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UnitedStatespresidentialelection,1972Wikipedia

UnitedStatespresidentialelection,1972
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

TheUnitedStatespresidentialelectionof1972,the47thquadrennialpresidentialelection
washeldonTuesday,November7,1972.TheDemocraticParty'snominationwaseventually
wonbySenatorGeorgeMcGovernofSouthDakota,whorananantiwarcampaignagainst
RepublicanincumbentPresidentRichardNixon,butwashandicappedbyhisoutsiderstatus,
limitedsupportfromhisownparty,theperceptionofmanyvotersthathewasaleftwing
extremistandthescandalthatresultedfromthesteppingdownofvicepresidentialnominee
ThomasEagleton.
Emphasizingagoodeconomyandhissuccessesinforeignaffairs,suchascomingnearto
endingAmericaninvolvementintheVietnamWarandestablishingrelationswithChina,
Nixonwontheelectioninalandslide.Overall,hewon60.7%ofthepopularvote,a
percentageonlyslightlylowerthanLyndonB.Johnsonsin1964,butwithalargermarginof
victoryinthepopularvote(23.2%),thusbecomingthefourthlargestinpresidentialelection
history.Hereceivedalmost18millionmorepopularvotesthanMcGovern,thewidestmargin
ofanyUnitedStatespresidentialelection.McGovernonlywontheelectoralvotesin
MassachusettsandtheDistrictofColumbia.Nocandidatesincehasmanagedtoequalor
surpassNixonstotalpercentageormarginofthepopularvote,andhiselectoralvotetotaland
percentagehavebeensurpassedonlyonce,andhisstatetotalmatchedonlyonce,byRonald
Reaganin1984.
Alsointhiselection,DemocratShirleyChisholmbecamethefirstAfricanAmericantorunfor
amajorpartynomination,andPatsyMinkwasthefirstAsianAmericancandidatetorunfor
theDemocraticPartycandicacy.ItwasalsothefirsttimethatHawaiiwascarriedbya
Republican,becomingthelastofthe50statestodoso.TogetherwiththeHouseandSenate
electionsof1972,itwasthefirstelectoraleventinwhichpeopleaged18to20couldvotein
everystate,accordingtotheprovisionsofthe26thAmendment.Itwasthefirstelectionin
whichCaliforniahadthemostvotesintheelectoralcollegeandithasremainedthemost
populousstatesincethen.Thisisalsothemostrecentelectionwhereatleastoneelectoral
votewaswonbyacandidatewho,atthetimeoftheelection,wasneitheraRepublicannora
Democrat.Furthermore,thepresidentialtermof19731977isnotableforbeingtheonlyone
inAmericanhistoryinwhichboththeoriginalpresidentandvicepresidentfailtocomplete
theterm.VicePresidentSpiroAgnew,whoresignedlessthanayearaftertheelectionover
allegationsthathehadacceptedbribesasGovernorofMaryland,wasreplacedbyGeraldFord
underthetermsofthe25thAmendment,whileNixonwouldresignduetotheWatergate
ScandalinAugust1974.Ultimately,the197377termwouldseetwodifferentpresidentsand
threedifferentvicepresidents.

UnitedStatespresidentialelection,1972

November7,1972

All538electoralvotesoftheElectoralCollege
270electoralvotesneededtowin

Turnout

55.2%[1] 5.7pp

Nominee

RichardNixon

GeorgeMcGovern

Party

Republican

Democratic

Homestate

California

SouthDakota

Runningmate

SpiroAgnew

SargentShriver
(replacingThomasEagleton)

Electoralvote

520

17

Statescarried

49

1+DC

Popularvote

47,168,710

29,173,222

60.7%

37.5%

Percentage

Contents
1 Democraticnomination
1.1 Candidatesgallery
1.2 Primaries
1.3 Primaryresults
1.4 Notableendorsements
1.5 1972DemocraticNationalConvention
1.6 Thevicepresidentialvote
2 Republicannomination
2.1 Candidatesgallery
2.2 Primaries
2.3 Primaryresults
2.4 Convention
3 Thirdparties
4 Generalelection
4.1 Campaign
4.2 Results
4.2.1 Resultsbystate
4.3 Closestates
5 Scandals
5.1 Watergate
5.2 Corporatecampaigncontributions
6 Seealso
7 References
8 Notes
9 Externallinks
10 Bibliographyandfurtherreading

Presidentialelectionresultsmap.ReddenotesstateswonbyNixon/Agnew,
bluedenotestheonewonbyMcGovern/Shriver,goldistheelectoralvotefor
Hospers/NathanbyaVirginiafaithlesselector.Numbersindicatethenumber
ofelectoralvotesallottedtoeachstate.
Presidentbeforeelection
RichardNixon
Republican

ElectedPresident
RichardNixon
Republican

Democraticnomination
Overall,fifteenpeopledeclaredtheircandidacyfortheDemocraticPartynomination.Theywere:[2][3]
GeorgeMcGovern,SenatorfromSouthDakota
HubertHumphrey,SenatorfromMinnesotaandformerVicePresident,presidentialnomineein1968
GeorgeWallace,GovernorofAlabama
EdmundMuskie,SenatorfromMaine,vicepresidentialnomineein1968
EugeneJ.McCarthy,formerSenatorfromMinnesota
HenryM.Jackson,SenatorfromWashington
ShirleyChisholm,RepresentativeofNewYork's12thcongressionaldistrict
TerrySanford,formerGovernorofNorthCarolina
JohnLindsay,MayorofNewYorkCity,NewYork
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JohnLindsay,MayorofNewYorkCity,NewYork
WilburMills,RepresentativeofArkansas's2ndcongressionaldistrict
VanceHartke,SenatorfromIndiana
FredHarris,SenatorfromOklahoma
SamYorty,MayorofLosAngeles,California
PatsyMink,RepresentativeofHawaii's2ndcongressionaldistrict
WalterFauntroy,DelegatefromWashington,D.C.

