Fear and Loathing On the Campaign Trail '72

Thompson is back in Miami for the 1972 Republican National Convention. As he returns to his hotel with beer in the days after the convention, he talks to the “master pimp and carmeister” (318), Bobo. When quizzed about his work, Thompson responds that he will struggle to compress “about two hundred hours of work into sixty seconds” (321). Nevertheless, he delivers his quick summation of the convention: Nixon exchanged an improved chance of winning the 1972 election for the Republicans struggling in 1976. His theory is that Nixon is invested only in himself and his ability to accumulate power. Should he win in 1972, he will not be able to run again in 1976. As such, his choice of running mate is important. Nixon has selected Spiro Agnew, thereby setting up Agnew as the presumptive nominee in 1976 (should Nixon win). The Old Guard of the Democratic Party, fearing loss of power to the left-wing George McGovern, will tacitly accept Nixon’s victory in 1972 in exchange for the opportunity to run against Agnew in 1976.

Like McGovern, Agnew is from the more radical wing of the party, and Nixon has ushered them into power, believing that their presence will give him a temporary opportunity to win a massive victory at the expense of the Republicans’ future electoral success.