The election of 1972 began with Richard Nixon riding high. After surviving the chaos of the late 1960s, Nixon had opened relations with China, eased Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union, and presided over falling U.S. troop levels in Vietnam. Yet beneath his overwhelming popularity lurked a scandal that would ultimately destroy his presidency — the Watergate affair.
The Nixon Administration
Following his narrow victory in the election of 1968, Nixon sought to rebuild confidence in America. He championed domestic initiatives like creating the Environmental Protection Agency and took the United States off the Gold Standard. Abroad, he reshaped foreign policy, easing tensions with Moscow and orchestrating a dramatic opening with Beijing.
But Vietnam remained the central issue. Nixon expanded the conflict into Cambodia and Laos, used chemical defoliants, and escalated bombings — sparking outrage at home. Anti-war protests swelled, and the Kent State shootings in 1970, when National Guardsmen killed four student demonstrators, shocked the nation.
At the same time, Nixon began withdrawing U.S. troops, promoting a strategy of “Vietnamization.” By 1972, his approval rating remained strong, paving the way for an easy renomination.
The Race for the Democratic Nomination
The Democratic Party, weakened since 1968, entered 1972 divided. Fifteen candidates ran, including Hubert Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy, Shirley Chisholm, Edmund Muskie, and George McGovern.
Muskie began as the frontrunner, but his campaign collapsed after the infamous “Canuck Letter” scandal and his tearful New Hampshire press conference. Meanwhile, Alabama Governor George Wallace mounted another run but was paralyzed after being shot in an assassination attempt.
The new system of primaries and delegate rules worked in McGovern’s favour. Riding grassroots, anti-war energy, he clinched the nomination — but his victory revealed deep fractures within the Democratic Party.
McGovern’s Troubled Campaign
McGovern’s candidacy quickly unraveled. He struggled to find a running mate, eventually choosing Senator Thomas Eagleton. When reports surfaced that Eagleton had undergone electroshock therapy for depression, McGovern first declared “1,000 percent” support, then dropped him from the ticket days later. The damage was severe. His eventual replacement, Sargent Shriver, could not recover the lost momentum.
McGovern’s liberal platform — immediate withdrawal from Vietnam, a guaranteed minimum income, and $1,000 for every American — alienated moderates. Party insiders, resentful of his reforms, branded him an extremist.
The Watergate Break-In
While Democrats stumbled, Nixon’s campaign faced its own storm. On June 17, 1972, five burglars were caught breaking into the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex. They were linked to Nixon’s re-election committee, “CREEP.”
Though serious, the break-in initially attracted little national attention. The press covered it, but most voters focused on Nixon’s successes abroad and his promises of stability. Watergate would only loom larger after the election.
Campaigns and the October Surprise
Nixon ran a disciplined campaign, contrasting his leadership with McGovern’s perceived radicalism. He appealed to the “Silent Majority,” vowing to maintain order and secure peace with honour in Vietnam.
Then, just days before the election, National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger announced: “Peace is at hand.” The suggestion that the war might soon end boosted Nixon further in the polls.
Election of 1972 Results
On November 7, 1972, Nixon crushed McGovern in one of the most lopsided victories in U.S. history. He won 520 electoral votes and more than 60% of the popular vote — carrying every state except Massachusetts and the District of Columbia.
McGovern’s 17 electoral votes marked the worst Democratic performance since 1924. A single faithless elector from Virginia even cast a vote for Libertarian candidate John Hospers, the first time that party appeared in the Electoral College.
Nixon became only the second president to secure over 500 electoral votes. His triumph seemed complete — yet the Watergate scandal, still brewing in the shadows, would soon topple his presidency.
Outro: A Landslide With Cracks Beneath
The election of 1972 was Nixon’s greatest political triumph, but also the prelude to his greatest downfall. While his foreign policy breakthroughs and promise of peace won him a landslide, the Watergate scandal planted seeds that would soon destroy his presidency. Just four years earlier, in the election of 1968, Nixon had clawed his way back to power in a divided America. By 1972, he appeared untouchable — but appearances would not last.