Okay so here's a quick update to assure that this is not dead.
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From Trial By Fire
By Professor Mitt Romney
After the pivotal Ohio primaries on May 3rd the 1960 Republican primaries of mid May proved to be a doosie. No other candidates decided to compete in the Nebraska or West Virginia primaries which Nixon both won against mere favorite son candidates despite Rockefeller gaining 33% in write-ins in West Virginia. Maryland was another landslide for Rockefeller, who had no problem with the moderates and independents who were spewing out by the thousands for his rallies.
The next big primary would be Oregon, where William F. Knowland and Richard Nixon were tied at 40% in the polling a week before the election. William F. Knowland had proven that he could match Nixon tit for tat in financing, while Rockefeller would lag behind the two in funds and Senator Barry Goldwater watched from the corner. Although the Oregon primary was short in delegates, Knowland was sure to show that he could pull the rug right from under Nixon in a state once thought to be safe, and grab a new boost of momentum going into the California primary. Nixon, on the other hand, wanted to get a statement win by 10-15% over his rival and show that he was once again the establishment candidate, while letting the sting of the lost Ohio primary fade in voters minds.
Nixon, after his win in Nebraska, had used that primary to gather a coalition of African American and liberals disenfranchised with Nelson Rockefeller. While he still fought for the blue collar Union vote Knowland was leading those voters by over 30%.
May 20, 1960
Republican Oregon Primary
Former Senator William F. Knowland 37.5%
Vice President Richard Nixon 32.3%
Governor Nelson Rockefeller 31.2%
Democratic Oregon Primary
Senator Hubert Humphrey 71.2%
Senator Adlai Stevenson 28.8% PV
From The Forgotten Primaries
By Tim Grenshaw
Adlai Stevenson, much like Richard Nixon within the same primaries, still viewed himself as the establishment candidate. Stevenson believed that his history of 2 consecutive terms of Democratic nominee would make him the front runner once again. His establishment support, a coalition of old guard New Deal Democrats and foreign policy hawks, closely combated Humphrey's coalition of minorities, Unions, and young people. Stevenson would take Nebraska by 20 points, but Humphrey got a 85% turnout rate amongst the coal-miners Union to push him to a 7% win in West Virginia. Oregon would be a 99% win for Favorite Son candidate Wayne Morse who's only opponent was Adlai Stevenson and Hubert Humphrey write in ballots.
The fact that Wayne Morse won the Oregon primary was no laughing matter for the campaigns, Wayne Morse had pledged to support his delegates to Lyndon Johnson who was campaigning in the states without primaries. Humphrey and Stevenson both made attempts to lobby to state delegations. Stevenson had the support of New York, New Jersey, and New England under his belt. The unions of Michigan and Minnesota pushed their delegations to Humphrey, and of course Minnesota was devout. But Johnson had locked up the south, and was pushing his favorite sons Pat Brown and George Smathers in California and Florida respectively. The only remaining competitive primary was California.
May 21, 1960
William F. Knowland wins Oregon Primary!
(AP) Former Senator William F. Knowland, won the GOP Oregon primary yesterday by just over 7%. This further throws a wrench in the Republican party's plan for a united Republican party against the Democratic candidate (who also remains to be decided until the convention). Richard Nixon began campaigning in Oakland, California this morning at a rally where he totally ignored the subject of his recent lost. The California primary could actually be the deciding factor in the campaign as no candidate has locked up the necessary amount of delegates to win the primaries. Sources say that state delegations are split over who to support with their delegates but many are leaning Nixon. The winner of California may very will take back the parties banner and eventually the nomination. Although the GOP Florida Primary begins in just 4 days, no candidates are expected to campaign there as Senator Barry Goldwater leads all other candidates by 25% (of which only Knowland and Nixon are actually on the ballot beside Goldwater).
Hubert Humphrey California Campaign Headquarters
Sacramento, California
The room was smoky, and smelt like Scotch which Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager Richard Evans drank by the gallon. Humphrey had his jacket off after a two hour long dinner with California doners. Not like he needed it, the Humphrey campaign were the clear front runners after destroying Adlai Stevenson in Oregon, and there were calls for Stevenson to drop out. Hubert had yet to hear anything from them though, so it was all to be focused on California where Governor Pat Brown was running as a favorite son candidate.