Candidatesgallery

Senator
GeorgeMcGovern
fromSouthDakota

Senatorand
FormerVice
President
HubertHumphrey
fromMinnesota

Governor
GeorgeWallace
ofAlabama

Senator
VanceHartke
fromIndiana

Senator
Edmund
Muskie
fromMaine

Senator
HenryM.
Jackson
fromWashington

(EndedPrimary
Campaign)
(Apr.28)

(EndedPrimary
Campaign)
(May2)

NewYorkCityMayor
JohnLindsay
(WithdrewApr.4)

(WithdrewMar.26)
(EndorsedHumphrey)

FormerSenator
EugeneMcCarthy
fromMinnesota
(WithdrewMay22)
(EndorsedMcGovern)

Representative
Shirley
Chisholm
fromNewYork

FormerGovernor
TerrySanford
ofNorthCarolina

Representative
WilburMills
fromArkansas

Representative
PatsyMink
fromHawaii

LosAngelesMayor
SamYorty
(WithdrewJune)

Senator
FredHarris
fromOklahoma

(WithdrewMay24)

(EndorsedHumphrey)

(WithdrewNov.10,'71)

Delegate
WalterFauntroy
fromWashington,
D.C.
(WithdrewMay2,1972)

Primaries
SenateMajorityWhipTedKennedy,theyoungestbrotheroflatePresidentJohnF.KennedyandlateUnitedStatesSenatorRobertF.Kennedy,wasthefavoritetowin
the1972nomination,butheannouncedhewouldnotbeacandidate.[4]ThefavoritefortheDemocraticnominationthenbecameSenatorEdMuskie,[5]the1968vice
presidentialnominee.[6]MuskiesmomentumcollapsedjustpriortotheNewHampshireprimary,whenthesocalled"Canuckletter"waspublishedintheManchester
UnionLeader.Theletter,actuallyaforgeryfromNixonsdirtytricksunit,claimedthatMuskiehadmadedisparagingremarksaboutFrenchCanadiansaremark
likelytoinjureMuskiessupportamongtheFrenchAmericanpopulationinnorthernNewEngland.Subsequently,thepaperpublishedanattackonthecharacterof
MuskieswifeJane,reportingthatshedrankandusedoffcolorlanguageduringthecampaign.Muskiemadeanemotionaldefenseofhiswifeinaspeechoutsidethe
newspapersofficesduringasnowstorm.ThoughMuskielaterstatedthatwhathadappearedtothepressastearswereactuallymeltedsnowflakes,thepressreported
thatMuskiebrokedownandcried,shatteringthecandidatesimageascalmandreasoned.[7]
Nearlytwoyearsbeforetheelection,SouthDakotaSenatorGeorgeMcGovernenteredtheraceasanantiwar,progressivecandidate.[8]McGovernwasabletopull
togethersupportfromtheantiwarmovementandothergrassrootssupporttowinthenominationinaprimarysystemhehadplayedasignificantpartindesigning.
OnJanuary25,1972,NewYorkRepresentativeShirleyChisholmannouncedshewouldrun,andbecamethefirstAfricanAmericanwomantorunfortheDemocratic
orRepublicanpresidentialnomination.HawaiiRepresentativePatsyMinkalsoannouncedshewouldrunandbecamethefirstAsianAmericantorunforthe
Democraticpresidentialnomination.[9]
OnApril25,GeorgeMcGovernwontheMassachusettsprimary.Twodayslater,journalistRobertNovakquotedaDemocraticsenatorlaterrevealedtobeThomas
Eagletonassaying:ThepeopledontknowMcGovernisforamnesty,abortion,andlegalizationofpot.OncemiddleAmericaCatholicmiddleAmerica,in
particularfindsthisout,hesdead.ThelabelstuckandMcGovernbecameknownasthecandidateof"amnesty,abortion,andacid."ItbecameHumphreysbattle
crytostopMcGovernespeciallyintheNebraskaprimary.[10][11]
AlabamaGovernorGeorgeWallace,anantiintegrationist,didwellintheSouth(hewoneverycountyintheFloridaprimary)andamongalienatedanddissatisfied
votersintheNorth.WhatmighthavebecomeaforcefulcampaignwascutshortwhenWallacewasshotinanassassinationattemptbyArthurBremeronMay15.
Wallacewasstruckbyfivebulletsandleftparalyzedfromthewaistdown.Thedayaftertheassassinationattempt,WallacewontheMichiganandMarylandprimaries,
buttheshootingeffectivelyendedhiscampaignandhepulledoutinJuly.
Intheend,McGovernwonthenominationbywinningprimariesthroughgrassrootssupportinspiteofestablishmentopposition.McGovernhadledacommissionto
redesigntheDemocraticnominationsystemafterthedivisivenominationstruggleandconventionof1968.ThefundamentalprincipleoftheMcGovernCommission
thattheDemocraticprimariesshoulddeterminethewinneroftheDemocraticnominationhavelastedthroughouteverysubsequentnominationcontest.However,
thenewrulesangeredmanyprominentDemocratswhoseinfluencewasmarginalized,andthosepoliticiansrefusedtosupportMcGovernscampaign(someeven
supportingNixoninstead),leavingtheMcGoverncampaignatasignificantdisadvantageinfundingcomparedtoNixon.

