1972 United States presidential election

Re-election of Richard Nixon related races 1972 United States elections January 2025 November 2013 1972 United States presidential election United States 1961 presidential Nationwide opinion polling for the 1972 United States presidential election 1968 United States presidential election 1968 November 7, 1972 1976 United States presidential election 1976 538 members of the Electoral College 270 electoral 56.2%http://www.electproject.org/national-1789-present National General Election VEP Turnout Rates, 1789-Present United States Election Project CQ Press February 21, 2023 July 25, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140725110444/http://www.electproject.org/national-1789-present live 6.3 pp 200x200px Richard_Nixon_presidential_portrait_(1).jpg Richard Nixon Republican Party (United States) California Spiro Agnew 520A faithless Republican elector voted for the Libertarian ticket (Hospers–Nathan). 49 47,168,711 47,168,710 77,744,027 1 yes George McGovern (D-SD) (3x4-1).jpg George McGovern Democratic Party (United States) South Dakota Sargent Shriver(replacing Thomas Eagleton) 17 1 + DC 29,173,222 29,173,222 77,744,027 1 yes 350px Presidential election results map. Red denotes states won by Nixon/Agnew and blue denotes those won by McGovern/Shriver. Gold represents the sole electoral vote for Hospers/Nathan by a Virginia faithless elector. Numbers indicate electoral votes cast by each state and the District of Columbia. President Richard Nixon Republican Party (United States) Richard Nixon Republican Party (United States) Events Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 7, 1972. Incumbent Republican President Richard Nixon and his running mate, incumbent vice president Spiro Agnew, were re-elected to a second term; they defeated the Democratic ticket of Senator George McGovern and former ambassador to France Sargent Shriver in a landslide. With 60.7% of the popular vote, Nixon won the largest share of the popular vote for the Republican Party in any presidential election. Nixon swept aside challenges from two Republican representatives in the Republican primaries to win renomination. McGovern, who had played a significant role in changing the Democratic nomination system after the 1968 U.S. presidential election, mobilized the anti-Vietnam War movement and other liberal supporters to win the Democratic nomination. Among the candidates he defeated were early front-runner Edmund Muskie, 1968 nominee Hubert Humphrey, and governor George Wallace. Nixon emphasized the strong economy and his success in foreign affairs, while McGovern ran on a platform calling for an immediate end to the Vietnam War and the institution of a guaranteed minimum income. Nixon maintained a large lead in polling. McGovern's general election campaign was damaged by the perception that his platform was radical, and by revelations that his initial running mate, Thomas Eagleton, had undergone electroconvulsive therapy as a treatment for depression; Eagleton was replaced by Sargent Shriver after only nineteen days on the ticket. In June, Nixon's reelection committee broke into the Watergate complex to wiretap the Democratic National Committee's headquarters; early news of the incident had little impact on the success of Nixon's campaign, but further damaging revelations in the ensuing Watergate scandal soon engulfed his second term. Nixon won the election in a landslide victory, taking 60.7% of the popular vote, carrying 49 states and becoming the first Republican to sweep the South, whereas McGovern took just 37.5% of the popular vote. This marked the most recent time that the Republican nominee carried Minnesota in a presidential election; it also made Nixon the only two-term vice president to be elected president twice. The 1972 election was the first since the ratification of the 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, further expanding the electorate. Republican nomination 1972 Republican Party presidential primaries Republican candidates: John M. Ashbrook, representative from Ohio Pete McCloskey, representative from California Richard Nixon, president of the United States from California 65px|center|link=Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party (United States) 1972 Republican Party ticket white Richard Nixon white Spiro Agnewfor Presidentfor Vice President center|200x200px center|200x200px37thPresident of the United States(1969–1974)39thVice President of the United States(1969–1973)Campaign200x200px Primaries Nixon was a popular incumbent president in 1972, as he was credited with opening the People's Republic of China as a result of his visit that year, and achieving détente with the Soviet Union. Polls showed that Nixon held a strong lead in the Republican primaries. He was challenged by two candidates: liberal congressman Pete McCloskey from California, and conservative congressman John Ashbrook from Ohio. McCloskey ran as an anti-war candidate, while Ashbrook opposed Nixon's détente policies towards China and the Soviet Union. In the New Hampshire primary, McCloskey garnered 19.8% of the vote to Nixon's 67.6%, with Ashbrook receiving 9.7%.http://www.primarynewhampshire.com/new-hampshire-primary-past-results.php New Hampshire Primary historical past election results. 2008 Democrat & Republican past results. John McCain, Hillary Clinton winners Primarynewhampshire.com 2014-08-17 July 15, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110715112805/http://www.primarynewhampshire.com/new-hampshire-primary-past-results.php dead Nixon won 1323 of the 1324 delegates to the Republican convention, with McCloskey receiving the vote of one delegate from New Mexico. Vice President Spiro Agnew was re-nominated by acclamation; while both the party's moderate wing and Nixon himself had wanted to replace him with a new running-mate (the moderates favoring Nelson Rockefeller, and Nixon favoring John Connally), it was ultimately concluded that such action would incur too great a risk of losing Agnew's base of conservative supporters. Primary results 1972 Republican Party presidential primariesGuide to U.S. Elections CQ Press 2010 9781604265361 Kalb Deborah 6th Washington, DC 415 Richard M. Nixon (incumbent) 5,378,704 86.9 Unpledged delegates 317,048 5.1 John M. Ashbrook 311,543 5.0 Paul N. McCloskey 132,731 2.1 George C. Wallace 20,472 0.3 "None of the names shown" 5,350 0.1 Others 22,433 0.4 6,188,281 100 Convention 1972 Republican National Convention Seven members of Vietnam Veterans Against the War were brought on federal charges for conspiring to disrupt the Republican convention. How We Got Here: The '70s Frum David David Frum 2000 Basic Books New York, New York 0-465-04195-7 52 https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/52 They were acquitted by a federal jury in Gainesville, Florida. Democratic nomination 1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries 65px|center|link=Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party (United States) 1972 Democratic Party ticket white George McGovern white Sargent Shriverfor Presidentfor Vice President center|201x201px center|201x201px U.S. Senatorfrom South Dakota(1963–1981) 21stU.S. Ambassador to France(1968–1970)Campaign200x200px Candidates in this section are sorted by performance in the delegate contestsHubert HumphreyGeorge WallaceEdmund MuskieHenry M. JacksonWilbur MillsShirley ChisholmTerry Sanfordcenter|128x128pxcenter|119x119pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxU.S. Vice Presidentfrom Minnesota(1965–1969)Governor of Alabama(1961–1967; 1971–1979)U.S. Senatorfrom Maine(1959–1980)U.S. Senatorfrom Washington(1953–1983)U.S. Representativefrom Arkansas(1939–1977)U.S. Representativefrom New York(1969–1983)Governor of North Carolina(1961–1965)center|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignAC Announced Campaign: January 10, 19724,119,230 votes386.30 PD Pledged DelegatesAC Announced Campaign: January 13, 19723,755,424 votes377.00 PD Pledged DelegatesAC Announced Campaign: January 4, 1972SC Suspended Campaign: April 27, 19721,838,314 votes209.10 PD Pledged DelegatesAC Announced Campaign: November 19, 1971SC Suspended Campaign: May 2, 1972504,596 votes53.75 PD Pledged DelegatesAC Announced Campaign: February 11, 197237,401 votes30.55 PD Pledged DelegatesAC Announced Campaign: January 25, 1972430,733 votes28.65 PD Pledged DelegatesAC Announced Campaign: March 8, 1972331,415 votes27 PD Pledged Delegateshttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/01/11/79415305.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false Humphrey Joins the Race; Asks U.S. to End War Now; Humphrey in Race; Urges War End Now TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/01/14/79415650.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false Wallace Joins Florida Race as Democrat; Wallace Enters Primary In Florida as a Democrat TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/01/05/79413139.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false Muskie Formally in Race; Pledges 'a New Beginning'; Muskie Formally in Nomination Race TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/04/28/82220855.