The Whistles of George Wallace: Gender and Emotions in the 1968 Presidential Campaign

• Main Author: Maarten Zwiers
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: European Association for American Studies 2019-03-01
• Series: European Journal of American Studies
• Subjects: emotions; gender; masculinity; populism; U.S. South; conservatism
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/ejas/14454
• ISSN: 1991-9336

Gender and emotions are important factors in the rise of modern U.S. conservatism. This article examines the 1968 presidential election as a pivotal moment in the development of the New Right. During that campaign, George Wallace practiced a masculine political style that evoked an emotional response from anxious voters who felt alienated and angry. Wallace set the stage for a conservative political strategy that remains effective until this day.