President Kennedy's second term was marked by a continuation of his largely middle of the road approach. One major success of the administration was the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, a major feminist goal. Around early 1971, however, unemployment steadily began to rise, and race relations once again declined. President Kennedy announced a major infrastructure development package with an emphasis on urban areas, but a right-leaning congress stymied his efforts. Eventually, a highly watered down bill was passed to repair American cities. On foreign affairs, Kennedy's administration was marked by a seeming isolationism as problems continued to mount at home. This was met with opposition from internationalists in congress.
1972After the Goldwater fiasco, Republicans ran a more moderate, internationalist course, nominating New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, who selected Pennsylvania Senator Hugh Scott as his VP. The Democrats, after a chaotic convention, settled on Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright and New York City mayor John Lindsay. Republicans promised to keep up the fight against communism, improve the economy, and bring the country together. Democrats kept to a populist appeal centered on improving America before fighting communism abroad. The Democratic ticket greatly appealed to the south, but received a drubbing in other parts of the country.
Governor Nelson Rockefeller/Senator Hugh Scott-54.3%, 312 EV'sSenator J. William Fulbright/Mayor John Lindsay-45.7%, 226 EV's
