Voters' choice: varieties of American electoral behavior

No politically conscious adult today needs to be convinced that in recent years great changes have occurred in American politics. Abroad, the cold war has melted into détente, while Vietnam has forced reevaluation of the nation's mission. Domestically, the black revolution has challenged the conscience of the United States, while American complacency has been disrupted further by economic and social insecurity. Within government, the proud office of the presidency has been besmirched by corruption, near impeachment, and forced resignation.

Further evidence of national metamorphosis is available in the limited area of electoral politics. From 1960 to 1972, presidential contests showed astonishing variability. Close elections were followed by landslides, and Republican victories succeeded Democratic triumphs. Virtually all of the accepted truths of political science came into question during these years, from the solid Democratic character of the South to the inherent Republican character of the expanding suburbs. Along with questions about the stability of the nation, doubts appeared about the persistence of its voting patterns.