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false Admits Strategy Failed; Muskie Abandons Primary Contention TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/05/03/82222766.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false Jackson Cites Lack of Funds in Quitting TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1971/11/20/79166460.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false Jackson in Race; He Asserts Nixon Fails to Win Trust; Jackson in Race for President; Says Nixon Fails to Win Trust TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/02/12/79419468.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false Rep. Mills Officially Enters Race For the Democratic Nomination; MILLS JOINS RACE FOR NOMINATION TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/01/26/81892474.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false NEW HAT IN RING: MRS. CHISHOLM'S; Representative Is Seeking Presidency as Democrat Mrs. Chisholm Joins Presidential Race TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/03/09/79427679.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false Sanford, Ex-Governor, Runs In Carolina for White House TimesMachineJohn LindsayEugene McCarthySam YortyVance HartkePatsy MinkFred R. Harriscenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxMayor of New Yorkfrom New York(1966–1973)U.S. Senatorfrom Minnesota(1959–1971)Mayor of Los Angelesfrom California(1961–1973)U.S. Senatorfrom Indiana(1959–1977)U.S. Representativefrom Hawaii(1965–1977)U.S. Senatorfrom Oklahoma(1964–1973)center|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignCampaignAC Announced Campaign: December 28, 1971W Withdrew: April 4, 1972196,406 votes6 PD Pledged DelegatesAC Announced Campaign: December 17, 1971553,352 votesAC Announced Campaign: November 16, 1971W Withdrew: June 5, 1972E-HH Endorsed Hubert Humphrey: June 5, 197279,446 votesAC Announced Campaign: January 3, 1972W Withdrew: March 26, 1972E-HH Endorsed Hubert Humphrey: March 26, 197211,798 votesW Withdrew: May 24, 19728,286 votesAC Announced Campaign: September 24, 1971W Withdrew: November 10, 1971https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1971/12/29/79412200.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false LINDSAY, IN RACE, SCORES HIS RIVALS; In Miami, He Also Attacks Nixon -- Says Washington Ignores Cities' Problems Lindsay, in Race, Attacks Nixon And Rivals in Democratic Party TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/04/05/90712873.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false MAYORS RUNS SIXTH; Says Returns Indicate He Cannot Continue as a Candidate Lindsay Quits the Race After Sixth-Place Finish TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/05/23/80789623.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false McCarthy Withdraws From California Race TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1971/12/18/79169083.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false McCarthy, Casually, Enters the '72 Race; A Casual McCarthy Enters 1972 Race TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1971/11/17/79165471.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false Yorty Enters Race; Eyes 2 Primaries; Yorty Enters Race; Eyes Two Primaries TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/06/06/81896963.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false Minnesotan Won't Quit; Humphrey Concedes Loss In California Voting Today TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/01/04/79171800.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false Petitions Raise Hartke Hopes TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/05/25/80790103.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false Rep. Mink Withdraws From President Race TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1971/09/25/81954867.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false Harris in Race for Presidency, The Second Democrat to Declare; Harris in Race for Presidency, The Second Democrat to Declare TimesMachinehttps://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1971/11/11/79405342.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false Harris, Declaring 'I Am Broke,' Withdraws From '72 Contention; $40,000 in Debt, Oklahoman Abandons a Short Campaign Based on 'New Populism' TimesMachine Primaries Senate Majority Whip Ted Kennedy, the youngest brother of former president John F. Kennedy and former senator Robert F. Kennedy, both of whom were assassinated in the 1960s, was the favorite to win the 1972 nomination, but he announced he would not be a candidate.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ON9LAAAAIBAJ&pg=5489,4273487&dq=ted+kennedy+presidential+campaign&hl=en Don't count out Ted Kennedy The Free Lance–Star June 4, 1971 Jack Anderson March 16, 2012 February 5, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210205083438/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ON9LAAAAIBAJ&pg=5489%2C4273487&dq=ted+kennedy+presidential+campaign&hl=en live The favorite for the Democratic nomination then became Maine Senator Ed Muskie,How We Got Here: The '70s Frum David David Frum 2000 Basic Books New York, New York 0-465-04195-7 298 https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/298 the 1968 vice-presidential nominee.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M001121 Muskie, Edmund Sixtus, (1914–1996) United States Congress March 16, 2012 December 5, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101205113140/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M001121 live Muskie's momentum collapsed just prior to the New Hampshire primary, when the "Canuck letter" was published in the Manchester Union-Leader. The letter, actually a forgery from Nixon's "dirty tricks" unit, claimed that Muskie had made disparaging remarks about French-Canadians – a remark likely to injure Muskie's support among the French-American population in northern New England.Mitchell Robert The Democrat who cried (maybe) in New Hampshire and lost the presidential nomination https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/02/09/new-hampshire-ed-muskie-tears-primary/ March 3, 2020 The Washington Post February 9, 2020 March 29, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200329235846/https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/02/09/new-hampshire-ed-muskie-tears-primary/ live Subsequently, the paper published an attack on the character of Muskie's wife Jane, reporting that she drank and used off-color language during the campaign. Muskie made an emotional defense of his wife in a speech outside the newspaper's offices during a snowstorm. Though Muskie later stated that what had appeared to the press as tears were actually melted snowflakes, the press reported that Muskie broke down and cried, shattering the candidate's image as calm and reasoned.1996-03-26 REMEMBERING ED MUSKIE PBS http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/remember/muskie_3-26.html https://web.archive.org/web/19990427124548/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/remember/muskie_3-26.html 1999-04-27 Nearly two years before the election, South Dakota Senator George McGovern entered the race as an anti-war, progressive candidate.https://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F30C11F7345C107B93CBA8178AD85F458785F9 McGovern Enters '72 Race, Pledging Troop Withdrawal R. W. Apple, Jr. The New York Times January 18, 1971 1 fee required March 16, 2012 June 8, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200608024557/https://query.nytimes.com/mem/page.html?res=F30C11F7345C107B93CBA8178AD85F458785F9&legacy=true&status=nf%2F live McGovern was able to pull together support from the anti-war movement and other grassroots support to win the nomination in a primary system he had played a significant part in designing. On January 25, 1972, New York Representative Shirley Chisholm announced she would run, and became the first African-American woman to run for a major-party presidential nomination. Hawaii Representative Patsy Mink also announced she would run, and became the first Asian American person to run for the Democratic presidential nomination.Shirley Chisholm's 1972 Presidential Campaign Jo Freeman University of Illinois at Chicago Women's History Project February 2005 http://www.uic.edu/orgs/cwluherstory/jofreeman/polhistory/chisholm.