Because Goldwater had done well in the Deep South , delegates to the 1968 Republican National Convention would be more Southern and conservative than past conventions . There was a real possibility that the conservative Reagan would be nominated if there was no victor on the first ballot . Nixon narrowly secured the nomination on the first ballot , with the aid of South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond , who had switched parties in 1964 . He selected dark horse Maryland Governor Spiro Agnew as his running mate , a choice which Nixon believed would unite the party , appealing to both Northern moderates and Southerners disaffected with the Democrats . It was also reported that Nixon 's first choice for running mate was his longtime friend and ally Robert Finch , who was the Lieutenant Governor of California at the time . Finch declined that offer , but would later serve as the Secretary of Health , Education , and Welfare in Nixon 's Administration . With Vietnam also a key issue , Nixon strongly considered tapping his 1960 running mate , Henry Cabot Lodge , Jr , who was a former U.S. Senator , Ambassador to the UN , and Ambassador twice to South Vietnam
1968 Republican National Convention
1968 Republican National Convention
1968 United States presidential election