Primaryresults
Primariespopularvoteresults:[12]

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Statewidecontestbywinner

HubertHumphrey4,121,372(25.77%)
GeorgeMcGovern4,053,451(25.34%)
GeorgeWallace3,755,424(23.48%)
EdmundMuskie1,840,217(11.51%)
EugeneMcCarthy553,990(3.46%)
HenryM.Jackson505,198(3.16%)
ShirleyChisholm430,703(2.69%)
TerrySanford331,415(2.07%)
JohnLindsay196,406(1.23%)
SamuelYorty79,446(0.50%)

SamuelYorty79,446(0.50%)
WilburMills37,401(0.23%)
WalterE.Fauntroy21,217(0.13%)
Unpledged19,533(0.12%)
TedKennedy16,693(0.10%)
VanceHartke11,798(0.07%)
PatsyMink8,286(0.05%)
None6,269(0.04%)

Notableendorsements
EdmundMuskie
FormerGovernorofandSecretaryofCommerceW.AverellHarrimanfrom
NewYork[12]
SenatorHaroldHughesfromIowa[12]
SenatorBirchBayhfromIndiana[12]
SenatorAdlaiStevensonIIIfromIllinois[13]
SenatorMikeGravelofAlaska[14]
FormerSenatorStephenM.YoungfromOhio[15]
GovernorMiltonShappofPennsylvania[12]
FormerGovernorMichaelDiSalleofOhio[15]
OhioStateTreasurerGertrudeW.Donahey[16]
AstronautJohnGlennfromOhio[16]

SenatorJohnV.TunneyfromCalifornia[12]
GeorgeWallace
FormerGovernorLesterMaddoxofGeorgia[12]
ShirleyChisholm
RepresentativeRonDellumsfromCalifornia[12]
FeministleaderandauthorBettyFriedan[18]
ReverendJesseJacksonfromIllinois[12]
Feministleader,journalist,andDNCofficialGloriaSteinem[19]
TerrySanford

HubertHumphrey
MayorJackSensenbrennerofColumbus,Ohio[17]

FormerPresidentLyndonB.JohnsonfromTexas[20]
HenryM.Jackson

GeorgeMcGovern

GovernorJimmyCarterofGeorgia[21]

SenatorFrankChurchfromIdaho[12]

1972DemocraticNationalConvention
Results:
GeorgeMcGovern1864.95
HenryM.Jackson525
GeorgeWallace381.7
ShirleyChisholm151.95
TerrySanford77.5
HubertHumphrey66.7
WilburMills33.8
EdmundMuskie24.3
TedKennedy12.7
SamYorty10
WayneHays5
JohnLindsay5

Thevicepresidentialvote

JohnLindsay5
FredHarris2
EugeneMcCarthy2
WalterMondale2
RamseyClark1
WalterFauntroy1
VanceHartke1
HaroldHughes1
PatsyMink1

VideofromtheFloridaconventions

WithhundredsofdelegatesdispleasedwithMcGovern,thevotewaschaotic,withatleastthreeothercandidateshavingtheirnamesputintonominationandvotes
scatteredover70candidates.[22]TheeventualwinnerwasSenatorThomasEagletonfromMissouri.
ThevicepresidentialballotingwentonsolongthatMcGovernandEagletonwereforcedtobeginmakingtheiracceptancespeechesataround2am,localtime.
Aftertheconventionended,itwasdiscoveredthatEagletonhadundergonepsychiatricelectroshocktherapyfordepressionandhadconcealedthisinformationfrom
McGovern.ATimemagazinepolltakenatthetimefoundthat77percentoftherespondentssaidEagletonsmedicalrecordwouldnotaffecttheirvote.Nonetheless,
thepressmadefrequentreferencestohis"shocktherapy,"andMcGovernfearedthatthiswoulddetractfromhiscampaignplatform.[23]McGovernsubsequently
consultedconfidentiallywithpreeminentpsychiatrists,includingEagletonsowndoctors,whoadvisedhimthatarecurrenceofEagleton'sdepressionwaspossibleand
couldendangerthecountryshouldEagletonbecomepresident.[24][25][26][27][28]McGovernhadinitiallyclaimedthathewouldbackEagleton"1000percent,"onlyto
askEagletontowithdrawthreedayslater.ThisperceivedlackofconvictioninstickingwithhisrunningmatewasdisastrousfortheMcGoverncampaign.
McGovernlaterapproachedsixdifferentprominentDemocratstorunforvicepresident:TedKennedy,EdmundMuskie,HubertHumphrey,AbrahamRibicoff,Larry
O'BrienandReubinAskew.Allsixdeclined.SargentShriver,brotherinlawtoJohn,Robert,andTedKennedy,formerAmbassadortoFranceandformerDirectorof
thePeaceCorps,lateraccepted.[29]HewasofficiallynominatedbyaspecialsessionoftheDemocraticNationalCommittee.Bythistime,McGovernspollratingshad
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thePeaceCorps,lateraccepted.
plungedfrom41to24percent.

