even under Nixon in some capacities. And so there's this growing conservative wing that doesn't necessarily trust Richard Nixon. but they become much more trustworthy.

They're very critical of the social welfare state that many moderate Republicans had bought into and had participated in building and expanding under Eisenhower and Johnson and Kennedy and even under Nixon in some capacities. And so there's this growing conservative wing that doesn't necessarily trust Richard Nixon. but they become much more trustworthy.

They're very critical of the social welfare state that many moderate Republicans had bought into and had participated in building and expanding under Eisenhower and Johnson and Kennedy and even under Nixon in some capacities. And so there's this growing conservative wing that doesn't necessarily trust Richard Nixon. but they become much more trustworthy.

They fall into line more so, not completely. There are some that like push for John Ashbrook to run in 72 to challenge Nixon, but they fall in line because they actually adore Spiro Agnew. Spiro Agnew is a vocal critic, especially of this liberal media bias and really was Nixon's attack dog against, you know, the liberalism and, you know,

They fall into line more so, not completely. There are some that like push for John Ashbrook to run in 72 to challenge Nixon, but they fall in line because they actually adore Spiro Agnew. Spiro Agnew is a vocal critic, especially of this liberal media bias and really was Nixon's attack dog against, you know, the liberalism and, you know,

They fall into line more so, not completely. There are some that like push for John Ashbrook to run in 72 to challenge Nixon, but they fall in line because they actually adore Spiro Agnew. Spiro Agnew is a vocal critic, especially of this liberal media bias and really was Nixon's attack dog against, you know, the liberalism and, you know,

started to kind of turn this anti-liberalism into more of a coherent conservative message. And so that's where Spiro Agnew really played a key role. And so when he ultimately had to resign because he was involved in these bribery scandals, this is a really key moment where conservatives are hoping that a conservative would be put in place.

started to kind of turn this anti-liberalism into more of a coherent conservative message. And so that's where Spiro Agnew really played a key role. And so when he ultimately had to resign because he was involved in these bribery scandals, this is a really key moment where conservatives are hoping that a conservative would be put in place.

started to kind of turn this anti-liberalism into more of a coherent conservative message. And so that's where Spiro Agnew really played a key role. And so when he ultimately had to resign because he was involved in these bribery scandals, this is a really key moment where conservatives are hoping that a conservative would be put in place.

And of course, that's not going to happen, given the realities of the Watergate scandal as it's playing out at the time.

And of course, that's not going to happen, given the realities of the Watergate scandal as it's playing out at the time.

And of course, that's not going to happen, given the realities of the Watergate scandal as it's playing out at the time.

Absolutely. He knows, again, this is the fall of 73 after the summer, the televised hearings. I mean, it's really Watergate is starting to intensify again. It's showing it's starting to show some very, very concrete links between the higher ups of the Nixon White House and not just the burglary, but of course, the cover up.

Absolutely. He knows, again, this is the fall of 73 after the summer, the televised hearings. I mean, it's really Watergate is starting to intensify again. It's showing it's starting to show some very, very concrete links between the higher ups of the Nixon White House and not just the burglary, but of course, the cover up.

Absolutely. He knows, again, this is the fall of 73 after the summer, the televised hearings. I mean, it's really Watergate is starting to intensify again. It's showing it's starting to show some very, very concrete links between the higher ups of the Nixon White House and not just the burglary, but of course, the cover up.

And so, you know, there's an intense political pressure and Nixon needs someone who is not controversial. And again, has this trust that a lot of people liked him and they trusted him. And so that's really why he decides on Gerald Ford.

And so, you know, there's an intense political pressure and Nixon needs someone who is not controversial. And again, has this trust that a lot of people liked him and they trusted him. And so that's really why he decides on Gerald Ford.

And so, you know, there's an intense political pressure and Nixon needs someone who is not controversial. And again, has this trust that a lot of people liked him and they trusted him. And so that's really why he decides on Gerald Ford.

Absolutely. And, you know, Democrats had dominated Congress for quite some time at this moment. And this is something that in 72, if you look at the presidential map, all of the country except for Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., go for Richard Nixon. And that looks like a landslide. But the reality is that the Democratic Party was deeply divided on the presidential level.

Absolutely. And, you know, Democrats had dominated Congress for quite some time at this moment. And this is something that in 72, if you look at the presidential map, all of the country except for Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., go for Richard Nixon. And that looks like a landslide. But the reality is that the Democratic Party was deeply divided on the presidential level.