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150126085532/http://www.uic.edu/orgs/cwluherstory/jofreeman/polhistory/chisholm.htm January 26, 2015 mdy-all On April 25, George McGovern won the Massachusetts primary. Two days later, journalist Robert Novak quoted a "Democratic senator", later revealed to be Thomas Eagleton, as saying: "The people don't know McGovern is for amnesty, abortion, and legalization of pot. Once middle America – Catholic middle America, in particular – finds this out, he's dead." The label stuck, and McGovern became known as the candidate of "amnesty, abortion, and acid". It became Humphrey's battle cry to stop McGovern—especially in the Nebraska primary.Robert D. Novak The Prince of Darkness: 50 Years Reporting in Washington https://books.google.com/books?id=7Cq-v7M6N74C&pg=PA225 2008 Random House Digital, Inc. 225 9781400052004 November 20, 2015 April 18, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230418145321/https://books.google.com/books?id=7Cq-v7M6N74C&pg=PA225 liveNancy L. Cohen Delirium: The Politics of Sex in America https://archive.org/details/deliriumpolitics0000cohe registration 2012 Counterpoint Press 37–38 9781619020689 Alabama Governor George Wallace, an infamous segregationist who ran on a third-party ticket in 1968, did well in the Southern United States (winning nearly every county in the Florida primary) and among alienated and dissatisfied voters in the North.((The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica)) United States presidential election of 1972 https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1972 Encyclopædia Britannica 3 December 2019 June 5, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200605084714/https://www.britannica.com/event/United-States-presidential-election-of-1972 live What might have become a forceful campaign was cut short when Wallace was shot in an assassination attempt by Arthur Bremer on May 15. Wallace was struck by five bullets and left paralyzed from the waist down. The day after the assassination attempt, Wallace won the Michigan and Maryland primaries, but the shooting effectively ended his campaign, and he pulled out in July. In the end, McGovern won the nomination by winning primaries through grassroots support, in spite of establishment opposition. McGovern had led a commission to re-design the Democratic nomination system after the divisive nomination struggle and convention of 1968. However, the new rules angered many prominent Democrats whose influence was marginalized, and those politicians refused to support McGovern's campaign (some even supporting Nixon instead), leaving the McGovern campaign at a significant disadvantage in funding, compared to Nixon. Some of the principles of the McGovern Commission have lasted throughout every subsequent nomination contest, but the Hunt Commission instituted the selection of superdelegates a decade later, in order to reduce the nomination chances of outsiders such as McGovern and Jimmy Carter. Primary results thumb|400px|Statewide contest by winner#c1c1c1 No primary held #a59400 Shirley Chisholm #73638c Hubert Humphrey #668c63 Henry M. Jackson #5d73e5 George McGovern #c67742 Wilbur Mills #423121 Edmund Muskie #d77da7 George Wallace 1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries Hubert H. Humphrey 4,121,372 25.8 George S. McGovern 4,053,451 25.3 George C. Wallace 3,755,424 23.5 Edmund S. Muskie 1,840,217 11.5 Eugene J. McCarthy 553,955 3.5 Henry M. Jackson 505,198 3.2 Shirley A. Chisholm 430,703 2.7 James T. Sanford 331,415 2.1 John V. Lindsay 196,406 1.2 Sam W. Yorty 79,446 0.5 Wilbur D. Mills 37,401 0.2 Walter E. Fauntroy 21,217 0.1 Unpledged delegates 19,533 0.1 Edward M. Kennedy 16,693 0.1 Rupert V. Hartke 11,798 0.1 Patsy M. Mink 8,286 0.1 "None of the names shown" 6,269 0 Others 5,181 0 15,993,965 100 Notable endorsements 30em Edmund Muskie Former Governor of New York and U.S. Secretary of Commerce W. Averell HarrimanByrd Lee April 28, 1972 Bland, Crybaby Roles Cost Muskie His Lead 1 Lansing State Journal https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-bland-crybaby-rol/184026941/ May 13, 2022 But of likely greater impediment was the sheer number of those involved, the many "senior advisors" like Clark Clifford and W. Averell Harriman and Luther B. Hodges, and the 19 senators, 34 congressmen and nine governors who had publicly endorsed Muskie. May 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220513200131/https://www.newspapers.com/image/206039697/?terms=%22Averell%20Harriman%22%20%22Edmund%20Muskie%22%20%22endorses%22%20%22endorsed%22&match=1 live Senator Harold Hughes from IowaRisser James June 9, 1972 Hughes Stands By Muskie 5 The Des Moines Register https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-hughes-stands-by/184027021/ May 13, 2022 Hughes has spent much of this week helping Muskie, whom Hughes endorsed early this year as the candidate most likely to unify the party and defeat President Nixon in November. May 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220513200135/https://www.newspapers.com/image/338798077/?terms=%22Harold%20Hughes%22%20%22Edmund%20Muskie%22%20%22endorses%22%20%22endorsed%22&match=1 live Senator Birch Bayh from IndianaMarch 17, 1972 Bayh Endorses Sen. Muskie 7 The Logansport Press UPI https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pharos-tribune-bayh-endorses-sen-mu/184027065/ May 13, 2022 May 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220513200133/https://www.newspapers.com/image/3773466/?terms=%22Birch%20Bayh%22%20%22Edmund%20Muskie%22%20%22endorses%22%20%22endorsed%22&match=1 live Senator Adlai Stevenson III from IllinoisJanuary 11, 1972 Adlai Stevenson III Endorses Sen. Muskie 17 Tampa Bay Times UPI https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-adlai-stevenson-iii-endo/184027091/ May 13, 2022 May 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220513200136/https://www.newspapers.com/image/317681727/?terms=%22adlai%20stevenson%22%20%22edmund%20muskie%22%20%22endorses%22%20%22endorsed%22&match=1 live Senator Mike Gravel of Alaskahttps://select.nytimes.com/mem/archive/pdf?res=F00D16F83C591A7493C7A8178AD85F468785F9 More Muskie Support New York Times September 27, 2008 January 15, 1972 Former Senator Stephen M. Young from OhioApril 27, 1972 Sticking by Muskie, Gilligan declares 24 The Cincinnati Post https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-post-sticking-by-muskie/184027135/ May 13, 2022 May 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220513200132/https://www.newspapers.com/image/764017935/?terms=%22stephen%20m.%20young%22%20%22edmund%20muskie%22%20%22endorses%22%20%22endorsed%22&match=1 live Governor Milton Shapp of PennsylvaniaJanuary 26, 1972 News Capsule: In the nation 2 The Baltimore Sun https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-in-the-nation/184027187/ May 13, 2022 Gov. Milton Shapp of Pennsylvania endorsed Senator Edmund S. Muskie, dealing a sharp blow to Senator Hubert H. Humphrey's presidential ambitions. May 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220513200129/https://www.newspapers.com/image/377394769/?terms=%22Milton%20Shapp%22%20%22Edmund%20Muskie%22%20%22endorses%22%20%22endorsed%22&match=1 live Former Governor Michael DiSalle of Ohio Ohio State Treasurer Gertrude W. DonaheyJanuary 12, 1972 Muskie, HHH calling in Ohio 12 The Journal Herald Associated Press https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-herald-muskie-hhh-calling-i/184027228/ May 13, 2022 May 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220513200136/https://www.newspapers.com/image/395118889/?terms=%22gertrude%20donahey%22%20%22edmund%20muskie%22%20%22endorses%22%20%22endorsed%22&match=1 live Astronaut John Glenn from Ohio George McGovern Senator Frank Church from IdahoAugust 3, 1972 McGovern Picking Second V.P. Candidate Same Way He Picked First 11 Ironwood Daily Globe https://www.newspapers.com/article/ironwood-daily-globe-mcgovern-picking-se/184027297/ May 13, 2022 May 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220513200133/https://www.newspapers.com/image/55239132/?terms=%22Frank%20Church%22%20%22George%20McGovern%22%20%22endorses%22%20%22endorsed%22&match=1 live George Wallace Former Governor Lester Maddox of GeorgiaJuly 14, 1972 Maddox Against Demo Nominees 10 The Knoxville News-Sentinel https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-maddox-again/184027353/ May 13, 2022 Maddox, a booster of fellow Democrat Alabama Gov. George Wallace, said Thursday it may be best to turn the present party "over to the promoters of anarchy, Socialism and Communism" and form what he called a New Democratic Party of the People. May 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220513200130/https://www.newspapers.com/image/774056058/?terms=%22Lester%20Maddox%22%20%22George%20Wallace%22%20%22endorses%22%20%22endorsed%22&match=1 live Shirley Chisholm Representative Ron Dellums from CaliforniaSeptember 14, 2020 "Catalyst for Change": The 1972 Presidential Campaign of Representative Shirley Chisholm https://history.house.gov/Blog/2020/September/9-14-Chisholm-1972/ May 13, 2022 History, Art & Archives of the United States House of Representatives May 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220513200129/https://history.house.gov/Blog/2020/September/9-14-Chisholm-1972/ live Feminist leader and author Betty Friedanhttps://books.google.com/books?id=Bb1kkyv9e5wC&q=Friedan+chisholm&pg=PA250 Life So Far: A Memoir – Google Books August 1, 2006 May 28, 2010 978-0-7432-9986-2 Friedan Betty Simon and Schuster April 18, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230418145327/https://books.google.com/books?id=Bb1kkyv9e5wC&q=Friedan+chisholm&pg=PA250 live Feminist leader, journalist, and DNC official Gloria Steinemhttps://www.pbs.org/pov/chisholm/special_ticket_02.php POV – Chisholm '72 . Video: Gloria Steinem reflects on Chisholm's legacy PBS May 28, 2010 June 16, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100616020557/http://www.pbs.org/pov/chisholm/special_ticket_02.php dead Terry Sanford Former President Lyndon B. Johnson from Texashttps://books.google.com/books?id=QN93ENX3_3sC&q=ranch&pg=PP4 Terry Sanford: politics, progress ... – Google Books May 28, 2010 978-0-8223-2356-3 1999 Covington Howard E. Ellis Marion A. Duke University Press April 18, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230418145359/https://books.google.com/books?id=QN93ENX3_3sC&q=ranch&pg=PP4 live Henry M. Jackson Governor Jimmy Carter of GeorgiaJuly 12, 1972 Convention Briefs: Endorses Jackson 40 Wisconsin State Journal https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-convention-brief/184027392/ May 13, 2022 Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter endorsed Sen. Henry Jackson of Washington for the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday and said he would nominate Jackson at the convention tonight. May 13, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220513200134/https://www.newspapers.com/image/401255613/?terms=%22jimmy%20carter%22%20%22henry%20jackson%22%20%22endorses%22%20%22endorsed%22&match=1 live 1972 Democratic National Convention thumb|right|thumbtime=3.549|300px|Video from the Florida conventions 1972 Democratic National Convention Results: 20em George McGovern – 1864.95 Henry M. Jackson – 525 George Wallace – 381.7 Shirley Chisholm – 151.95 Terry Sanford – 77.5 Hubert Humphrey – 66.7 Wilbur Mills – 33.8 Edmund Muskie – 24.3 Ted Kennedy – 12.7 Sam Yorty – 10 Wayne Hays – 5 John Lindsay – 5 Fred Harris – 2 Eugene McCarthy – 2 Walter Mondale – 2 Ramsey Clark – 1 Walter Fauntroy – 1 Vance Hartke – 1 Harold Hughes – 1 Patsy Mink – 1 Vice presidential vote Most polls showed McGovern running well behind incumbent President Richard Nixon, except when McGovern was paired with Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy. McGovern and his campaign brain trust lobbied Kennedy heavily to accept the bid to be McGovern's running mate, but he continually refused their advances, and instead suggested U.S. Representative (and House Ways and Means Committee chairman) Wilbur Mills from Arkansas and Boston mayor Kevin White.http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,906135,00.html Introducing... the McGovern Machine July 24, 1972 Time Magazine September 7, 2008 August 9, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140809165609/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,906135,00.html live Offers were then made to Hubert Humphrey, Connecticut Senator Abraham Ribicoff, and Minnesota Senator Walter Mondale, all of whom turned it down. Finally, the vice presidential slot was offered to Senator Thomas Eagleton from Missouri, who accepted the offer. With hundreds of delegates displeased with McGovern, the vote to ratify Eagleton's candidacy was chaotic, with at least three other candidates having their names put into nomination and votes scattered over 70 candidates.http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/conventions/chicago/facts/weird.facts/votes.shtml All Politics All The Votes...Really CNN May 28, 2010 April 24, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090424044429/http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/conventions/chicago/facts/weird.facts/votes.shtml live A grassroots attempt to displace Eagleton in favor of Texas state representative Frances Farenthold gained significant traction, though was ultimately unable to change the outcome of the vote.dead http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utcah/00291/cah-00291.html A Guide to the Frances Tarlton Farenthold Papers, 1913–2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20161231190207/http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utcah/00291/cah-00291.html/ December 31, 2016 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin Texas Archival Resources Online right Washington Journal interview with Joshua Glasser on his book The Eighteen-Day Running Mate: McGovern, Eagleton, and a Campaign in Crisis, September 1, 2012, C-SPAN The vice-presidential balloting went on so long that McGovern and Eagleton were forced to begin making their acceptance speeches at around 2 am, local time. After the convention ended, it was discovered that Eagleton had undergone psychiatric electroshock therapy for depression and had concealed this information from McGovern. A Time magazine poll taken at the time found that 77 percent of the respondents said, "Eagleton's medical record would not affect their vote." Nonetheless, the press made frequent references to his "shock therapy", and McGovern feared that this would detract from his campaign platform.http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/26/MN9NVQGO2.DTL Obama bounces back – speech seemed to help SFGATE March 26, 2008 May 28, 2010 Joe Garofoli May 25, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110525170532/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/26/MN9NVQGO2.DTL dead McGovern subsequently consulted confidentially with pre-eminent psychiatrists, including Eagleton's own doctors, who advised him that a recurrence of Eagleton's depression was possible and could endanger the country, should Eagleton become president.McGovern, George S., Grassroots: The Autobiography of George McGovern, New York: Random House, 1977, pp. 214–215McGovern, George S., Terry: My Daughter's Life-and-Death Struggle with Alcoholism, New York: Random House, 1996, pp. 97Marano, Richard Michael, Vote Your Conscience: The Last Campaign of George McGovern, Praeger Publishers, 2003, pp. 7The Washington Post, "George McGovern & the Coldest Plunge", Paul Hendrickson, September 28, 1983The New York Times, "'Trashing' Candidates" (op-ed), George McGovern, May 11, 1983 McGovern had initially claimed that he would back Eagleton "1000 percent",https://observer.com/2016/07/im-behind-him-1000/ 'I'm Behind Him 1000%' Observer.com July 21, 2016 June 25, 2023 June 25, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230625031945/https://observer.com/2016/07/im-behind-him-1000/ live only to ask Eagleton to withdraw three days later. This perceived lack of conviction in sticking with his running mate was disastrous for the McGovern campaign. McGovern later approached six prominent Democrats to run for vice president: Ted Kennedy, Edmund Muskie, Hubert Humphrey, Abraham Ribicoff, Larry O'Brien, and Reubin Askew. All six declined. Sargent Shriver, brother-in-law to John, Robert, and Ted Kennedy, former Ambassador to France, and former Director of the Peace Corps, later accepted.Liebovich Louis Richard Nixon, Watergate, and the Press: A Historical Retrospective 2003 Greenwood Publishing Group 9780275979157 53 https://archive.org/details/richardnixonwate00lieb/page/53 He was officially nominated by a special session of the Democratic National Committee. By this time, McGovern's poll ratings had plunged from 41 to 24 percent. Third parties 1972 American Independent Party ticket white John G. Schmitz white Thomas J. Andersonfor Presidentfor Vice President center|200x200px center|200x200px U.S. Representative from California's 35th district(1970–1973) Magazine publisher; conservative speaker Campaign200x200px Other CandidatesLester MaddoxThomas J. AndersonGeorge Wallacecenter|120x120pxcenter|120x120pxcenter|107x107px Lieutenant Governor of Georgia (1971–1975) Governor of Georgia(1967–1971) Magazine publisher; conservative speaker Governor of Alabama (1963–1967, 1971–1979) 1968 AIP presidential nominee Campaign Campaign Campaign56 votes24 votes8 votes The only major third party candidate in the 1972 election was conservative Republican Representative John G. Schmitz, who ran on the American Independent Party ticket (the party on whose ballot George Wallace ran in 1968). He was on the ballot in 32 states and received 1,099,482 votes. Unlike Wallace, however, he did not win a majority of votes cast in any state, and received no electoral votes, although he did finish ahead of McGovern in four of the most conservative Idaho counties.Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868–2004, p. 100 0786422173 Schmitz's performance in archconservative Jefferson County was the best by a third-party presidential candidate in any free or postbellum state county since 1936 when William Lemke reached over twenty-eight percent of the vote in the North Dakota counties of Burke, Sheridan and Hettinger.Scammon, Richard M. (compiler); America at the Polls: A Handbook of Presidential Election Statistics 1920–1964; pp. 339, 343 0405077114 Schmitz was endorsed by fellow John Birch Society member Walter Brennan, who also served as finance chairman for his campaign.Actor to Aid Schmitz; The New York Times, August 9, 1972 John Hospers and Theodora "Tonie" Nathan of the newly formed Libertarian Party were on the ballot only in Colorado and Washington, but were official write-in candidates in four others, and received 3,674 votes, winning no states. However, they did receive one Electoral College vote from Virginia from a Republican faithless elector (see below). The Libertarian vice-presidential nominee Tonie Nathan became the first Jew and the first woman in U.S. history to receive an Electoral College vote.