UnitedStatespresidentialelection,1972Wikipedia
HewasofficiallynominatedbyaspecialsessionoftheDemocraticNationalCommittee.Bythistime,McGovernspollratingshad

Republicannomination
Republicancandidates:
RichardNixon,PresidentoftheUnitedStates
PeteMcCloskey,RepresentativefromCalifornia
JohnM.Ashbrook,RepresentativefromOhio

Candidatesgallery

President
RichardNixon

Representative
JohnAshbrook
fromOhio

Representative
PeteMcCloskey
fromCalifornia

Primaries
RichardNixonwasapopularincumbentpresidentin1972,ashewascreditedwithachievingdtentewiththePeople'sRepublicofChinaandtheSovietUnion.Polls
showedthatNixonheldastrongleadintheRepublicanprimaries.Hewaschallengedbytwocandidates,liberalPeteMcCloskeyfromCaliforniaandconservative
JohnAshbrookfromOhio.McCloskeyranasanantiwarcandidate,whileAshbrookopposedNixonsdtentepoliciestowardsChinaandtheSovietUnion.Inthe
NewHampshireprimaryMcCloskeygarnered19.8%ofthevotetoNixons67.6%,withAshbrookreceiving9.7%.[30]Nixonwon1323ofthe1324delegatestothe
Republicanconvention,withMcCloskeyreceivingthevoteofonedelegatefromNewMexico.VicePresidentSpiroAgnewwasrenominatedbyacclamationwhile
boththepartysmoderatewingandNixonhimselfhadwantedtoreplacehimwithanewrunningmate(themoderatesfavoringNelsonRockefeller,andNixon
favoringJohnConnally),itwasultimatelyconcludedthatthelossofAgnewsbaseofconservativesupporterswouldbetoobigofarisk.

Primaryresults
Primariespopularvoteresult:[31]
RichardNixon5,378,704(86.92%)
Unpledged317,048(5.12%)
JohnAshbrook311,543(5.03%)
PeteMcCloskey132,731(2.15%)

Convention
SevenmembersofVietnamVeteransAgainsttheWarwerebroughtonfederalchargesforconspiringtodisrupttheRepublicanconvention.[32]Theywereacquittedby
afederaljuryinGainesville,Florida.[32]

Thirdparties
Theonlymajorthirdpartycandidateinthe1972electionwasconservativeRepublicanRepresentativeJohnG.Schmitz,whoranontheAmericanPartyticket(the
partyonwhoseballotGeorgeWallaceranin1968).Hewasontheballotin32statesandreceived1,099,482votes.UnlikeWallace,however,hedidnotwinamajority
ofvotescastinanystate,andreceivednoelectoralvotes.
JohnHospersofthenewlyformedLibertarianPartywasontheballotonlyinColoradoandWashingtonandreceived3,573votes,winningnostates.However,hedid
receiveoneelectoralvotefromVirginiafromaRepublicanfaithlesselector(seebelow).TheLibertarianvicepresidentialnomineeTheodora"Tonie"Nathanbecame
thefirstwomaninU.S.historytoreceiveanelectoralvote.[33]
LindaJennesswasnominatedbytheSocialistWorkersParty,withAndrewPulleyasherrunningmate.BenjaminSpockandJuliusHobsonwerenominatedfor
presidentandvicepresident,respectivelyby,thePeoplesParty.

Generalelection
Campaign
McGovernranonaplatformofimmediatelyendingtheVietnamWarandinstitutingguaranteedminimumincomesforthenationspoor.Hiscampaignwasharmedby
hisviewsduringtheprimaries(whichalienatedmanypowerfulDemocrats),theperceptionthathisforeignpolicywastooextreme,andtheEagletondebacle.With
McGovernscampaignweakenedbythesefactors,theRepublicanssuccessfullyportrayedhimasaradicalleftwingextremistincompetenttoserveaspresident.Nixon
ledinthepollsbylargemarginsthroughouttheentirecampaign.Withanenormousfundraisingadvantageandacomfortableleadinthepolls,Nixonconcentratedon
largeralliesandfocusedspeechestoclosed,selectaudiences,leavingmuchoftheretailcampaigningtosurrogateslikeVicePresidentAgnew.Nixondidnot,by
design,trytoextendhiscoattailstoRepublicancongressionalorgubernatorialcandidates,preferringtopadhisownmarginofvictory.

Results

NixonspercentageofthepopularvotewasonlynearlylessthanLyndonJohnsonsrecordinthe1964election,andhismargin
ofvictorywasslightlylarger.Nixonwonamajorityvotein49states,includingMcGovernshomestateofSouthDakota.Only
MassachusettsandtheDistrictofColumbiavotedforthechallenger,resultinginanevenmorelopsidedElectoralCollegetally.
Itwasthefirstelectionsince1808inwhichNewYorkdidnothavethelargestnumberofelectorsintheElectoralCollege,

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havingfallento41electorsvs.Californias45.

