100 Years of RNC Speeches (Where the GOP Lost But Eventually Won)
Jul 17, 2024
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Julian Zelizer, a history professor, analyzes pivotal Republican National Convention speeches over the past century. The evolution of GOP leadership from Nixon to Reagan, the impact of Barry Goldwater's extremism, and the influence of past speeches on modern Republican rhetoric are discussed. Insightful reflections on political decisions and teasers for future episodes are also included.
Goldwater's 1964 extremism led to RNC loss, pushing GOP towards moderation.
Reagan's 1976 vision of freedom against Soviet Union expanded Republican appeal.
Deep dives
Barry Goldwater's Extreme Conservative Philosophy
Barry Goldwater in the 1964 Republican campaign endorsed extremism, advocating for a more aggressive anti-government philosophy. He rejected moderate stances like supporting the New Deal and Social Security privatization, aiming for a total embrace of conservatism.
Goldwater's Defeat and Republican Shift Towards Moderation
Goldwater faced a significant loss due to his off-center views and poor campaign skills. His defeat in 1964 led the Republican Party to disunite and reject extremism. The loss prompted a move towards a more moderate direction to appeal to a broader base of Americans.
Ronald Reagan's Transformation of Republican Conservatism
Ronald Reagan's approach in the 1976 convention focused on a vision of freedom tied to defeating the Soviet Union and embracing free-market principles. Reagan's rhetoric emphasized standing firm against communism and connecting freedom to repelling threats. His messaging resonated a shift towards mainstream conservatism, paving the way for his landslide victory in 1980 and broadening the Republican Party's appeal.
As the Republican National Convention takes place this week, there may be a through line from pivotal speeches from the last 100 years to today.
On Today's Show: Continuing our centennial series "100 Years of 100 Things," Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, CNN political analyst, NPR contributor, and author of several books and co-editor with Karen J. Greenberg of the forthcoming Our Nation at Risk: Election Integrity as a National Security Issue (NYU Press, 2024), walks us through pivotal RNC speeches from the last 100 years.
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