 In 1972, Eastland was reelected with 58 percent of the vote in his closest contest ever.His Republican opponent, Gil Carmichael, an automobile dealer from Meridian, was likely aided by President Richard Nixon's landslide reelection in 49 states, including taking 78 percent of Mississippi's popular vote.However, Nixon had worked "under the table" to support Eastland, a long-time personal friend.