Richard Nixon Back Again: The Unlikely Comeback of '68

Fresh from the complex battlefields of Ho Chi Minh’s Vietnam, we turn to the volatile domestic political battlefield of 1968. It’s a lyric that captured a moment of genuine shock for many Americans: "Richard Nixon back again."In this episode of History Ignited, we analyze the stunning political resurrection of a man whose career was widely declared dead just six years prior. After losing the presidency to JFK in 1960 and the California governor's race in '62 (famously telling the press they wouldn't have him to "kick around anymore"), few predicted his return to the national stage.We’ll dive deep into Nixon’s calculated 'Silent Majority' strategy, his promise of 'law and order' to a nation fractured by riots and assassinations, and how he masterfully engineered the ultimate political comeback. We explore how the chaos of 1968 set the stage for his victory and how this pivotal moment defined the subsequent years of his complex presidency.Join us as we explore the rise, fall, and improbable rise again of one of America’s most resilient and controversial political figures.Send us Fan MailAbout History Ignited: History Ignited is the award-winning kids and family history podcast inspired by Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire. Each short episode explores the real stories behind the people, events, inventions, and cultural moments that shaped the world from the 1950s through the 1980s. Winner of the 2025 Webby People’s Voice Award for Best Kids & Family Podcast.