"So Rich, how's it looking?"
"Ehh. Brown's campaign is better organized. He knows he can be a big power broker."
"All that money is Johnson's though."
"Yeah, he want's to bring this thing to the convention."
"But if we take California... we'll be consensus."
There was a pause, "right Hubert, I think. If we can get Stevenson to drop out before this it'll probably help too."
"How can we do that?... I'm not offering him my VP spot if that's what you're getting at."
"No I... well maybe."
"Hell no. He's been on the ballot twice already, I'm surprised he's made it this far."
"Well if not Stevenson you probably would have to take Johnson anyway, and this could get ugly."
"Or Pat Brown, or... Symington... or Governor Smathers."
"Smathers, that's who you take if not Johnson... but whatever. None of that matters right now. What matters is that we need to increase our organization here. Get out the vote. Tap into Browns huge support with minorities, get at least 80% turnout from Unions which we can sweep. We can't win if we don't do that."
"Sounds good Rich."
May 23, 1960
Senator Adlai Stevenson (D-IL) officially suspends Presidential campaign
(AP) Earlier today Senator Adlai Stevenson of Illinois, who just came off a large lost to front runner Hubert Humphrey in Oregon, suspended his campaign for the Democratic nomination saying in his concession speech, "It's time to make the decision easier for the American people...". The two time Presidential candidate cited being severely low on funds as the prime reason for dropping out. Stevenson refused to endorse a candidate and therefore his pledged delegates are waiting on a decision of who to support.
From The Forgotten Primary
By Tim Grenshaw
California was all that mattered to the Humphrey campaign after Stevenson dropped out of the running on May 23. California was the home turf of favorite son Pat Brown and the fact that Humphrey even attempted to challenge Brown there insulted Brown, and he would pour every cent of his money into defeating the Minnesota Senator. Brown wanted to be a fixture at the nomination, and hold power over the very powerful California delegation. He was suspected to be partially loyal to the Johnson campaign, who was attempting to grab enough delegates to win the nomination before the convention.
The primary was polling extremely close between the two candidates, as Humphrey put millions of dollars into winning the primary, which would make him the obvious front runner going into the convention, knocking out Brown on his own turf and crippling Johnson's push for delegates. The primary itself would come down too the division of the the young and establishment voters. Minorities were locked up for the Brown campaign, who was wildly popular and elected on the backs of the Hispanic and African American voters, while Union and labor workers were the largest supporters of Humphrey but young voters and moderate establishment supporters weren't very excited by either side. Whomever could take the majority in both those categories would win the primary.
Wisnar Household, Pasadena California
A Richard Nixon for President Ad runs on the television. James is eating dinner, he doesn't even understand why the hell they have a television. He remembers when... he lost his train of thought.
His wife walked in and grabbed a glass of ice tea off the counter, "So James who ya votin for?"
"Barry Goldwater."
Janet laughed for a second, before realizing he was serious, "Of course you are. You know he's not even on the ballot. I think that man dropped out."
"Ehh the rest are batty."
"Well not the Vice President."
"What do you care? You voted for Humphrey."
"I know James but, I think if I was a Republican, I'd vote for Humphrey... I mean Nixon."
"Nixon's a cheater, William fucked over the workers here."
"You hate Unions I thought. Barry Goldwater does."
"I'm a plumber, I have to have a union... And Nixon stole money. Twice. Eisenhower doesn't even like em'."
"You know who I like?"
"Nixon. You just said that."
"No, I think I like Rockefeller actually. He's a good man."
"A liberal."
"I saw an interview with him on... CBS I think. He want's to make college free ya know... Ya know James?"
"Ya Janet, I know."
May 24, 1960
Barry Goldwater wins Florida Primary on write-ins
(AP) Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona won the Florida Primary today by 1765 write in votes. The primary comes as no surprise as, although Goldwater was unable to get on the ballot, he poured most of his remaining money into a victory here. Florida holds as one of the more conservative states in the GOP primaries and was considered a safe Goldwater state. This marks Goldwater's first primary win.
