Nomination and Elections In 1968, Richard Nixon was chosen on
the first ballot as the Republican candidate for president with
Spiro Agnew as his vice president. The campaign centered on
ending the war in Vietnam and dealing with taxes and inflation
at home. Nixon defeated both Democrat Hubert Humphrey and
American Independent George Wallace with 43 percent of the
popular vote and 301 electoral votes. In 1972, President Nixon
was the obvious choice for nomination by the Republicans with
Agnew as his running mate again. This time, he was opposed by
Democrat George McGovern, who was seen as representing the far
left. Nixon did not spend much time campaigning yet he easily
won with 61 percent of the popular vote and 520 out of 531
electoral votes.