AlthoughtheMcGoverncampaignbelievedthatitscandidatehadabetterchanceofdefeatingNixonbecauseofthenew
TwentysixthAmendmenttotheUnitedStatesConstitutionthatloweredthenationalvotingageto18from21,theplan
backfiredwhenmostoftheyouthvotewenttoNixon.[34]ThiswasthefirstelectioninAmericanhistoryinwhichaRepublican
RichardNixonduringanAugust
candidatecarriedeverysingleSouthernstate,continuingtheregion'stransformationfromaDemocraticbastionintoa
1972campaignstop
RepublicanoneasArkansaswascarriedbyaRepublicanpresidentialcandidateforthefirsttimeinhistory.Bythistime,allthe
Southernstates,exceptArkansasandTexas,hadbeen
carriedbyaRepublicanineitherthepreviouselectionortheonein
1964.Asaresultofthiselection,Massachusettswastheonlystate
thatNixondidnotcarryinanyofhisthreepresidentialcampaigns.
ThiswasalsothelastelectionwhereMinnesotawascarriedbythe
Republicancandidate(Minnesotawaslatertheonlystatenotwon
byRonaldReaganineither1980or1984).Innineteenstates,
McGovernfailedtocarryasinglecounty[a]hecarriedamereone
countyequivalentinafurtherninestates[b],andjusttwocountiesin
afurtherseven[c].IncontrasttoWalterMondalesnarrow1984win
inMinnesota,hecomfortablydidwinMassachusetts,butlostevery
GeorgeMcGovernspeaking
otherstatebynolessthanfivepercentagepointsaswellas45states
atanOctober1972campaign
bymorethantenpercentagepointstheexceptionsbeing
rally
Massachusetts,Minnesota,RhodeIsland,Wisconsin,andhishome
stateofSouthDakota.ThiselectionalsomadeNixonthesecond
Electionresultsbycounty.
formerVicePresidentinAmericanhistorytoservestwotermsbacktoback,afterThomas
RichardNixon
Jeffersonin1800and1804.SinceMcGoverncarriedonlyonestate,bumperstickersreading
GeorgeMcGovern
Nixon49America1.Don'tBlameMeImFromMassachusettsandMassachusetts:TheOne
AndOnlywerepopularforashorttimeinMassachusetts.
NixonmanagedtowineighteenpercentoftheAfricanAmericanvote.Healsoremainstheonly
RepublicaninmoderntimestothreatentheoldestextantDemocraticstrongholdofSouthTexas:
thisisthelastelectionwhentheRepublicanshavewonHidalgoorDimmitCounties,theonlytime
RepublicanshavewonLaSalleCountysinceWilliamMcKinleyin1900,andoneofonlytwo
occasionssinceTheodoreRooseveltin1904[d]thatRepublicanshavegainedamajorityinPresidio
County.[35]Moresignificantly,the1972electionisthelasttimenumeroushighlypopulousand
currentlysafelyDemocraticurbancountiesincludingCookinIllinois,HennepininMinnesota,
DurhaminNorthCarolina,QueensinNewYorkandPrinceGeorgesinMarylandhavevoted
Republican.[35]
ThiswasalsothelasttimethatGeorgia,Hawaii,Maryland,RhodeIslandandWestVirginiawere
wonbyRepublicansuntil1984.
1972PresidentialElection,ResultsbyCongressionalDistrict

Popularvote
Presidentialcandidate

Party

Homestate

Count

Pct

Electoral
vote

Runningmate
Vicepresidential
candidate

Homestate

Elect.
vote

RichardMilhousNixon
(Incumbent)

Republican

California

47,168,710 60.67%

520 SpiroTheodoreAgnew

Maryland

520

GeorgeStanleyMcGovern

Democratic

South
Dakota

29,173,222 37.52%

17 RobertSargentShriver

Maryland

17

JohnG.Schmitz

American
Independent

California

0 ThomasJ.Anderson

Tennessee

LindaJenness

SocialistWorkers

Georgia

0 AndrewPulley

Illinois

0
0

1,100,868 1.42%
83,380(b)

0.11%

BenjaminSpock

People's

California

78,759 0.10%

0 JuliusHobson

Districtof
Columbia

LouisFisher

SocialistLabor

Illinois

53,814 0.07%

0 GenevieveGunderson

Minnesota

GusHall

Communist

NewYork

25,597 0.03%

0 JarvisTyner

Pennsylvania

EvelynReed

SocialistWorkers

NewYork

13,878 0.02%

0 CliftonDeBerry

Illinois

E.HaroldMunn

Prohibition

Michigan

13,497 0.02%

0 MarshallUncapher

Kansas

JohnG.Hospers

Libertarian

California

3,674 0.00%

Oregon

1(a)

Other

28,628 0.04%
Total

77,744,027

100%

Neededtowin

1(a) TheodoraNathan
Other

538

538

270

270

Source(PopularVote):Leip,David."1972PresidentialElectionResults".DaveLeip'sAtlasofU.S.PresidentialElections.RetrievedAugust7,2005.Source
(ElectoralVote):"ElectoralCollegeBoxScores17891996".NationalArchivesandRecordsAdministration.RetrievedAugust7,2005.Source(CloseStates):Leip,
David"HowclosewereU.S.PresidentialElections?"(https://web.archive.org/web/20120825102042/http://www.mit.edu/~mi22295/elections.html#1972),DaveLeip's
AtlasofU.S.PresidentialElections.Retrieved:January24,2013.
(a)AVirginiafaithlesselector,RogerMacBride,thoughpledgedtovoteforRichardNixonandSpiroAgnew,insteadvotedforLibertariancandidatesJohnHospersand

Theodora"Tonie"Nathan.[33]
(b)InArizona,PimaandYavapaicountieshadaballotmalfunctionthatcountedmanyvotesforbothamajorpartycandidateandLindaJennessoftheSocialistWorkers
Party.Acourtorderedthattheballotsbecountedforboth.Asaconsequence,Jennessreceived16%and8%ofthevoteinPimaandYavapai,respectively.30,579of
her30,945Arizonavotesarefromthosetwocounties.SomesourcesdonotcountthesevotesforJenness.
Popularvote
Nixon

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Nixon
McGovern
Schmitz
Others

Nixon
McGovern
Hospers

60.67%
37.52%
1.42%
0.4%
Electoralvote
96.65%
3.16%
0.19%

Resultsbycounty,shadedaccordingtowinningcandidate'spercentageofthevote

Resultsbystate
[36]