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q6tVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3741,7501174&dq=john-hospers+electoral+vote+1972&hl=en Libertarians trying to escape obscurity Associated Press Eugene Register-Guard December 30, 1973 July 30, 2012 August 26, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210826163959/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q6tVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3741,7501174&dq=john-hospers+electoral+vote+1972&hl=en live Linda Jenness was nominated by the Socialist Workers Party, with Andrew Pulley as her running mate. Benjamin Spock and Julius Hobson were nominated for president and vice-president, respectively, by the People's Party at its national convention. General election Polling aggregation The following graph depicts the standing of each candidate in the poll aggregators from February 1972 to Election Day. thumb|800px|center| 18em #e81b23 solid 5px Richard Nixon #3333ff solid 5px George McGovern #FF7F00 solid 5px George WallaceDespite running for the Democratic Presidential nomination, there was an expectation that Wallace would again bolt the Democratic Party and run as an independent in the general election; as a result, some polls made an assumption that this was going to be the case. To reflect this, the aggregate includes those polls up to the point where Wallace definitively declined to make an independent run for the Presidency. Polling Nationwide opinion polling for the 1972 United States presidential election Poll source Date(s)administered RichardNixon (R) GeorgeMcGovern (D) GeorgeWallace (AI)"George Wallace, Independent" It remained an open question far into the election season whether Wallace would again bolt the Democratic Party and run as an Independent candidate in the General should he fail to win the Democratic nomination, with some polls being commissioned as though it were a fait accompli. Other Undecided Margin Election ResultsNovember 7, 197260.67% 37.52% - 1.81% - 23.15 Harrishttps://www.newspapers.com/image/376929465/ McGovern Is Gaining - A Little Chicago Tribune May 21, 2024 May 19, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240519030138/https://www.newspapers.com/image/376929465/ live November 2–4, 1972 59% 35% - - 6% 24 GallupGallup George George Gallup 1978 The 1972-1977 Gallup Poll Public Opinion, Volume I 70November 2-4, 1972 61% 35% - 1% 3% 26 HarrisOctober 24–26, 1972 60% 32% - - 8% 28 Harrishttps://www.newspapers.com/image/85212206 Nixon Gets Bigger Lead The Decatur Daily Review May 21, 2024 May 19, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240519030147/https://www.newspapers.com/image/85212206 live October 17–19, 1972 59% 34% - - 7% 25 GallupGallup George George Gallup 1978 The 1972-1977 Gallup Poll Public Opinion, Volume I 68October 13-16, 1972 59% 36% - - 5% 23 GallupGallup George George Gallup 1978 The 1972-1977 Gallup Poll Public Opinion, Volume I 66Sep. 29-Oct. 9, 1972 60% 34% - 1% 5% 26 Harrishttps://www.newspapers.com/image/377100355 McGovern Failing To Tighten Margin Chicago Tribune May 21, 2024 May 19, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240519030145/https://www.newspapers.com/image/377100355 live October 3–5, 1972 60% 33% - - 7% 27 GallupGallup George George Gallup 1978 The 1972-1977 Gallup Poll Public Opinion, Volume I 64September 22-25, 1972 61% 33% - 1% 5% 28 Harrishttps://www.newspapers.com/image/377302943 McGovern Gaining, Poll Shows Chicago Tribune May 21, 2024 May 19, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240519030139/https://www.newspapers.com/image/377302943 live September 19–21, 1972 59% 31% - - 10% 28 Harrishttps://www.newspapers.com/image/377220043 President Widens His Lead Chicago Tribune May 21, 2024 May 19, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240519030146/https://www.newspapers.com/image/377220043 live Aug. 30–Sep. 1, 1972 63% 29% - - 8% 34 GallupGallup George George Gallup 1978 The 1972-1977 Gallup Poll Public Opinion, Volume I 59August 25-28, 1972 61% 36% - - 3% 25 GallupGallup George George Gallup 1978 The 1972-1977 Gallup Poll Public Opinion, Volume I 55August 26-27, 1972 64% 30% - - 6% 34 August 21–23: Republican National Convention GallupGallup George George Gallup 1978 The 1972-1977 Gallup Poll Public Opinion, Volume I 50August 4-7, 1972 57% 31% - - 12% 26 HarrisAugust 2–3, 1972 57% 34% - - 9% 23 GallupGallup George George Gallup 1978 The 1972-1977 Gallup Poll Public Opinion, Volume I 45July 14-17, 1972 56% 37% - - 7% 19 July 10–13: Democratic National Convention Harrishttps://www.newspapers.com/image/377303185 McGovern Falls Even Further Chicago Tribune May 21, 2024 May 19, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240519030140/https://www.newspapers.com/image/377303185 live July 1–6, 1972 55% 35% - - 10% 20 GallupGallup George George Gallup 1978 The 1972-1977 Gallup Poll Public Opinion, Volume I 42June 16-19, 1972 45% 32% 18% - 5% 13 53% 37% - - 10% 16 Harrishttps://www.newspapers.com/image/620029166 Survey Shows Kennedy Rates Best Chance Against Nixon The Sacramento Bee May 21, 2024 May 19, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240519030146/https://www.newspapers.com/image/620029166 live June 7–10, 1972 45% 33% 17% - 5% 12 54% 38% - - 8% 16 GallupGallup George George Gallup 1978 The 1972-1977 Gallup Poll Public Opinion, Volume I 37May 26-29, 1972 43% 30% 19% - 8% 13 53% 34% - - 13% 19 Harrishttps://www.newspapers.com/image/295319327 McGovern Appears To Have Chance Against President News-Journal May 21, 2024 May 19, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240519020043/https://www.newspapers.com/image/295319327 live May 9–10, 1972 40% 35% 17% - 8% 5 48% 41% - - 11% 7 GallupGallup George George Gallup 1978 The 1972-1977 Gallup Poll Public Opinion, Volume I 33Apr. 28-May 1, 1972 43% 35% 15% - 7% 8 49% 39% - - 12% 10 Galluphttps://www.newspapers.com/image/255580741 McGovern Strong As HHH Against Nixon Press and Sun-Bulletin May 21, 2024 May 19, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240519020044/https://www.newspapers.com/image/255580741 live April 21-24, 1972 45% 32% 16% - 7% 13 GallupGallup George George Gallup 1978 The 1972-1977 Gallup Poll Public Opinion, Volume I 30April 14-17, 1972 46% 31% 15% - 8% 15 HarrisApril 1–7, 1972 47% 29% 16% - 8% 18 54% 34% - - 12% 20 Harrishttps://www.newspapers.com/image/230407386 Poll Gives Nixon Handy Margin In April Fort Lauderdale News May 21, 2024 May 19, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240519005426/https://www.newspapers.com/image/230407386 live Feb. 28 – Mar. 7, 1972 53% 28% 13% - 6% 25 59% 32% - - 9% 27 GallupGallup George George Gallup 1978 The 1972-1977 Gallup Poll Public Opinion, Volume I 19February 4-7, 1972 49% 34% 11% - 6% 15 HarrisNovember, 1971 49% 31% 12% - 8% 18 Harrishttps://www.newspapers.com/image/86776637 Nixon Regains 'Lead' Over Muskie Southern IllinoisanAugust 24-27, 1971 48% 33% 13% - 6% 15 Harrishttps://www.newspapers.com/image/26064591 Sen. McGovern Steadily Losing Ground Alton Evening Telegraph May 21, 2024 May 19, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240519005426/https://www.newspapers.com/image/26064591 live May, 1971 47% 33% 11% - 9% 14 HarrisApril, 1971 46% 36% 13% - 5% 10 Harrishttps://www.newspapers.com/image/197549347 Muskie Widens Margin Chicago Tribune May 21, 2024 May 19, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240519005427/https://www.newspapers.com/image/197549347 live February, 1971 45% 34% 12% - 9% 11 Campaign left|thumb|Nixon during an August 1972 campaign stop left|thumb|upright|McGovern speaking at an October 1972 campaign rally McGovern ran on a platform of immediately ending the Vietnam War and instituting a guaranteed minimum income for the nation's poor. His campaign was harmed by his views during the primaries, which alienated many powerful Democrats, the perception that his foreign policy was too extreme, and the Eagleton debacle. As a result of these factors, McGovern's campaign was weakened, with the Republicans portraying McGovern as a radical left-wing extremist, and Nixon led in the polls by large margins throughout the entire campaign. With an enormous fundraising advantage and a comfortable lead in the polls, Nixon concentrated on large rallies and focused speeches to closed and select audiences, leaving much of the retail campaigning to surrogates like Vice President Agnew. Nixon did not try by design to extend his coattails to Republican congressional or gubernatorial candidates, preferring to pad his own margin of victory. Results thumb|right|400px|Results by county#E32636 Richard Nixon 1px #AAAAAA solid #1560BD George McGovern 1px #AAAAAA solid thumb|right|400px|Results by congressional district thumb|400x400px|Results by margin This presidential election was the first since 1808 in which New York did not have the largest number of electors in the Electoral College, having fallen to 41 electors versus California's 45. Nixon's