Presidential Nominees: Pro and Con
1968-1996

Pro:

• Experience as senator, vice president
• Positive outlook -- "Happy Humphrey"
• Persistence
• Intelligence

Con:

• Part of LBJ's administration -- ties to Vietnam war, race riots, controversies
• Chatty rather than dynamic speaker
• Never known as strong leader 
• Weak with younger voters

Pro:

• Intelligence
• Experience as vice president
• Pledged to bring country together during chaotic times
• Foreign policy accomplishments
• Appealed to traditional values

Con:

• Not seen as trustworthy --  "Tricky Dick"
• Seen as power hungry as vice president 
• Not likeable -- gruff, hard-edged personality
• Lost two high-profile elections in a row (for president in 1960 and California governor in 1962) 
• Seen as making poor VP choice (Spiro Agnew)

Pro:

• Independence -- new to Senate, ran as outsider
• Honesty -- contrast to Nixon controversies
• New ideas
• Popular with youth
• Anti-war

Con:

• Lack of national experience
• Anti-war = weak on defense
• Not a strong public speaker
• "Hippie candidate"

Pro:

• Long experience in House
• Seen as moderate
• "Common man" -- didn't come from money
• Likeable personality 
• Worked well with both parties

Con:

• Wasn't elected as president or vice president
• Pardoned Nixon
• Tied to Nixon scandals
• Seen as clumsy, weak leader
• Not a strong public speaker

Pro:

• Honesty -- contrast to Nixon controversies
• Washington outsider
• Seen as moderate
• "Common man" -- didn't come from money
• New ideas

Con:

• Lack of experience in leadership positions
• Largely unknown nationally before campaign
• Not a strong public speaker
• Had never held any national office
• Governor of small state

Pro:

• Experience as governor of large state
• Outstanding public speaker
• Appealed to traditional values
• Strong on defense
• Already well known to voters

Con:

• Policies as CA governor seen as dangerously conservative, pro-war 
• Unpopular with youth
• Portrayed as "all style, no substance"
• Criticized for saying one thing and doing another
• Oldest presidential nominee ever at the time

Pro:

• Experience as vice president and in Senate
• Seen as moderate
• Anti-war
• Strong on economic and social issues
• Selected first woman vice-presidential nominee

Con:

• Weak public speaker
• Vice presidential selection was divisive
• Anti-war = weak on defense
• Not a strong personality
• Opposed a very popular president

Pro:

• Son of immigrants -- "common man"
• Strong economic record as governor
• Intelligence
• Washington outsider
• Made education a priority

Con:

• Largely unknown nationally before campaign
• Not a strong public speaker
• Portrayed as weak on crime, defense
• Seen as more of an administrator than a leader

Pro:

• Experience as vice president, senator, ambassador
• Decorated World War II veteran
• Strong advocate for keeping taxes low 
• Linked with popular Reagan administration

Con:

• Despite experience, not well known to voters
• Not a strong public speaker 
• Seen as making poor VP choice (Dan Quayle)
• Trouble establishing himself in Reagan's shadow
• No strong home base of voters

Pro:

• Successful experience as governor
• Washington outsider 
• Youthful candidate -- popular with young voters 
• Seen as modrerate 
• Charismatic public speaker

Con:

• Known as womanizer
• Not seen as trustworthy -- "Slick Willie"
• Governor of small state
• Portrayed as '60s radical 
• Depends too much on his wife

Pro:

• Long experience as senator 
• Decorated World War II veteran
• Honesty, straightforwardness 
• Strong advocate for keeping taxes low 
• Strong on defense

Con:

• Not a strong public speaker
• Voted against popular programs in Senate
• Not seen as likeable -- gruff, hard-edged personality
• Portrayed as cold, uncaring
• Oldest presidential nominee ever