Bring us Together

Chapter Ten begins with Election Day, explaining the results and their meaning for the future of American politics. It also traces the careers of the candidates beyond the election, considering them as different streams of political thought and style. President-elect Nixon spoke of unifying the nation, but his presidency further divided the American people and deepened their alienation. The 1968 election thus helps explain the years that followed, with Ronald Reagan’s rise in 1980 highlighting an era of conservative dominance of presidential politics.