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When did Republicans, the party of Abraham Lincoln, start courting the American South? It's a big question! For decades, Republicans were known as the party that helped black people (except, you know, for ending Reconstruction to help gain the White House). Then, with the nomination of Barry Goldwater, the tide turned. Goldwater's team promoted him as a racist when he toured the South. And... he won some ground in the traditionally Democratic region.

So when it came time for Richard Nixon to run in 1968, his team decided to court the South. Not out in public like Goldwater had. Instead, they decided to operate a campaign of "benign neglect" where they would not enforce existing laws meant to protect African-Americans.

Our special guest this week is Angie Maxwell, author of The Long Southern Strategy.

Discussion Questions:

What caused the rift in the Democratic Party that made Strom Thurmond leave (hint: it has to do with Truman)?
What was the Democratic Party like before Truman?
What influence did Strom Thurmond have on Nixon?
Who was Barry Goldwater? How did he change the Republican Party by courting white Southerners?
How might the idea of the South being "benighted" impact them as a people?
Why do so many evangelicals see themselves as "benighted"?

Sources:

"The Long Southern Strategy" by Angie Maxwell and Todd Shields.
"Reaganland" by Rick Perlstein
YouTube clip of Nixon not wanting "Law and Order" to mean "racist"
Nixon talking about "law and order" in a speech
Nixon's campaign ad about protests and tear gas
Article about Nelson Rockefeller
Nixon's civil rights ad
Helpful Time Magazine article
"These Truths" book by Jill Lepore
Bio on Strom Thurmond
Article about Reconstruction
"The Evangelicals" book by Frances Fitzgerald
Truman's speech to the NAACP

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Republicans and Evangelicals I Long Southern Strategy (featuring Angie Maxwell)