Nixon was also competing against a strong third-party candidate, George Wallace, an experienced politician and an avowed supporter of segregation. One of the main reasons Nixon was victorious was his strong showing in the South. To gain Southern support, he had met with the South Carolina senator Strom Thurmond and won his backing by promising several things. He promised to appoint only conservatives to the federal courts, to name a Southerner to the Supreme Court, to oppose court-ordering busing, and to choose a vice presidential candidate acceptable to the
Nixon was also competing against a strong third-party candidate, George Wallace, an experienced politician and an avowed supporter of segregation. One of the main reasons Nixon was victorious was his strong showing in the South. To gain Southern support, he had met with the South Carolina senator Strom Thurmond and won his backing by promising several things. He promised to appoint only conservatives to the federal courts, to name a Southerner to the Supreme Court, to oppose court-ordering busing, and to choose a vice presidential candidate acceptable to the