States/districtswonbyNixon/Agnew
States/districtswonbyMcGovern/Shriver

RichardNixon
Republican
State

electoral
votes

GeorgeMcGovern
Democratic

electoral
votes

JohnSchmitz
AmericanIndependent

electoral
votes

JohnHospers
Libertarian

electoral
votes

Margin

electoral
votes

Alabama

728,701 72.43

256,923 25.54

11,918

1.18

471,778

Alaska

55,349 58.13

32,967 34.62

6,903

7.25

22,382

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StateTotal

46.89 1,006,093 AL
23.51

95,219 AK

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Arizona

UnitedStatespresidentialelection,1972Wikipedia
6

402,812 61.64

Arkansas

445,751 68.82

California

45

4,602,096 55.00

198,540 30.38

21,208

3.25

198,899 30.71

45 3,475,847 41.54

3,016

0.47

232,554

2.78

204,272

31.26

653,505 AZ

246,852

980

0.01

1,126,249

13.46 8,367,862 CA

38.11

647,666 AR

Colorado

597,189 62.61

329,980 34.59

17,269

1.81

1,111

0.12

267,209

28.01

Connecticut

810,763 58.57

555,498 40.13

17,239

1.25

255,265

18.44 1,384,277 CT

Delaware

140,357 59.60

92,283 39.18

2,638

1.12

D.C.

35,226 21.56

127,627 78.10

Florida

17

1,857,759 71.91

17

718,117 27.80

1,139,642

44.12 2,583,283 FL

Georgia

12

881,496 75.04

12

289,529 24.65

812

0.07

591,967

50.39 1,174,772 GA

Hawaii

168,865 62.48

101,409 37.52

67,456

24.96

270,274 HI

Idaho

199,384 64.24

80,826 26.04

28,869

9.30

118,558

38.20

310,379 ID

Illinois

26

2,788,179 59.03

26 1,913,472 40.51

2,471

0.05

874,707

18.52 4,723,236 IL

Indiana

13

1,405,154 66.11

13

708,568 33.34

696,586

32.77 2,125,529 IN

Iowa

706,207 57.61

496,206 40.48

22,056

1.80

210,001

17.13 1,225,944 IA

Kansas

619,812 67.66

270,287 29.50

21,808

2.38

349,525

38.15

Kentucky

676,446 63.37

371,159 34.77

17,627

1.65

305,287

28.60 1,067,499 KY

Louisiana

10

686,852 65.32

10

298,142 28.35

52,099

4.95

388,710

36.97 1,051,491 LA

Maine

256,458 61.46

160,584 38.48

117

0.03

0.00

95,874

Maryland

10

829,305 61.26

10

505,781 37.36

18,726

1.38

323,524

Massachusetts

14

1,112,078 45.23

1,332,540 54.20

14

2,877

0.12

43

0.00

Michigan

21

1,961,721 56.20

21 1,459,435 41.81

63,321

1.81

502,286

Minnesota

10

898,269 51.58

10

802,346 46.07

31,407

1.80

95,923

Mississippi

505,125 78.20

126,782 19.63

11,598

1.80

378,343

58.57

Missouri

12

1,154,058 62.29

12

698,531 37.71

455,527

24.59 1,852,589 MO

Montana

183,976 57.93

120,197 37.85

13,430

4.23

63,779

20.08

317,603 MT

Nebraska

406,298 70.50

169,991 29.50

236,307

41.00

576,289 NE

Nevada

115,750 63.68

66,016 36.32

49,734

27.36

181,766 NV

New
Hampshire

213,724 63.98

116,435 34.86

3,386

1.01

97,289

29.12

334,055 NH

17 1,102,211 36.77

NewJersey

17

1,845,502 61.57

NewMexico

235,606 61.05

NewYork

41

North
Carolina

13

48,074

953,884 CO

20.41

235,516 DE

92,401 56.54

163,421 DC

22.98

916,095 KS

417,271 ME

23.90 1,353,812 MD

220,462 8.97 2,458,756 MA

14.39 3,490,325 MI
5.51 1,741,652 MN
645,963 MS

34,378

1.15

743,291

141,084 36.56

8,767

2.27

94,522

4,192,778 58.54

41 2,951,084 41.21

1,241,694

17.34 7,161,830 NY

1,054,889 69.46

13

438,705 28.89

25,018

1.65

40.58 1,518,612 NC

100,384 35.79

5,646

2.01

73,725

25 1,558,889 38.07

80,067

1.96

882,938

21.56 4,094,787 OH
49.70 1,029,900 OK

616,184

24.80 2,997,229 NJ
24.49

26.28

385,931 NM

NorthDakota

174,109 62.07

Ohio

25

2,441,827 59.63

Oklahoma

759,025 73.70

247,147 24.00

23,728

2.30

511,878

Oregon

486,686 52.45

392,760 42.33

46,211

4.98

93,926

Pennsylvania

27

2,714,521 59.11

27 1,796,951 39.13

70,593

1.54

917,570

RhodeIsland

220,383 53.00

194,645 46.81

25

0.01

0.00

25,738

6.19

415,808 RI

South
Carolina

478,427 70.58

189,270 27.92

10,166

1.50

289,157

42.66

677,880 SC

SouthDakota

166,476 54.15

139,945 45.52

26,531

8.63

307,415 SD

Tennessee

10

813,147 67.70

10

357,293 29.75

30,373

2.53

455,854

37.95 1,201,182 TN

Texas

26

2,298,896 66.20

26 1,154,291 33.24

7,098

0.20

1,144,605

32.96 3,472,714 TX

Utah

323,643 67.64

126,284 26.39

28,549

5.97

197,359

41.25

478,476 UT

Vermont

117,149 62.66

68,174 36.47

48,975

26.20

186,947 VT

Virginia

12

988,493 67.84

11

438,887 30.12

19,721

1.35

549,606

37.72 1,457,019 VA

1,537

10.12

280,514 ND

927,946 OR

19.98 4,592,105 PA

Washington

837,135 56.92

568,334 38.64

58,906

4.00

0.10

268,801

18.28 1,470,847 WA

WestVirginia

484,964 63.61

277,435 36.39

207,529

27.22

Wisconsin

11

989,430 53.40

11

810,174 43.72

47,525

2.56

179,256

Wyoming

100,464 69.01

44,358 30.47

748

0.51

56,106

TOTALS:

538

47,168,710 60.67

520

29,173,222 37.52

17

1,100,868 1.42

3,674 0.00

762,399 WV

9.67 1,852,890 WI
38.54

145,570 WY

17,995,488 23.15 77,744,027 US

Closestates
Stateswheremarginofvictorywasmorethan5percentagepoints,butlessthan10percentagepoints(43electoralvotes):
1.Minnesota,5.51%
2.RhodeIsland,6.19%
3.SouthDakota,8.63%
4.Massachusetts,8.97%
5.Wisconsin,9.67%

Scandals
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1972

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Scandals

UnitedStatespresidentialelection,1972Wikipedia

Watergate
OnJune17,1972,fivemonthsbeforeelectionday,fivemenbrokeintotheDemocraticNationalCommitteeheadquartersattheWatergatehotelinWashington,D.C.
theresultinginvestigationledtotherevelationofattemptedcoverupswithintheNixonadministration.KnownastheWatergatescandal,theexposedcorruptioncost
Nixonpublicandpoliticalsupport,andheresignedonAugust9,1974,inthefaceofprobableimpeachmentbytheHouseofRepresentativesandremovalfromoffice
bytheSenate.

Corporatecampaigncontributions
Aspartofthecontinuinginvestigationin197475,WatergatescandalprosecutorsofferedcompaniesthathadgivenillegalcampaigncontributionstoNixon'sre
electioncampaignlenientsentencesiftheycameforward.[37]Manycompaniescomplied,includingNorthropGrumman,3M,AmericanAirlinesandBraniff
Airlines.[37]By1976,prosecutorshadconvicted18AmericancorporationsofcontributingillegallytoNixon'scampaign.[37]

Seealso
GeorgeMcGovernpresidentialcampaign,1972
FearandLoathingontheCampaignTrail'72,acollectionofarticlesbyHunterS.Thompsononthesubjectoftheelection,focusingontheMcGovern
campaign.

References
1."DaveLeip'sAtlasofU.S.PresidentialElections".uselectionatlas.org.Retrieved
October21,2012.
2."CQAlmanacOnlineEdition".Library.cqpress.com.Retrieved20160817.
3."Hawai'i,nationlose"apowerfulvoice"|TheHonoluluAdvertiser|Hawaii's
Newspaper".TheHonoluluAdvertiser.Retrieved20160817.
4.JackAnderson(June4,1971)."Don'tcountoutTedKennedy".TheFreeLanceStar.
RetrievedMarch16,2012.
5.Frum,David(2000).HowWeGotHere:The'70s.NewYork,NewYork:Basic
Books.p.298.ISBN0465041957.
6."Muskie,EdmundSixtus,(19141996)".UnitedStatesCongress.
7."RememberingEdMuskie(http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/remember/muskie_32
6.html)",OnlineNewsHour,PBS,March26,1996.
8.R.W.Apple,Jr.(January18,1971)."McGovernEnters'72Race,PledgingTroop
Withdrawal"(feerequired).TheNewYorkTimes.p.1.RetrievedMarch16,2012.
9.JoFreeman(February2005)."ShirleyChisholm's1972PresidentialCampaign".
UniversityofIllinoisatChicagoWomensHistoryProject.
10.RobertD.Novak(2008).ThePrinceofDarkness:50YearsReportingin
Washington.RandomHouseDigital,Inc.p.225.ISBN9781400052004.
11.NancyL.Cohen(2012).Delirium:ThePoliticsofSexinAmerica.Counterpoint
Press.pp.3738.ISBN9781619020689.
12."DPrimariesRaceMar07,1972".USPresident.OurCampaigns.Retrieved
September21,2008.
13."DPrimaryRaceMar21,1972".ILUSPresident.OurCampaigns.Retrieved
September21,2008.
14."MoreMuskieSupport".NewYorkTimes.January15,1972.Retrieved
September27,2008.
15."StephenM.Young".Candidate.OurCampaigns.RetrievedSeptember21,2008.
16."GertrudeW.Donahey".Candidate.OurCampaigns.RetrievedSeptember21,2008.
17."DPrimaryRaceMay2,1972".OHUSPresident.OurCampaigns.Retrieved
September21,2008.
18.LifeSoFar:AMemoirGoogleBooks.Books.google.com.August1,2006.
ISBN9780743299862.RetrievedMay28,2010.
19."POVChisholm'72.Video:GloriaSteinemreflectsonChisholm'slegacy".PBS.
RetrievedMay28,2010.
20.TerrySanford:politics,progress...GoogleBooks.Books.google.com.1999.
ISBN9780822323563.RetrievedMay28,2010.