Los Angeles Times
This one's for all the marbles
By Jonathan Athens
This weekend will be a very busy one for Republican presidential candidates William Knowland, Richard Nixon and Nelson Rockefeller. They will all be crisscrossing the state of California.
Vice President Nixon is spending his entire treasury in California, reminding everyone that he's a native Californian, but he's having a tough time convincing people that he's the guy for them as William F. Knowland surges back in a state that voted kicked him out just last year.
This is really enormously important to both Nixon and Knowland. If either loses California, the race isn't essentially over as it can still go to the convention but I think it throws the race absolutely up for grabs. It seriously wounds Nixon's campaign because the argument is going to be if Richard Nixon can't win his home state that rejected Knowland just last year, what chance would he have in a general election campaign in a very key swing state against the Democratic nominee.
Whomever wins goes back to being the front runner and the momentum could probably throw them the nomination.
May 25, 1960
GOP Presidential Polling, California
Vice President Richard Nixon 31.4% (Down 7.4%)
Former Senator William F. Knowland 29.5% (Up 6.3%)
Governor Nelson Rockefeller 20.2% (Up 3.1%)
Barry Goldwater (Write in) 7% (Up 4%)
Other/ Unsure 11.9%
With polling numbers falling, Richard Nixon challenges William F. Knowland to debate pre-California primary, Rockefeller demands entrance.
(AP) With his polling numbers down 7.4% and Former Senator Knowlands up by 6 points, Vice President Nixon challenged Knowland to a single debate at the University of Southern California campus to be held on June 2. This would mark the debate just 5 days before the primary and is a surprising announcement from the Nixon camp. The debate would be moderated by the CBS's Evening News Anchor, Douglas Edwards. The debate will focus around the topics of policy with the U.S.S.R, and Presidential Character. This will be the first GOP Primary debate since Harold Stassen debated Thomas Dewey over the subject of banning the Communist Party in the United States, and proved to be the death of the Stassen campaign that year. Both campaigns take a risk in jumping in this debate, but more so to the Knowland camp who is currently streaking past the Vice President.
Governor Nelson Rockefeller, who polls just barely above 20% in California, has demanded entrance into the debate citing that he was a "viable candidate" in California and that Nixon and Knowland was simply "scared" of his rising numbers as they remain in a dead heat.
The debate is a chance for either candidate to have a break out performance and get ahead in the state.
June 1, 1960
California GOP Debate highlights, USC Campus, Los Angeles, California
The Vice President had been backed into a corner by an aggressive Knowland attack on Nixon's character specifically regarding the Bebe Rebozo affair, Nixon shot back:
"I'm not afraid on attacks on my character, which I know is strong, which my family knows is strong, which President Eisenhower knows is strong. If I was the American people I'd be afraid of your attacks on Unions, remember why you lost Senator?"
Senator Knowland shot back:
"Please Mr. Vice President, don't turn your own personal shame and contort it into an assault on my stand for Republican pro-growth principles.
The back and forth tennis match on stage quickly became chippy, and the moderator was forced to step in and change the topic.
Later Senator Knowland received a standing ovation when he was asked how he would deal with the Soviet Union.
"My belief is that we should go forth into the 1960's with a new outlook. A fresh leader that is willing to sit across at the negotiating table with Khrushchev and work towards peace, and also is willing to stand behind the largest strongest army on Earth. A President, who will promote Peace through Strength."
Vice President Nixon had a similarly good performance when asked how he would continue the Eisenhower era legacy for the GOP:
"This country, this Grand Old Party, is at a cross roads. I stand here with 8 years experience as your countries second in command behind our parties greatest leader of this century. Across from me is the choice of a radical wing of the Republican party that fights for no one but corporate interests and the destruction of the American Workers right. I am a man that was picked by our President to help lead, and stood at his helm for the past 8 years during the hardest decisions a President can make and collaborated with the President on things like the creation of the Interstate Highway System. Senator Knowland, mean while, was becoming more and more radical in the elitist chamber. So I ask, pick one that will truly enhance our great Presidents vision."