percentage of the popular vote was only marginally less than Lyndon B. Johnson's record in 1964, and his margin of victory was slightly larger. Nixon won a majority vote in 49 states, including McGovern's home state of South Dakota. Only Massachusetts and the District of Columbia voted for the challenger, resulting in an even more lopsided Electoral College tally. McGovern garnered only 37.5 percent of the national popular vote, the lowest share received by a Democratic Party nominee since John W. Davis won only 28.8 percent of the vote in 1924. The only major party candidate since 1972 to receive less than 40 percent of the vote was Republican incumbent President George H. W. Bush who won 37.4 percent of the vote in 1992, an election that, as in 1924, was affected by a strong third-party vote.Feinman Ronald Donald Trump Could Be On Way To Worst Major Party Candidate Popular Vote Percentage Since William Howard Taft In 1912 And John W. Davis In 1924! September 2, 2016 http://www.theprogressiveprofessor.com/?p=28297 The Progressive Professor November 7, 2019 December 20, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191220001137/http://www.theprogressiveprofessor.com/?p=28297 live Nixon received the highest share of the popular vote for a Republican in history. Although the McGovern campaign believed that its man had a better chance of defeating Nixon because of the new Twenty-sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution that lowered the national voting age to 18 from 21, most of the youth vote went to Nixon.http://reason.com/archives/2008/06/10/the-age-of-nixon The Age of Nixon: Rick Perlstein on the left, the right, the '60s, and the illusion of consensus Reason July 2008 July 27, 2013 Jesse Walker July 18, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130718110125/http://reason.com/archives/2008/06/10/the-age-of-nixon live This was the first election in American history in which a Republican candidate carried every single Southern state, continuing the region's transformation from a Democratic bastion (Solid South) into a Republican stronghold as President Nixon became the first Republican presidential candidate in a century to carry Arkansas. By this time, all the Southern states, except Arkansas and Texas, had been carried by a Republican in either the previous election or that of 1964, although Republican candidates carried Texas in 1928, 1952, and 1956. As a result of this election, Massachusetts became the only state that Nixon did not carry in any of the three presidential elections in which he was a candidate. Nixon became the first Republican to ever win two terms in the White House without carrying Massachusetts at least once, a feat later duplicated by George W. Bush and Donald Trump. Additionally, this remains the last one in which the Republican candidate carried Minnesota.Sullivan, Robert David; 'How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century' https://web.archive.org/web/20161116163625/http://www.americamagazine.org/content/unconventional-wisdom/how-red-and-blue-map-evolved-over-past-century November 16, 2016 ; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016 McGovern won a mere 130 counties, plus the District of Columbia and four county-equivalents in Alaska,These were North Slope Borough, plus Bethel, Kusilvak and Hoonah-Angoon Census Areas. easily the fewest counties won by any major-party presidential nominee since the advent of popular presidential elections, surpassing the previous lowest figures that had been recorded by Republicans William Howard Taft in 1912, and Herbert Hoover in 1932 in failed bids for re-election as president (Taft's total of 232 counties was the lowest recorded overall by a major-party candidate, and Hoover's 374 was the lowest earned by a candidate who finished in second place).Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868–2004, p. 98 0786422173 In nineteen states,Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming. McGovern failed to carry a single county; he carried a mere one county-equivalent in a further nine states.Arizona (Greenlee), Illinois (Jackson), Louisiana (West Feliciana Parish), Maine (Androscoggin), Maryland (Baltimore), North Dakota (Rolette), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), Virginia (Charles City), and West Virginia (Logan). In contrast to Walter Mondale's narrow 1984 win in Minnesota, McGovern comfortably won Massachusetts but lost every other state by at least five percentage points, as well as 45 states by more than ten percentage points (all but Massachusetts, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and his home state of South Dakota). This also made Nixon the second former vice president in American history, after Thomas Jefferson (in 1800 and 1804), and the only two-term Vice President to be elected President twice. Since McGovern carried only one state, bumper stickers reading "Nixon49 America1",1973-08-27 New York Intelligencer https://books.google.com/books?id=qOYCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA57 New York en New York Media, LLC 6 35 57 2019-03-16 April 18, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230418145342/https://books.google.com/books?id=qOYCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA57 live "Don't Blame Me, I'm From Massachusetts", and "Massachusetts: The One And Only" were popular for a short time in Massachusetts.https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/14/archives/as-massachusetts-went-im-frommassachusetts-dont-blame-me.html As Massachusetts went— Lukas J. Anthony 1973-01-14 The New York Times 2019-03-16 en-US 0362-4331 May 17, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190517204221/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/14/archives/as-massachusetts-went-im-frommassachusetts-dont-blame-me.html live Nixon managed to win 18% of the African American vote (Gerald Ford would get 16% in 1976).Exit Polls – Election Results 2008 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2008/results/president/national-exit-polls.html 2020-05-11 May 23, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200523220252/https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2008/results/president/national-exit-polls.html live The Wallace vote had been crucial to Nixon being able to sweep the states that had narrowly held out against him in 1968 (Maryland, Texas, and West Virginia), as well as the states Wallace won himself (Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi). The pro-Wallace group of voters had given AIP nominee John Schmitz a mere 2.4% of its support, while 19.1% backed McGovern, and the majority 78.5% broke for Nixon. Nixon, who became term-limited under the provisions of the Twenty-second Amendment as a result of his victory, became the first presidential candidate to win a significant number of electoral votes in three presidential elections since the ratification of that Amendment; only Trump has done the same. As of 2024, Nixon was the seventh of eight presidential nominees to win a significant number of electoral votes in at least three elections, the others being Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, Grover Cleveland, William Jennings Bryan, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Trump. The 520 electoral votes received by Nixon, added to the 301 electoral votes he received in 1968 and the 219 electoral votes he received in 1960, gave him 1,040 electoral votes, the second most total received by any presidential candidate (after Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1,876 total electoral votes).Bump Philip December 20, 2016 Donald Trump is 27th on the all-time list of electoral votes received by an individual https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/12/20/more-people-received-electoral-votes-in-2016-than-any-election-since-1796/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20161221102105/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/12/20/more-people-received-electoral-votes-in-2016-than-any-election-since-1796/ December 21, 2016 January 16, 2025 The Washington Post The all-time champion in most electoral votes won is, of course, Franklin Roosevelt, who handily won four presidential elections, cobbling together an impressive 1,876 total votes. In second is Richard Nixon, who got a large number of votes in three races: 1960, 1968 and 1972. In third is Ronald Reagan, who had big wins in 1980 and 1984. But he came into the 1980 election with an electoral vote in his past, too; in 1976, a faithless elector jumped the gun a bit and cast his ballot for Reagan four years before it mattered. (Reagan had challenged the nomination of incumbent President Gerald Ford that year — almost successfully.)In addition, if electoral votes for vice presidential candidates are counted, Nixon won 442 electoral votes when he was elected vice president in 1952 and 457 electoral votes in 1956, giving him 1,939 electoral votes over five presidential elections. Franklin Roosevelt also won 127 electoral votes when he ran for vice president in 1920, giving him 2,003 electoral votes over five presidential elections. 