The Great Silent Majority of my Fellow Americans: Politics and American Sentiment in 1960s

I have included a wealth of primary sources for you to consider and you can read a bit more about each source in the section below.
Your job is to use these primary sources to assess the President’s claim. While you do not need to use ALL the primary sources provided, it is important that you at least scan all of them to build your assessment. It will be important for you to recognize which sources clearly support the idea of a “silent majority,” which source clearly negate the idea of a “silent majority,” and which sources you could use for either argument.
Do not feel you need to use all the sources but do be sure to at least view each one to consider how you'll develop your argument. Remember, the best essayists outline, draft, revise, and edit. I would also suggest having someone else read over your essay to give you feedback. Find a friend or relative who owes you a favor! If you sit down to do this all in one sitting, do not seek outside assistance, and expect an A grade, you essentially believe that you are a better essayist than Henry David Thoreau, who made the following astute observation in 1858: "The writer needs the suggestion and correction that a correspondent or companion is."
All papers should be double spaced, adhere to 1inch margins around, a size 12 font in (preferably Times or Times New Roman), and should be 3 to 5 FULL pages in length. Be sure to see the "Primary Source Paper Writing Guide," which is included in this module as well as the "Primary Source Walkthrough Video” that provides a more detailed walkthrough and commentary.
You should rely mostly on the primary sources to build your argument; however, you can also take a look in the textbook for some background information. The most useful information for the rise of Nixon’s conservatism during the late 1960s can be found beginning on p.862 with “Why and where did the conservative movement gain ground?” You’ll also want to see the small section “Nixon Courts the Right” on pp.889-890.
Richard Nixon, “Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech,” August 8, 1968— This is the speech Richard Nixon gave to the Republican National Convention after being nominated for the Republican party in the election of 1968. Notice Nixon’s tone here. What was the overarching message he gave to his party, and by extension, to American voters? Does it lineup with the message he’ll give a year and a half later in his “silent majority” speech?
“1968 Presidential Election,” 240towin.com, 2022— Obviously, this is not a primary source; however, looking at the election of results from 1968 might help contextualize how well Nixon’s campaign, as articulated in his nomination speech, resonated with Americans in 1968. Keep in mind, the Twenty-Sixth Amendment is not passed until 1971 meaning that the federal voting age in the election was still 21. This might be critical when you’re thinking about the divide between different generations.
Richard Nixon, "Silent Majority Speech," 1969— This is Nixon’s famous “silent majority” speech that the whole question centers around. It is imperative that your read this closely. Although Nixon is explicitly talking about his Vietnam policies, is he not also talking about other issues? How did he appeal to more conservative voters who were not “down” with the 1960s movements? Also, if you want to read a bit more about how Americans understood the speech then (and now!) see this interesting reflection, which might also explain a bit more why I've chosen this topic! History doesn't repeat, but it sure does rhyme!.
Pearl Bomse to Richard Nixon, November 14, 1969— This was a letter written in reaction to Nixon’s “silent majority” speech in opposition to the address.
Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Devlin to Richard Nixon, November 3, 1969— This is a letter written to the President in support of his “silent majority” speech. It’s also kind of neat to see just how many letters were sent to the president in response! Look here!
George M. Garcia, Vietnam Veteran, Oral Interview (1969/2012)— This is an interview with a Vietnam Veteran about his time in Vietnam. I include it because accounts of Vietnam like the one you read here were widely circulated in 1969. How might testimony like this have impacted how Americans (on both sides) felt about the war?
Letters from Vietnam: A Collection of Five Letter from Americans Who Served in Vietnam (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1985)— Like Garcia’s interview, these are transcriptions of letters sent from Americans in Vietnam. Letters like these informed Americans of what the war was really like from the perspective of those involved with it. There are diverse accounts here that shed light on the opinions of Americans who supported the war, opposed it, and other who felt somewhere in-between.
Do note, when citing these letters, you need to cite which letter you are quoting/summarizing. Thus, if you were quoting from the first letter, the citation would like this: Robert Salerni to his parents, February 22, 1969, in Letters from Vietnam: A Collection of Five Letter from Americans Who Served in Vietnam (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1985).
“Columbia Students Protest,” New York Times, April 24, 1968— This news article describes a protest of students at New York’s Columbia University against the building of new university facilities because they encroached upon African-American neighborhoods. This piece might help you see the ways the “New Left” connected many different elements of protest. Although this isn’t an anti-war protest, in many ways it was connected. These are thee groups Nixon was speaking out against in his famous speech.
Memorandum on Anti-Draft Rallies, FBI, 1967— Anti-war protests were closely monitored by the FBI because the government worried about the “trouble” these protests might create. This source might give you a good idea about the intelligence Nixon received on anti-war protests.
Anti-War Speech on the Boston Common, Raymond Anthony Mungo (Author), 1967— This is a speech given by student Raymond Anthony Mungo on the Boston Common in October 1967. Mungo was a minor figure, but his speech helps demonstrate some of the main ideas of the “New Left” movement. Again, this is the type of protest Nixon was pushing back against in the speech. There is actually a picture of him giving this speech here.