The overall mood of the debate came out snarky, with moderator Douglas Edwards forced to break the two candidates up multiple times. Polls showed Richard Nixon had won the debate with an unenthusiastic 42% to 34% but election polls showed a surprising phenomenon: With the absence of Nelson Rockefeller at such an angry debate, he was able to gain 5% in the polls, moving ahead of Senator William Knowland nationally and only 2% behind in California where more radical conservative Barry Goldwater is still receiving over 10% on write ins. More amazingly, the Governor is within the margin of error of the Vice President, marking the first time he may be able to strike ahead in the polls and a blessing for the Rockefeller camp in disguise that they missed the first debate. This may also be a symptom of GOP voters seemingly being very unsatisfied with the two major candidates so far, and a more neutral and "nicer" approach from Rockefeller has been the difference. The only question is, can he win in the home state of both Knowland and Nixon , California?
GOP Presidential Polling, California
Vice President Richard Nixon 29.4%
Former Senator William F. Knowland 26.5%
Governor Nelson Rockefeller 24.2%
Barry Goldwater (Write in) 10%
Other/ Unsure 11.9%
National GOP Presidential Polling
Vice President Richard Nixon 29.7%
Governor Nelson Rockefeller 29.3%
Senator William Knowland 26.9%
Barry Goldwater 5%
Other/ Unsure 9.1%
June 8, 1960
NELSON ROCKEFELLER SHOCKS NIXON, KNOWLAND WINS CALIFORNIA BY 5%
AP NEWS
By Tyler Archur
At 6:03 AM Eastern Time on Tuesday, June 8 dark horse candidate and leader of the GOP "liberal wing" Nelson Rockefeller, was able to shock both Vice President Richard Nixon and Senator William F. Knowland by topping off his recent streaking in the polls with an astronomically important upset win both Nixon and Knowland's home state primary by a solid 5%. The win secures Rockefeller a total of 172 delegates and almost guarantees a convention floor battle for the Republican Party nomination in 1960...
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From Trial By Fire
By Professor Mitt Romney
After the pivotal Ohio primaries on May 3rd the 1960 Republican primaries of mid May proved to be a doosie. No other candidates decided to compete in the Nebraska or West Virginia primaries which Nixon both won against mere favorite son candidates despite Rockefeller gaining 33% in write-ins in West Virginia. Maryland was another landslide for Rockefeller, who had no problem with the moderates and independents who were spewing out by the thousands for his rallies.
The next big primary would be Oregon, where William F. Knowland and Richard Nixon were tied at 40% in the polling a week before the election. William F. Knowland had proven that he could match Nixon tit for tat in financing, while Rockefeller would lag behind the two in funds and Senator Barry Goldwater watched from the corner. Although the Oregon primary was short in delegates, Knowland was sure to show that he could pull the rug right from under Nixon in a state once thought to be safe, and grab a new boost of momentum going into the California primary. Nixon, on the other hand, wanted to get a statement win by 10-15% over his rival and show that he was once again the establishment candidate, while letting the sting of the lost Ohio primary fade in voters minds.
Nixon, after his win in Nebraska, had used that primary to gather a coalition of African American and liberals disenfranchised with Nelson Rockefeller. While he still fought for the blue collar Union vote Knowland was leading those voters by over 30%.
May 20, 1960
Republican Oregon Primary
Former Senator William F. Knowland 37.5%
Vice President Richard Nixon 32.3%
Governor Nelson Rockefeller 31.2%
Democratic Oregon Primary
Senator Hubert Humphrey 71.2%
Senator Adlai Stevenson 28.8% PV
From The Forgotten Primaries
By Tim Grenshaw
Adlai Stevenson, much like Richard Nixon within the same primaries, still viewed himself as the establishment candidate. Stevenson believed that his history of 2 consecutive terms of Democratic nominee would make him the front runner once again. His establishment support, a coalition of old guard New Deal Democrats and foreign policy hawks, closely combated Humphrey's coalition of minorities, Unions, and young people. Stevenson would take Nebraska by 20 points, but Humphrey got a 85% turnout rate amongst the coal-miners Union to push him to a 7% win in West Virginia. Oregon would be a 99% win for Favorite Son candidate Wayne Morse who's only opponent was Adlai Stevenson and Hubert Humphrey write in ballots.
The fact that Wayne Morse won the Oregon primary was no laughing matter for the campaigns, Wayne Morse had pledged to support his delegates to Lyndon Johnson who was campaigning in the states without primaries. Humphrey and Stevenson both made attempts to lobby to state delegations. Stevenson had the support of New York, New Jersey, and New England under his belt. The unions of Michigan and Minnesota pushed their delegations to Humphrey, and of course Minnesota was devout. But Johnson had locked up the south, and was pushing his favorite sons Pat Brown and George Smathers in California and Florida respectively. The only remaining competitive primary was California.
May 21, 1960
William F. Knowland wins Oregon Primary!
(AP) Former Senator William F. Knowland, won the GOP Oregon primary yesterday by just over 7%. This further throws a wrench in the Republican party's plan for a united Republican party against the Democratic candidate (who also remains to be decided until the convention). Richard Nixon began campaigning in Oakland, California this morning at a rally where he totally ignored the subject of his recent lost. The California primary could actually be the deciding factor in the campaign as no candidate has locked up the necessary amount of delegates to win the primaries. Sources say that state delegations are split over who to support with their delegates but many are leaning Nixon. The winner of California may very will take back the parties banner and eventually the nomination. Although the GOP Florida Primary begins in just 4 days, no candidates are expected to campaign there as Senator Barry Goldwater leads all other candidates by 25% (of which only Knowland and Nixon are actually on the ballot beside Goldwater).
Hubert Humphrey California Campaign Headquarters
Sacramento, California
The room was smoky, and smelt like Scotch which Hubert Humphrey's campaign manager Richard Evans drank by the gallon. Humphrey had his jacket off after a two hour long dinner with California doners. Not like he needed it, the Humphrey campaign were the clear front runners after destroying Adlai Stevenson in Oregon, and there were calls for Stevenson to drop out. Hubert had yet to hear anything from them though, so it was all to be focused on California where Governor Pat Brown was running as a favorite son candidate.
"So Rich, how's it looking?"
"Ehh. Brown's campaign is better organized. He knows he can be a big power broker."
"All that money is Johnson's though."
"Yeah, he want's to bring this thing to the convention."
"But if we take California... we'll be consensus."
There was a pause, "right Hubert, I think. If we can get Stevenson to drop out before this it'll probably help too."
"How can we do that?... I'm not offering him my VP spot if that's what you're getting at."
"No I... well maybe."
"Hell no. He's been on the ballot twice already, I'm surprised he's made it this far."
"Well if not Stevenson you probably would have to take Johnson anyway, and this could get ugly."
"Or Pat Brown, or... Symington... or Governor Smathers."
"Smathers, that's who you take if not Johnson... but whatever. None of that matters right now. What matters is that we need to increase our organization here. Get out the vote. Tap into Browns huge support with minorities, get at least 80% turnout from Unions which we can sweep. We can't win if we don't do that."
"Sounds good Rich."
May 23, 1960
Senator Adlai Stevenson (D-IL) officially suspends Presidential campaign
(AP) Earlier today Senator Adlai Stevenson of Illinois, who just came off a large lost to front runner Hubert Humphrey in Oregon, suspended his campaign for the Democratic nomination saying in his concession speech, "It's time to make the decision easier for the American people...". The two time Presidential candidate cited being severely low on funds as the prime reason for dropping out. Stevenson refused to endorse a candidate and therefore his pledged delegates are waiting on a decision of who to support.
From The Forgotten Primary
By Tim Grenshaw
California was all that mattered to the Humphrey campaign after Stevenson dropped out of the running on May 23. California was the home turf of favorite son Pat Brown and the fact that Humphrey even attempted to challenge Brown there insulted Brown, and he would pour every cent of his money into defeating the Minnesota Senator. Brown wanted to be a fixture at the nomination, and hold power over the very powerful California delegation. He was suspected to be partially loyal to the Johnson campaign, who was attempting to grab enough delegates to win the nomination before the convention.