21."DConventionRaceJul10,1972".USPresident.OurCampaigns.Retrieved
September21,2008.
22."AllPolitics:CNNTime."AllTheVotes...Really" ".Cnn.com.RetrievedMay28,
2010.
23.Garofoli,Joe(March26,2008)."Obamabouncesbackspeechseemedtohelp".
Sfgate.com.RetrievedMay28,2010.
24.McGovern,GeorgeS.,Grassroots:TheAutobiographyofGeorgeMcGovern,New
York:RandomHouse,1977,pp.214215
25.McGovern,GeorgeS.,Terry:MyDaughter'sLifeandDeathStrugglewith
Alcoholism,NewYork:RandomHouse,1996,pp.97
26.Marano,RichardMichael,VoteYourConscience:TheLastCampaignofGeorge
McGovern,PraegerPublishers,2003,pp.7
27.TheWashingtonPost,"GeorgeMcGovern&theColdestPlunge",PaulHendrickson,
September28,1983
28.TheNewYorkTimes,"'Trashing'Candidates"(oped),GeorgeMcGovern,May11,
1983
29.Liebovich,Louis(2003).RichardNixon,Watergate,andthePress:AHistorical
Retrospective.GreenwoodPublishingGroup.p.53.ISBN9780275979157.
30."NewHampshirePrimaryhistoricalpastelectionresults.2008Democrat&
Republicanpastresults.JohnMcCain,HillaryClintonwinners".
Primarynewhampshire.com.Retrieved20160817.
31."RPrimariesRaceMar07,1972".USPresident.OurCampaigns.Retrieved
September21,2008.
32.Frum,David(2000).HowWeGotHere:The'70s.NewYork,NewYork:Basic
Books.p.52.ISBN0465041957.
33."Libertarianstryingtoescapeobscurity".EugeneRegisterGuard.AssociatedPress.
December30,1973.RetrievedJuly30,2012.
34.Walker,Jesse(July2008)."TheAgeofNixon:RickPerlsteinontheleft,theright,
the'60s,andtheillusionofconsensus".Reason.RetrievedJuly27,2013.
35.Sullivan,RobertDavidHowtheRedandBlueMapEvolvedOverthePast
Century(http://www.americamagazine.org/content/unconventionalwisdom/howred
andbluemapevolvedoverpastcentury)AmericaMagazineinTheNational
CatholicReviewJune29,2016
36."1972PresidentialGeneralElectionDataNational".RetrievedMarch18,2013.
37.Frum,David(2000).HowWeGotHere:The'70s.NewYork,NewYork:Basic
Books.p.31.ISBN0465041957.

Notes
aMcGovernfailedtocarryasinglecountyinArkansas,Connecticut,Delaware,Florida,Georgia,Hawaii,Idaho,Indiana,Kansas,Nebraska,Nevada,NewJersey,NewHampshire,Oklahoma,

RhodeIsland,SouthCarolina,Utah,VermontorWyoming
bMcGoverncarriedonlyonecountyequivalentinArizona(Greenlee),Illinois(Jackson),Louisiana(WestFelicianaParish),Maine(Androscoggin),Maryland(BaltimoreCity),NorthDakota

(Rolette),Pennsylvania(Philadelphia),Virginia(CharlesCity)andWestVirginia(Logan)
cMcGoverncarriedjusttwocountiesinColorado,Missouri,Montana,NewMexico,NorthCarolina,OhioandWashingtonState
dDwightD.Eisenhowerin1952alsoobtainedapluralityinPresidioCounty

Externallinks
TheElectionWall's1972ElectionVideoPage(https://web.archive.org/web/20120825102042/http://www.mit.edu/~mi22295/elections.html#1972)
1972popularvotebycounties(http://geoelections.free.fr/USA/elec_comtes/1972.htm)
1972popularvotebystates(http://psephos.adamcarr.net/countries/u/usa/pres/1972.txt)
1972popularvotebystates(withbargraphs)(http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/datagraph.php?year=1972&fips=0&f=1&off=0&elect=0)
Howclosewasthe1972election?(https://web.archive.org/web/20120825102042/http://www.mit.edu/~mi22295/elections.html#1972)attheWaybackMachine
(archivedAugust25,2012)MichaelSheppard,MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology
Campaigncommercialsfromthe1972election(http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1972)
CSPANsegmenton1972campaigncommercials(http://www.cspanvideo.org/program/1532831)
CSPANsegmentontheEagletonAffair(http://www.cspanvideo.org/program/JJosh)
Electionof1972inCountingtheVotes(http://www.countingthevotes.com/1972/)

Bibliographyandfurtherreading
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1972

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12/16/2016

Bibliographyandfurtherreading

UnitedStatespresidentialelection,1972Wikipedia

Giglio,JamesN.(2009)."TheEagletonAffair:ThomasEagleton,GeorgeMcGovern,andthe1972VicePresidentialNomination".PresidentialStudies
Quarterly.39(4):647676.doi:10.1111/j.17415705.2009.03731.x.
Graebner,NormanA.(1973)."PresidentialPoliticsinaDividedAmerica:1972".AustralianJournalofPoliticsandHistory.19(1):2847.doi:10.1111/j.1467
8497.1973.tb00722.x.
Hofstetter,C.RichardZukin,Cliff(1979)."TVNetworkNewsandAdvertisingintheNixonandMcGovernCampaigns".Journalism&MassCommunication
Quarterly.56(1):106152.doi:10.1177/107769907905600117.
Nicholas,H.G.(1973)."The1972Elections".JournalofAmericanStudies.7(1):115.doi:10.1017/S0021875800012585.
White,TheodoreH.(1973).TheMakingofthePresident,1972.NewYork:Atheneum.ISBN0689105533.
Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_States_presidential_election,_1972&oldid=754485828"
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