1964: lbj steps aside

[WalterMitty]

in 1964, the ever insecure lyndon johnson decides not to seek election in his own right to the presidency.  johnson is worried about the prospects of presiding over the escalating situation in vietnam.  he is also uncomfortable in the shadow of the kennedy legacy.

many democrats, including attorney general rfk, enter the race for the deomcrat nomination.  after a bitter convention floor fight, the democrats settle on a surprising, consensus pick: chief justice earl warren.

warren served three terms as a republican governor of the state of california in the 1940s and 50s.  he was tom dewey's running mate in the 1948 presidential race.  he was nominated by president eisenhower for the position of chief justice of the supreme court.

warren's time on the court was marked by liberal judicial activism.  during this time he became uncomfortable with the republican shift rightward, particularly on civil rights issues.  he has no hesitation accepting the nomination of the democratic party. 

because of his age at the time (73), warren selects young, liberal senator eugene mccarthy of minnesota as his running mate.

how does a warren/mccarthy vs. goldwater/miller race shape up?

[Lincoln Republican]

Former President Dwight Eisenhower was never pleased with Earl Warren's behavior on the Supreme Court.  He felt betrayed.

This was Ike's chance to let the nation know how he felt about the Warren nomination.

The Republican campaign sent the old General to do battle on the airwaves, reaching the nation from coast to coast.

Ike denounced Warren as "The worst mistake I ever made."

Goldwater and Miller hit the hustings, picking up on this theme.  "Warren can't be trusted," was their battle cry.  "America cannot afford two ultra liberals looking after your money," they would say, at campaign stop after campaign stop.

It was a rough and tumble, no holds barred, nasty campaign.

Warren described Goldwater as "A man who will lead us to the brink of disaster."  Goldwater declared "I will defend America's interests, make no mistake about that."

Goldwater, Miller, and Ike succeeded in rallying the Republican base, a majority of Independents, and more conservative Democrats to the Republican cause.   
 
For the second time in two elections, Warren failed to carry his home state of California.  It was close, but it went for Goldwater.

These withering attacks from Goldwater and Ike catapulted Goldwater into the Oval Office.

The election result

Goldwater/Miller          277
Warren/McCarthy        261 

[Beet]

Regarding Warren, is it true Eisenhower appointed him in exchange for Warren's throwing the California delegation to him at the 1952 GOP convention?