The primary was polling extremely close between the two candidates, as Humphrey put millions of dollars into winning the primary, which would make him the obvious front runner going into the convention, knocking out Brown on his own turf and crippling Johnson's push for delegates. The primary itself would come down too the division of the the young and establishment voters. Minorities were locked up for the Brown campaign, who was wildly popular and elected on the backs of the Hispanic and African American voters, while Union and labor workers were the largest supporters of Humphrey but young voters and moderate establishment supporters weren't very excited by either side. Whomever could take the majority in both those categories would win the primary.
Wisnar Household, Pasadena California
A Richard Nixon for President Ad runs on the television. James is eating dinner, he doesn't even understand why the hell they have a television. He remembers when... he lost his train of thought.
His wife walked in and grabbed a glass of ice tea off the counter, "So James who ya votin for?"
"Barry Goldwater."
Janet laughed for a second, before realizing he was serious, "Of course you are. You know he's not even on the ballot. I think that man dropped out."
"Ehh the rest are batty."
"Well not the Vice President."
"What do you care? You voted for Humphrey."
"I know James but, I think if I was a Republican, I'd vote for Humphrey... I mean Nixon."
"Nixon's a cheater, William fucked over the workers here."
"You hate Unions I thought. Barry Goldwater does."
"I'm a plumber, I have to have a union... And Nixon stole money. Twice. Eisenhower doesn't even like em'."
"You know who I like?"
"Nixon. You just said that."
"No, I think I like Rockefeller actually. He's a good man."
"A liberal."
"I saw an interview with him on... CBS I think. He want's to make college free ya know... Ya know James?"
"Ya Janet, I know."
May 24, 1960
Barry Goldwater wins Florida Primary on write-ins
(AP) Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona won the Florida Primary today by 1765 write in votes. The primary comes as no surprise as, although Goldwater was unable to get on the ballot, he poured most of his remaining money into a victory here. Florida holds as one of the more conservative states in the GOP primaries and was considered a safe Goldwater state. This marks Goldwater's first primary win.
Los Angeles Times
This one's for all the marbles
By Jonathan Athens
This weekend will be a very busy one for Republican presidential candidates William Knowland, Richard Nixon and Nelson Rockefeller. They will all be crisscrossing the state of California.
Vice President Nixon is spending his entire treasury in California, reminding everyone that he's a native Californian, but he's having a tough time convincing people that he's the guy for them as William F. Knowland surges back in a state that voted kicked him out just last year.
This is really enormously important to both Nixon and Knowland. If either loses California, the race isn't essentially over as it can still go to the convention but I think it throws the race absolutely up for grabs. It seriously wounds Nixon's campaign because the argument is going to be if Richard Nixon can't win his home state that rejected Knowland just last year, what chance would he have in a general election campaign in a very key swing state against the Democratic nominee.
Whomever wins goes back to being the front runner and the momentum could probably throw them the nomination.
May 25, 1960
GOP Presidential Polling, California
Vice President Richard Nixon 31.4% (Down 7.4%)
Former Senator William F. Knowland 29.5% (Up 6.3%)
Governor Nelson Rockefeller 20.2% (Up 3.1%)
Barry Goldwater (Write in) 7% (Up 4%)
Other/ Unsure 11.9%
With polling numbers falling, Richard Nixon challenges William F. Knowland to debate pre-California primary, Rockefeller demands entrance.
(AP) With his polling numbers down 7.4% and Former Senator Knowlands up by 6 points, Vice President Nixon challenged Knowland to a single debate at the University of Southern California campus to be held on June 2. This would mark the debate just 5 days before the primary and is a surprising announcement from the Nixon camp. The debate would be moderated by the CBS's Evening News Anchor, Douglas Edwards. The debate will focus around the topics of policy with the U.S.S.R, and Presidential Character. This will be the first GOP Primary debate since Harold Stassen debated Thomas Dewey over the subject of banning the Communist Party in the United States, and proved to be the death of the Stassen campaign that year. Both campaigns take a risk in jumping in this debate, but more so to the Knowland camp who is currently streaking past the Vice President.
