Presidential Election of 1968

In the United States of America Presidential Election of 1968, Republican presidential candidate Richard Nixon won the election results with a victory margin of just over 0.7%.
Failure of the then president Lyndon B Johnson's policies during his power from 1964 to 1968 both domestically and internationally helped Richard Nixon win the election of 1968 even though the democratic party swept the election in 1964.

1968 Presidential Election Results


Richard NixonRepublican Party
Hubert HumphreyDemocratic Party

1968 presidential election results

Political situation during election of 1968:

1. Civil right's movement leader Martin Luther King Jr assassinated.
2. Riots across US after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
3. Protests flare up against the ongoing Vietnam War.

Close States (margin<6%):

Presidential election of 1968 was one of the very close election races ever fought in USA.

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin

Population by Race for the United States : Year 1960

1960 united states race diversity

Presidential Candidates for the Election of 1968 :

Biography of Richard Nixon (Republican presidential candidate):

As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, as a U.S. Senator and as Vice President of the United States, Richard Nixon exhibited the ability to lead. While he held the office, the powers and prerogatives of the second highest official in the country expanded more than they had in the previous 162 years.

Richard Nixon's acceptance speech:
"My fellow Americans, I accept the challenge and the commitment to provide new leadership for America. I ask you to accept it with me. Let us accept this challenge not as a grim duty but as an exciting adventure in which we are privileged to help a great nation realize its destiny. Let us begin by committing ourselves to the truth-to see it like it is, and tell it like it is-to find the truth, to speak the truth, and to live the truth. We have had enough of big promises and little action. The time has come for honest government in America. I do not promise the millenium in the morning. I do not promise that we can eradicate poverty, and discrimination, eliminate all danger of war in the space of four , or even eight years. But, I do promise action-a new policy for peace abroad; a new policy for peace and progress and justice at home."

Hubert Humphrey (Democratic presidential candidate) principles and views:

I believe this nation can finally break across the threshold of what no previous society has ever dared dream or achieve; the building of a social order of both freedom and compassion, of both enterprise and peace. I believe that this strong, rich and idealistic nation can help create a broader world society in which human values may one day rule supreme and the individual comes first. America is not a nation that has lost its way, but a restless people, a great nation striving to find a better way. And it is time to recognize that this nation has more strength than weakness, more hope than despair, more faith than doubt, and that we have more chance than any nation in previous history to master the problems we face.
As President, my first objective will be to restore peace in Vietnam, to maintain that peace against the threat of future conflicts, and to strengthen that peace by seeking wider East-West agreements.
I favor a political settlement of the war in Vietnam and an immediate cease-fire while negotiations proceed. South Vietnam's affairs should be run by the people who live there. This requires free elections in which every group willing to do so can play its full part in the peaceful political process. Meanwhile we Should reduce the United States' role in Vietnam as rapidly as the South Vietnamese are able to assume greater burdens.
Beyond Vietnam, we must seek to widen areas of East-West agreement, especially to reduce the waste of vast arms expenditures which do not alter the hard reality that either the United States or the Soviet Union can destroy the other, regardless of which strikes first.
Our policy must be directed to reducing world tensions, strengthening the peace-keeping capabilities of the United Nations, and building regional institutions of economic and social development.
At home we must also. achieve peace and personal security through recognition that civil order and civil justice are inextricably linked. Riots must be stopped promptly, firmly and effectively. Police protection must be improved for all our citizens. Sale and possession of firearms must be limited.
At the same time there must be civil justice and the realization of full and equal opportunity for all Americans.
I propose specific programs to:

  • rebuild our cities through a domestic Marshall Plan founded on principles of local initiative, sensible planning, coordinated policy, priorities, and massive commitment of human and financial resources;
  • implement fully the recommendations of the President's Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders;
  • to guarantee jobs for all, primarily in private enterprise;
  • to encourage development of minority entrepreneurship;
  • to provide a New EducatiDn Policy emphasizing opportunity for every child to get all the education he or she can use, as well as broaden, better remedial programs for the disadvantaged ;
  • to asure an "Open Presidency" providing new channels for citizen participation in the decisions of the Executive Branch;
  • to wipe out hunger and malnutrition in our society; and;
  • provide economic equity for the nation's farmers and give the residents of America's rural areas and small towns an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of our prosperity without migrating to already overcrowded cities. I shall work for responsible, flexible fiscal policies to maintain the prosperity and full employment without inflation.