I had heard that in 1960, Nixon had actually carried (or came very close in) what is now Carolyn Maloney’s congressional district on Manhattan’s lower east side. In 1972, this district went 58% for McGovern.
Is this under current boundaries or under the boundaries in one of the two elections or in both respective elections? Each has a very different meaning.
Wouldn't be surprised at all to learn Nixon won the UES in 1960, though.
This was under the boundaries for both respective elections.
That requires a follow-up then: Are you talking about the then–East Side district (covering roughly the same ground as Maloney's) or the then–12th district of New York (having the same number as Maloney's)?
The 12th actually had an incumbent Republican in 1960 and was centered on Park Slope. But in 1972 that was Shirley Chisholm's district, and she got 88% of the vote. I would actually be shocked to hear that Nixon got 42% in that district, which was Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights.