Reporting from Cleveland — From the start of his campaign, Donald Trump’s slogan, “Make America great again,” has captured an aspiration to return the nation to an era when his core audience of working-class whites occupied a more dominant place in society.
Now, in the aftermath of the killing of five police officers in Dallas and three in Baton Rouge, La., Trump sees a chance to broaden his support by playing off public anxiety over the violence. In doing so, he is openly imitating Richard Nixon’s run for the White House in 1968 amid deep racial strife and social upheaval.
Trump’s vow to restore law and order is likely to be a central theme of what may be his most important speech of the campaign, his address Thursday night accepting the Republican presidential nomination at the party convention in Cleveland.
At a breakfast with reporters this week in Cleveland, Trump’s campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, said Nixon’s 1968 speech accepting the nomination at the Republican convention in Miami Beach was “pretty much on line with a lot of the issues that are going on today.”
He called the speech “instructive” for Trump and his advisors as they set about working on this year’s version.
The two eras do offer notable parallels. Then, as now, racial divisions, civil strife and swift cultural change were rattling many older white Americans.
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But Trump, whose rallies have sparked racially tinged bursts of violence, faces an electorate far more diverse than it was in the 1960s.
That makes the rhetorical challenge for Thursday night’s speech doubly difficult.
Trump is sure to address the widespread voter unease over terrorism, racial discord and gun violence.
But to do so effectively, Republican ad maker Fred Davis said, Trump needs to steer clear of rhetoric that feeds charges of bigotry. He can defeat Hillary Clinton by framing the race as a Biblical-scale choice between strength or weakness, Davis suggested.
Todd Gitlin, a writer who was president of Students for a Democratic Society, a flagship organizer of 1960s protests, sees analogies in Trump and Nixon trying to capitalize on white racial fears and resentments.
“They’re anxious, and they can be made more anxious by drumming on their fear,” Gitlin said.
Trump faces some challenges in following Nixon’s path, said Ken Khachigian, an Orange County lawyer who worked on the Nixon and Ronald Reagan campaigns. He lacks Nixon’s long career in public office, which included eight years as vice president. More important, the election climate today is nowhere near as unsettled as it was in 1968.
“It was a little more extreme then,” Khachigian said. “I think day-to-day life is a lot safer for average folks.”
Crime was not the only issue on which Nixon campaigned in ways that Trump has emulated.
In foreign policy, Trump has partially echoed Nixon. In Miami Beach, Nixon said U.S. allies were paying too little for military support, making a similar case to one Trump has made.
“The time has come for other nations in the free world to bear their fair share of the burden of defending peace and freedom around this world,” Nixon said.
Nixon also foreshadowed Trump’s charge that a weak Democratic president was undercutting America’s standing overseas.
Under Johnson, Nixon said, hardly a day went by without “an American flag being spit on, or an ambassador being insulted, reducing respect for the United States.”
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Balloons drop at the end of the the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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With their families behind them, Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump and Vice Presidential nominee Mike Pence are cheered on by delegates at the close of the final day of the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Delegates celebrate at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Donald Trump and his wife Melania at the close of the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Donald Trump looks out across the crowd of delegates during the final night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last summer. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
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Donald Trump speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Donald Trump speaks during the final day of the 2016 Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
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Donald Trump address on the final night of the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump takes the stage after being introduced by his daughter Ivanka Trump during the final day of the 2016 Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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Ivanka Trump speaks during the final night of the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Ivanka Trump takes the stage during the final day of the 2016 Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
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Tom Barrack, former Deputy Interior Undersecretary in the Reagan administration, and CEO of Colony Capital, delivers a speech on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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California delegates cheer during the final day of the 2016 Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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On the final night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, members of the Texas delegation enjoy the music.
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Former NFL star Fran Tarkington speaks during the final day of the 2016 Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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On the final night of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, the view from up high as the singing of the national anthem is completed.
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Six-year-old Heavenly Joy sings America the Beautiful in the Quicken Loans Arena on the final day of the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Indiana delegate William Springer sports a GOP elephant hat on the convention floor during the final day of the 2016 Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump appears on stage with his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Mike Pence and family at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Indiana Gov. Mike Pence speaks at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Vice presidential hopeful Mike Pence delivers a speech on the third day of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich addresses delagates during third day of the 2016 Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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Eric Trump talks about his father, Donald, at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump arrives at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday night.
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Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump arrives at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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A woman yells at Sen. Ted Cruz, asking him to endorse Donald Trump during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Sen. Ted Cruz addresses the Republican National Convention on Wednesday in Cleveland. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)
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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on stage.
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Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin.
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Darrell Scott, senior pastor of New Spirit Revival Center Ministries, speaks to the convention crowd.
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Kentucky state Sen. Ralph Alvarado Jr. during his address.
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Eileen Collins, retired astronaut, greets the crowd at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Alabama and Oklahoma delegates enjoy the music during the opening of the third day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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A news anchor reports from the floor of the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Florida Gov. Rick Scott speaks on the third day of the 2016 Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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Laura Ingraham, radio host, takes the stage at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Delegates watch a video titled, “The Donald I Know,” during the third day of the 2016 Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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West Virginia delegates during the Pledge of Allegiance during the third day of the 2016 Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, flies into Cleveland for a rally at the Great Lakes Science Center.
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Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump, who arrived by Helicopter at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland Wednesday morning, greets supports for a rally with his family and Vice Presidential Nominee Mike Pence and his family. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
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Donald Trump and his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, arrive at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland.
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Donald Trump Jr. on stage in Cleveland.
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Delegates shout “Guilty” in response to Governor Chris Christi’s indictment of Hillary Clinton.
