Politics Back Home

George Wallace and Richard Nixon used the idea of “elite doves” versus “reactionary hardhats” to gain support from white working-class Americans. They painted a picture where anti-war protesters were seen as rich, spoiled, and disconnected from regular people. Wallace, during his 1968 presidential campaign, talked a lot about “the average man on the street.” He said people who worked hard, like factory workers and police officers, were being ignored by powerful elites. He described these elites as “pointy-headed professors” and “bureaucrats” who looked down on working people and wanted to control their lives. Nixon also used this image to his advantage. He spoke about the “silent majority,” which he said were ordinary Americans who believed in law and order and were tired of the chaos caused by protests. His Vice President, Spiro Agnew, attacked anti-war protesters by calling them “impudent snobs” who did not understand the lives of hard working Americans. This kind of talk made many white workers feel that Wallace and Nixon were on their side, while the anti-war movement was against them.

The anger of white working-class Americans was not just about the anti-war movement. It was also about money problems and big social changes. Many workers felt that life was getting harder for them while other groups, like African Americans and wealthy people, were getting special help. Things like school desegregation and public housing programs made some white workers feel like their communities were under threat. At the same time, factories were closing, and new government rules were making jobs harder to keep. This made people worry about their future. The Democratic Party, which had traditionally supported working people, seemed to ignore these concerns. Instead, they focused more on civil rights and other social issues. Many white workers felt left out and began to believe that politicians only cared about helping minorities and college-educated elites. The media also played a part in this. Newspapers and TV shows often showed white workers as angry and old-fashioned, which made them feel even more distant from the people in power. Wallace and Nixon took advantage of these feelings by promising to speak for the “real” Americans who felt ignored and disrespected.

The Democratic Party might have been able to stop this political shift, but it would have been very difficult. One way they could have done it was by focusing on the economic problems that affected all workers, no matter their race. For example, instead of only helping certain groups with housing or education, they could have created programs that benefited everyone. This might have made white workers feel like they were not being left behind. But the Democratic Party was divided. Some members wanted to focus on helping working people, while others wanted to push for civil rights and other social issues. This made it hard for the party to present a clear message. Because of this division, Wallace and Nixon were able to convince many white workers that the Democrats did not care about them. Over time, this helped the Republican Party win the support of many white working-class voters. If the Democrats had been better at addressing both economic worries and cultural concerns while treating people equally, I think they would have been more successful. But, the Democratic party showed what was important to them and the working-class saw that it did not include them, causing many working-class whites to turn to politicians like Nixon and Wallace who seemed to understand their frustrations.