Governor Nelson Rockefeller, who polls just barely above 20% in California, has demanded entrance into the debate citing that he was a "viable candidate" in California and that Nixon and Knowland was simply "scared" of his rising numbers as they remain in a dead heat.
The debate is a chance for either candidate to have a break out performance and get ahead in the state.
June 1, 1960
California GOP Debate highlights, USC Campus, Los Angeles, California
The Vice President had been backed into a corner by an aggressive Knowland attack on Nixon's character specifically regarding the Bebe Rebozo affair, Nixon shot back:
"I'm not afraid on attacks on my character, which I know is strong, which my family knows is strong, which President Eisenhower knows is strong. If I was the American people I'd be afraid of your attacks on Unions, remember why you lost Senator?"
Senator Knowland shot back:
"Please Mr. Vice President, don't turn your own personal shame and contort it into an assault on my stand for Republican pro-growth principles.
The back and forth tennis match on stage quickly became chippy, and the moderator was forced to step in and change the topic.
Later Senator Knowland received a standing ovation when he was asked how he would deal with the Soviet Union.
"My belief is that we should go forth into the 1960's with a new outlook. A fresh leader that is willing to sit across at the negotiating table with Khrushchev and work towards peace, and also is willing to stand behind the largest strongest army on Earth. A President, who will promote Peace through Strength."
Vice President Nixon had a similarly good performance when asked how he would continue the Eisenhower era legacy for the GOP:
"This country, this Grand Old Party, is at a cross roads. I stand here with 8 years experience as your countries second in command behind our parties greatest leader of this century. Across from me is the choice of a radical wing of the Republican party that fights for no one but corporate interests and the destruction of the American Workers right. I am a man that was picked by our President to help lead, and stood at his helm for the past 8 years during the hardest decisions a President can make and collaborated with the President on things like the creation of the Interstate Highway System. Senator Knowland, mean while, was becoming more and more radical in the elitist chamber. So I ask, pick one that will truly enhance our great Presidents vision."
The overall mood of the debate came out snarky, with moderator Douglas Edwards forced to break the two candidates up multiple times. Polls showed Richard Nixon had won the debate with an unenthusiastic 42% to 34% but election polls showed a surprising phenomenon: With the absence of Nelson Rockefeller at such an angry debate, he was able to gain 5% in the polls, moving ahead of Senator William Knowland nationally and only 2% behind in California where more radical conservative Barry Goldwater is still receiving over 10% on write ins. More amazingly, the Governor is within the margin of error of the Vice President, marking the first time he may be able to strike ahead in the polls and a blessing for the Rockefeller camp in disguise that they missed the first debate. This may also be a symptom of GOP voters seemingly being very unsatisfied with the two major candidates so far, and a more neutral and "nicer" approach from Rockefeller has been the difference. The only question is, can he win in the home state of both Knowland and Nixon , California?
GOP Presidential Polling, California
Vice President Richard Nixon 29.4%
Former Senator William F. Knowland 26.5%
Governor Nelson Rockefeller 24.2%
Barry Goldwater (Write in) 10%
Other/ Unsure 11.9%
National GOP Presidential Polling
Vice President Richard Nixon 29.7%
Governor Nelson Rockefeller 29.3%
Senator William Knowland 26.9%
Barry Goldwater 5%
Other/ Unsure 9.1%
June 8, 1960
NELSON ROCKEFELLER SHOCKS NIXON, KNOWLAND WINS CALIFORNIA BY 5%
AP NEWS
By Tyler Archur
At 6:03 AM Eastern Time on Tuesday, June 8 dark horse candidate and leader of the GOP "liberal wing" Nelson Rockefeller, was able to shock both Vice President Richard Nixon and Senator William F. Knowland by topping off his recent streaking in the polls with an astronomically important upset win both Nixon and Knowland's home state primary by a solid 5%. The win secures Rockefeller a total of 172 delegates and almost guarantees a convention floor battle for the Republican Party nomination in 1960...