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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie delivers his remarks.
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A protester is surrounded and silenced by Trump supporters inside the convention.
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Kim Davis and the California delegation celebrate Donald Trump’s nomination.
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Donald Trump Jr.’s image appears on screens above Quicken Loans Arena as he addresses the convention.
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Ben Carson speaks at the Republican National Convention.
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Tiffany Trump speaks.
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House Speaker Paul D. Ryan acknowledges his home state of Wisconsin on stage in Cleveland.
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House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield addresses fellow Republicans in the convention hall.
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California delegate Kim Davis cheers.
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Donald Trump Jr., left, celebrates with Eric Trump and other family members during the roll call that made their father the Republican presidential nominee.
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From left, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump on the convention floor. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
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Delegates from Washington state.
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A delegate celebrates.
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House Speaker Paul D. Ryan recognizes the delegation from his home state of Wisconsin.
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Pennsylvania delegate Marianne Stearns with a Donald Trump doll. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
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On Tuesday, the second day of the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump’s children bow their heads during the evening prayer. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
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Harmeet Dhillon, a California Sikh and a Republican national committee member, delivers the opening invocation on day two of the GOP convention.
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On the first night of the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump introduced his wife, Melania Trump, before she addressed the delegates.
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Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump with his wife, Melania Trump, at the 2016 Republican National Convention.
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On the first night of the Republican National Convention, Melania Trump enters the stage before speaking.
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On the first night of the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump introduced his wife, Melania Trump, before she addressed the delegates.
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On the first night of the Republican National Convention, Melania Trump asks for the delegates to pay tribule to former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole.
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Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks at the 2016 Republican National Convention.
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Duck Dynasty’s Willie Robertson speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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On the first night of the Republican National Convention, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry addresses delegates.
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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie enters the arena.
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Delegates from Texas wave their hats in response to veterans.
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Delegates stand during the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Newt Gingrich during the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Former Sen. Bob Dole attends the convention.
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On the floor of the arena.
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Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) listens to a voice vote on the adoption of the rules.
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California delegate Luis Buhler, center, joins delegates in singing the national anthem during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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A Florida delegate holds a sign on the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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California delegate Shari Clark of Stanton sports Converse high tops with a Trump theme on the floor Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette speaks during the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus directs delegates to conferences during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Barbara Finger from Oconto, Wis., wears a cheesehead hat during first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
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Delegates bow their heads in prayer as the Republican National Convention gets underway in Cleveland.
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An agent guards the stairs up to the stage during the first day of the 2016 Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
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Henry Allen, a Florida delegate to Republican National Convention walks around the convention floor with a sign at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Nixon, however, was comparatively subtle in his appeals. In his 1968 speech, in he bemoaned race riots, antiwar protests and the deaths of U.S. soldiers in Vietnam.
“As we look at America, we see cities enveloped in smoke and flame,” he said in the speech, which came just months after the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
“We hear sirens in the night. We see Americans dying on distant battlefields abroad. We see Americans hating each other, fighting each other, killing each other at home.”
Nixon went on to pay tribute to “the forgotten Americans – the nonshouters, the nondemonstrators. They are not racists or sick. They are not guilty of the crime that plagues the land.”
Nixon later described those Americans as the “silent majority,” a phrase Trump uses to describe his own supporters.
Today, however, the majority is far more diverse than it was in Nixon’s day, and Trump has often stumbled in trying to pull off a nuanced appeal to voters’ worries.
Democrats and Republicans alike called him a racist when he said neither a Latino nor a Muslim judge could preside impartially over a fraud suit against Trump University, his defunct real estate school.
After a Muslim gunman killed 49 people in an Orlando, Fla., nightclub, he provoked minority voters further by implying that President Obama, the nation’s first black president, sympathized with Islamic terrorists.
Obama “doesn’t get it, or he gets it better than anybody understands,” Trump said.
Trump went on to face charges of anti-Semitism after he tweeted an image showing Clinton, a pile of cash and a Star of David.
And after a shooter killed five Dallas police officers, apparently in protest over police shootings of African Americans, Trump repeatedly alleged, without evidence, that unnamed people had called for a moment of silence to pay tribute to the gunman. In a similar vein, Trump went after Black Lives Matter protesters on Monday, telling Fox News they were calling out: “Death to the police.”
Both Republicans faced charges that they were trading on racial fears.
Nixon’s speech came amid a fierce white backlash against Democrats after President Lyndon Johnson signed historic civil rights and voting rights laws.
The Republican, who faced a serious third-party challenge from Alabama segregationist George Wallace, used the speech to criticize “those who say that law and order is the code word for racism.”
“For the past five years, we have been deluged by government programs for the unemployed, programs for the cities, programs for the poor,” Nixon said. “And we have reaped from these programs an ugly harvest of frustration, violence and failure across the land.”
For Trump, the charge of racial prejudice carries more risk than it did for Nixon. In 1972, when Nixon ran for a second term, 88% of voters in the presidential election were white. By 2012, their share of the vote had declined to 72%. It’s projected to slide further in November.
One factor remains constant between the two eras, however — widespread unrest can strengthen the case for a candidate who presents himself as the upholder of order.
Chris Wilson, a pollster for Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in the GOP primaries, said Trump gained measurable support after violence broke out in March at his planned rally in Chicago. He suggested the same thing could happen if civil unrest grows before the November election.
“That’s the sort of thing that will create the environment that will elect Donald Trump,” he said.
michael.finnegan@latimes.com
Twitter: @finneganLAT
Times staff writers Mark Z. Barabak and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
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