1972 August 7, 2005 1972 August 7, 2005 Richard Nixon (incumbent) Republican California 47,168,710 60.67% 520 Spiro T. Agnew (incumbent) Maryland George McGovern Democratic South Dakota 29,173,222 37.52% 17 Sargent Shriver Maryland John G. Schmitz American Independent California 1,100,896 1.42% 0 Thomas J. Anderson Tennessee Linda Jenness Socialist Workers Georgia 83,380In Arizona, Pima and Yavapai counties had an unusually formatted ballot that led voters to believe they could vote for a major party presidential candidate and simultaneously vote the six individual Socialist Workers Party presidential electors. Technically, these were overvotes, and should not have counted for either the major party candidates or the Socialist Workers Party electors. Within two days of the election, the Attorney General and Pima County Attorney had agreed that all votes should count. The Socialist Workers Party had not qualified as a party, and thus did not have a presidential candidate. In the official state canvass, votes for Nixon, McGovern, or Schmitz, are shown as being for the presidential candidate, the party, and the elector slate of the party; while those for the Socialist Worker Party elector candidates were for those candidates only. In the view of the Secretary of State, the votes were not for Linda Jenness. Some tabulations count the votes for Jenness. Historically, presidential candidate names did not appear on ballots, and voters voted directly for the electors. Nonetheless, votes for the electors are attributed to the presidential candidate. Counting the votes in Arizona for Jenness is consistent with this practice. Because of the confusing ballots, Socialist Workers Party electors received votes on about 21 percent and 8 percent of ballots in Pima and Yavapai, respectively. 30,579 of the party's 30,945 Arizona votes are from those two counties.Seeley John 2000-11-22 Early and Often https://www.laweekly.com/early-and-often-3/ 2021-04-10 LA Weekly en-US June 1, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230601152311/https://www.laweekly.com/early-and-often-3/ live 0.11% 0 Andrew Pulley Illinois Benjamin Spock People's California 78,759 0.10% 0 Julius Hobson District of Columbia Louis Fisher Socialist Labor Illinois 53,814 0.07% 0 Genevieve Gunderson Minnesota John G. Hospers Libertarian California 3,674 0.00% 1A Virginia faithless elector, Roger MacBride, though pledged to vote for Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew, instead voted for Libertarian candidates John Hospers and Theodora "Tonie" Nathan. Theodora Nathan Oregon 81,575 0.10% 77,744,030 538 270 thumb|John Hospers received one faithless electoral vote from Virginia. Popular vote 600px 410px Nixon Republican Party (US) 60.67 McGovern Democratic Party (US) 37.52 Schmitz American Independent Party 1.42 Others #777777 0.39 Electoral vote 600px 410px Nixon Republican Party (US) 96.65 McGovern Democratic Party (US) 3.16 Hospers Libertarian Party (US) 0.19 650px|thumb|left Results by state LegendStates/districts won by Nixon/Agnew States/districts won by McGovern/Shriver † At-large results (for Maine, which split electoral votes) +Outcomes of the 1972 United States presidential election by statehttp://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1972&datatype=national&def=1&f=0&off=0&elect=0 1972 Presidential General Election Data — National March 18, 2013 February 1, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200201035330/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=1972&datatype=national&def=1&f=0&off=0&elect=0 live rowspan=2 1 State ordistrict Nixon/AgnewRepublican McGovern/ShriverDemocratic Schmitz/AndersonAmerican Independent Hospers/NathanLibertarian Margin Total votes Votes %data-sort-type="number" 1 middle EV Electoral votes Votes %data-sort-type="number" 1 middle EV Electoral votes Votes %data-sort-type="number" 1 middle EV Electoral votes Votes %data-sort-type="number" 1 middle EV Electoral votes Votes Alabama 728,701 72.43 9 256,923 25.54 – 11,918 1.18 – – – – 471,778 46.89 1,006,093 Alaska 55,349 58.13 3 32,967 34.62 – 6,903 7.25 – – – – 22,382 23.51 95,219 Arizona 402,812 61.64 6 198,540 30.38 – 21,208 3.25 – – – – 204,272 31.26 653,505 Arkansas 445,751 68.82 6 198,899 30.71 – 3,016 0.47 – – – – 246,852 38.11 647,666 California 4,602,096 55.00 45 3,475,847 41.54 – 232,554 2.78 – 980 0.01 – 1,126,249 13.46 8,367,862 Colorado 597,189 62.61 7 329,980 34.59 – 17,269 1.81 – 1,111 0.12 – 267,209 28.01 953,884 Connecticut 810,763 58.57 8 555,498 40.13 – 17,239 1.25 – – – – 255,265 18.44 1,384,277 Delaware 140,357 59.60 3 92,283 39.18 – 2,638 1.12 – – – – 48,074 20.41 235,516 District of Columbia 35,226 21.56 – 127,627 78.10 3 – – – – – – −92,401 −56.54 163,421 Florida 1,857,759 71.91 17 718,117 27.80 – – – – – – – 1,139,642 44.12 2,583,283 Georgia 881,496 75.04 12 289,529 24.65 – 812 0.07 – – – – 591,967 50.39 1,174,772 Hawaii 168,865 62.48 4 101,409 37.52 – – – – – – – 67,456 24.96 270,274 Idaho 199,384 64.24 4 80,826 26.04 – 28,869 9.30 – – – – 118,558 38.20 310,379 Illinois 2,788,179 59.03 26 1,913,472 40.51 – 2,471 0.05 – – – – 874,707 18.52 4,723,236 Indiana 1,405,154 66.11 13 708,568 33.34 – – – – – – – 696,586 32.77 2,125,529 Iowa 706,207 57.61 8 496,206 40.48 – 22,056 1.80 – – – – 210,001 17.13 1,225,944 Kansas 619,812 67.66 7 270,287 29.50 – 21,808 2.38 – – – – 349,525 38.15 916,095 Kentucky 676,446 63.37 9 371,159 34.77 – 17,627 1.65 – – – – 305,287 28.60 1,067,499 Louisiana 686,852 65.32 10 298,142 28.35 – 52,099 4.95 – – – – 388,710 36.97 1,051,491 Maine † 256,458 61.46 2 160,584 38.48 – 117 0.03 – 1 0.00 – 95,874 22.98 417,271ME-1 Maine's 1st congressional district 135,388 61.42 1 85,028 38.58 – Unknown Unknown – Unknown Unknown – 50,360 22.85 220,416ME-2 Maine's 2nd congressional district 121,120 61.58 1 75,556 38.42 – Unknown Unknown – Unknown Unknown – 45,564 23.17 196,676 Maryland 829,305 61.26 10 505,781 37.36 – 18,726 1.38 – – – – 323,524 23.90 1,353,812 Massachusetts 1,112,078 45.23 – 1,332,540 54.20 14 2,877 0.12 – 43 0.00 – −220,462 −8.97 2,458,756 Michigan 1,961,721 56.20 21 1,459,435 41.81 – 63,321 1.81 – – – – 502,286 14.39 3,490,325 Minnesota 898,269 51.58 10 802,346 46.07 – 31,407 1.80 – – – – 95,923 5.51 1,741,652 Mississippi 505,125 78.20 7 126,782 19.63 – 11,598 1.80 – – – – 378,343 58.57 645,963 Missouri 1,154,058 62.29 12 698,531 37.71 – – – – – – – 455,527 24.59 1,852,589 Montana 183,976 57.93 4 120,197 37.85 – 13,430 4.23 – – – – 63,779 20.08 317,603 Nebraska 406,298 70.50 5 169,991 29.50 – – – – – – – 236,307 41.00 576,289 Nevada 115,750 63.68 3 66,016 36.32 – – – – – – – 49,734 27.36 181,766 New Hampshire 213,724 63.98 4 116,435 34.86 – 3,386 1.01 – – – – 97,289 29.12 334,055 New Jersey 1,845,502 61.57 17 1,102,211 36.77 – 34,378 1.15 – – – – 743,291 24.80 2,997,229 New Mexico 235,606 61.05 4 141,084 36.56 – 8,767 2.27 – – – – 94,522 24.49 385,931 New York 4,192,778 58.54 41 2,951,084 41.21 – – – – – – – 1,241,694 17.34 7,161,830 North Carolina 1,054,889 69.46 13 438,705 28.89 – 25,018 1.65 – – – – 616,184 40.58 1,518,612 North Dakota 174,109 62.07 3 100,384 35.79 – 5,646 2.01 – – – – 73,725 26.28 280,514 Ohio 2,441,827 59.63 25 1,558,889 38.07 – 80,067 1.96 – – – – 882,938 21.56 4,094,787 Oklahoma 759,025 73.70 8 247,147 24.00 – 23,728 2.30 – – – – 511,878 49.70 1,029,900 Oregon 486,686 52.45 6 392,760 42.33 – 46,211 4.98 – – – – 93,926 10.12 927,946 Pennsylvania 2,714,521 59.11 27 1,796,951 39.13 – 70,593 1.54 – – – – 917,570 19.98 4,592,105 Rhode Island 220,383 53.00 4 194,645 46.81 – 25 0.01 – 2 0.00 – 25,738 6.19 415,808 South Carolina 478,427 70.58 8 189,270 27.92 – 10,166 1.50 – – – – 289,157 42.66 677,880 South Dakota 166,476 54.15 4 139,945 45.52 – – – – – – – 26,531 8.63 307,415 Tennessee 813,147 67.70 10 357,293 29.75 – 30,373 2.53 – – – – 455,854 37.95 1,201,182 Texas 2,298,896 66.20 26 1,154,291 33.24 – 7,098 0.20 – – – – 1,144,605 32.96 3,472,714 Utah 323,643 67.64 4 126,284 26.39 – 28,549 5.97 – – – – 197,359 41.25 478,476 Vermont 117,149 62.66 3 68,174 36.47 – – – – – – – 48,975 26.20 186,947 Virginia 988,493 67.84 11 438,887 30.12 – 19,721 1.35 – – – 1 549,606 37.72 1,457,019 Washington 837,135 56.92 9 568,334 38.64 – 58,906 4.00 – 1,537 0.10 – 268,801 18.28 1,470,847 West Virginia 484,964 63.61 6 277,435 36.39 – – – – – – – 207,529 27.22 762,399 Wisconsin 989,430 53.40 11 810,174 43.72 – 47,525 2.56 – – – – 179,256 9.67 1,852,890 Wyoming 100,464 69.01 3 44,358 30.47 – 748 0.51 – – – – 56,106 38.54 145,570 Total 47,168,710 60.67 520 29,173,222 37.52 17 1,100,868 1.42 0 3,674 0.00 1 17,995,488 23.15 77,744,027 For the first time since 1828, Maine allowed its electoral votes to be split between candidates. Two electoral votes were awarded to the winner of the statewide race and one electoral vote to the winner of each congressional district. This was the first time the Congressional District Method had been used since Michigan used it in 1892. Nixon won all four votes.Barone Michael Matthews Douglas Ujifusa Grant The Almanac of American Politics, 1974 1973 Gambit Publications States that flipped from Democratic to Republican Connecticut Hawaii Maine Maryland Michigan Minnesota New York Pennsylvania Rhode Island Texas Washington West Virginia States that flipped from American Independent to Republican Georgia Louisiana Alabama Mississippi Arkansas Close states States where margin of victory was more than 5 percentage points, but less than 15 percentage points (115 electoral votes): 20% Minnesota, 5.51% (95,923 votes) Rhode Island, 6.19% (25,738 votes) South Dakota, 8.63% (26,531 votes) Massachusetts, 8.97% (220,462 votes) Wisconsin, 9.67% (179,256 votes) Oregon, 10.12% (93,926 votes) California, 13.46% (1,126,249 votes) Michigan, 14.39% (502,286 votes) Tipping point states: Ohio, 21.56% (882,938 votes) (tipping point for a Nixon victory) Maine-1, 22.85% (50,360 votes) (tipping point for a McGovern victory)Leip, David "How close were U.S. Presidential Elections?", Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Retrieved: January 24, 2013. Statistics Counties with highest percentage of the vote (Republican) Dade County, Georgia 93.45% Glascock County, Georgia 93.38% George County, Mississippi 92.90% Holmes County, Florida 92.51% Smith County, Mississippi 92.35% Counties with highest percentage of the vote (Democratic) Duval County, Texas 85.68% Washington, D. C. 78.10% Shannon County, South Dakota 77.34% Greene County, Alabama 68.32% Charles City County, Virginia 67.84% Counties with highest percentage of the vote (Other) Jefferson County, Idaho 27.51% Lemhi County, Idaho 19.77% Fremont County, Idaho 19.32% Bonneville County, Idaho 18.97% Madison County, Idaho 17.04% Voter demographics 2010-07-21 Election Polls -- Vote by Groups, 1968-1972 http://www.gallup.com/poll/9457/election-polls-vote-groups-19681972.aspx 2024-10-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20100721032858/http://www.gallup.com/poll/9457/election-polls-vote-groups-19681972.aspx July 21, 2010 The 1972 presidential vote by demographic subgroupMcGovernNixonGenderMen3763Women3862AgeUnder 30485230-49336750 or Older3664RaceWhite3268Non-White8713ReligionProtestant3070Catholic4852EducationCollege3763High School3466Grade School4951OccupationBusiness3169White Collar3664Manual4357Party IDRepublican595Democrat6733Independent3169RegionEast4258Midwest4060South2971West4159Union StatusUnion Family 4654 Nixon won 36 percent of the Democratic vote, according to an exit poll conducted for CBS News by George Fine Research, Inc. This represents more than twice the percentage of voters who typically defect from their party in presidential elections. Nixon also became the first Republican presidential candidate in American history to win the Roman Catholic vote (53–46), and the first in recent history to win the blue-collar vote, which he won by a 5-to-4 margin. McGovern narrowly won the union vote (50–48), although this difference was within the survey's margin of error of 2 percentage points. McGovern also narrowly won the youth vote (i. e. those aged 18 to 24) 52–46, a narrower margin than many of his strategists had predicted. This was the first presidential election held after the ratification of the 26th Amendment, lowering the minimum voting age to 18. Early on, the McGovern campaign also significantly over-estimated the number of young people who would vote in the election; they predicted that 18 million would have voted in total but exit polls indicate that the actual number was about 12 million. McGovern comfortably won among both African-American and Jewish voters but by somewhat smaller margins than usual for a Democratic candidate.https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/09/archives/new-jersey-pages-desertion-rate-doubles-defectors-gave-nixon.html Desertion Rate Doubles Rosenthal Jack Jack Rosenthal (journalist) 1972-11-09 The New York Times 2019-12-01 en-US 0362-4331 December 29, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191229112859/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/09/archives/new-jersey-pages-desertion-rate-doubles-defectors-gave-nixon.html live McGovern won the African American vote by 87% to Nixon's 13%.Survey Reports McGovern Got 87% of the Black Vote The New York Times November 12, 1972 https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/12/archives/survey-reports-mcgovern-got-87-of-the-black-vote.html February 8, 2023 February 8, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230208095134/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/12/archives/survey-reports-mcgovern-got-87-of-the-black-vote.html live Aftermath Watergate scandal On June 17, 1972, five months before election day, five men broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C.. The resulting investigation led to the revelation of attempted cover-ups of the break-in within the Nixon administration. What became known as the Watergate scandal eroded President Nixon's public and political support in his second term, and he resigned on August 9, 1974, in the face of probable impeachment by the House of Representatives and removal from office by the Senate. As part of the continuing Watergate investigation in 1974–1975, federal prosecutors offered companies that had given illegal campaign contributions to President Nixon's re-election campaign lenient sentences if they came forward. How We Got Here: The '70s Frum David David Frum 2000 Basic Books New York, New York 0-465-04195-7 31 https://archive.org/details/howwegothere70sd00frum/page/31 Many companies complied, including Northrop Grumman, 3M, American Airlines, and Braniff Airlines. By 1976, prosecutors had convicted 18 American corporations of contributing illegally to Nixon's campaign. Despite this election delivering Nixon's greatest electoral triumph, Nixon later wrote in his memoirs that "it was one of the most frustrating and in many ways the least satisfying of all".Emig David November 7, 2009 My Morris Moment » https://www.nixonfoundation.org/2009/11/my-morris-moment/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20230418145324/https://www.nixonfoundation.org/2009/11/my-morris-moment/ April 18, 2023 March 29, 2021 Vice President Agnew also resigned in 1973, following an investigation of corruption in Maryland during Agnew's governorship and an ensuing controversy around Agnew's tax returns. He was replaced by Nixon (with Congressional confirmation) with Gerald Ford, who ascended to the Presidency after Nixon's own resignation. See also 1972 United States House of Representatives elections 1972 United States Senate elections 1972 United States gubernatorial elections George McGovern 1972 presidential campaign Second inauguration of Richard Nixon Explanatory notes Citations 30em Bibliography and further reading Alexander, Herbert E. Financing the 1972 Election (1976) online Giglio James N. The Eagleton Affair: Thomas Eagleton, George McGovern, and the 1972 Vice Presidential Nomination Presidential Studies Quarterly 2009 39 4 647–676 10.1111/j.1741-5705.2009.03731.x free Graebner Norman A. Presidential Politics in a Divided America: 1972 Australian Journal of Politics and History 1973 19 1 28–47 10.1111/j.1467-8497.1973.tb00722.x Hofstetter C. Richard Zukin Cliff TV Network News and Advertising in the Nixon and McGovern Campaigns Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly 1979 56 1 106–152 10.1177/107769907905600117 144048423 Hofstetter, C. Richard. Bias in the news: Network television coverage of the 1972 election campaign (Ohio State University Press, 1976) online Johnstone, Andrew, and Andrew Priest, eds. US Presidential Elections and Foreign Policy: Candidates, Campaigns, and Global Politics from FDR to Bill Clinton (2017) pp 203–228. online Miller, Arthur H., et al. "A majority party in disarray: Policy polarization in the 1972 election." American Political Science Review 70.3 (1976): 753–778; widely cited; online Nicholas H. G. H. G. Nicholas The 1972 Elections Journal of American Studies 1973 7 1 1–15 10.1017/S0021875800012585 145606732 Perry, James M. Us & them: how the press covered the 1972 election (1973) online Simons, Herbert W., James W. Chesebro, and C. Jack Orr. "A movement perspective on the 1972 presidential election." Quarterly Journal of Speech 59.2 (1973): 168–179. online https://web.archive.org/web/20220923034438/https://nca.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00335637309383165 September 23, 2022 Trent, Judith S., and Jimmie D. Trent. "The rhetoric of the challenger: George Stanley McGovern." Communication Studies 25.1 (1974): 11–18. White Theodore H. Theodore H. White The Making of the President, 1972 New York Atheneum 1973 0-689-10553-3 https://archive.org/details/makingofpresident00whit registration Primary sources Chester, Edward W. (1977). A guide to political platforms. Porter, Kirk H. and Donald Bruce Johnson, eds. National party platforms, 1840–1972 (1973) External links The Election Wall's 1972 Election Video Page 1972 popular vote by counties 1972 popular vote by states 1972 popular vote by states (with bar graphs) Campaign commercials from the 1972 election "Nixon 1972 Election Eve Program", C-SPAN Election of 1972 in Counting the Votes Category:Presidency of Richard Nixon Category:Richard Nixon Category:Spiro Agnew Category:Articles containing video clips Category:George McGovern