 With The New York Times finding that Nixon 's performance had given the Republican ticket " a shot in the arm " , Eisenhower and Nixon swept to victory in November , with the Republicans narrowly taking both Houses of Congress . According to Nixon biographer Conrad Black , the speech earned Nixon supporters throughout Middle America which he would keep through the rest of his life , and who would continue to defend him after his death . Critics , however , would later see the address as the " ultimate expression " of the controversial politician 's " phoniness . " Nixon biographer Stephen Ambrose stated that part of the audience considered the address " one of the most sickening , disgusting , maudlin performances ever experienced . " In their analysis of the speech published just before Nixon 's election as president in 1968 , Robert S. Cathcart and Edward A. Schwarz suggested that while Nixon " met the accusation head @-@ on and accomplished his immediate goals successfully , he ultimately created an image which led to a decline in his political career . " 
