The East PacificBoard

Agnew would spend the rest of his Presidency repeating those numbers to himself in shock. This was, of course, a matter of time - Agnew had only won in 1972 because of the incompetence of his opponents. To have lost by so much though? Agnew muttered more expletives to himself than usual and went off on several aides. He would make no public appearances until the President-elect’s inauguration. Not only was this humiliating, but all the press cared to ask him about was those damn indictments.

The Democrats were energized. President-elect Jerry Brown represented a deep yearning for change in American society with his highly progressive and ambitious policies. Even his opponents couldn’t help but like the guy. And First Lady Linda Ronstadt? Come on. Still, there were warning signs for Democrats. Brown won hundreds of counties with less than 40% of the vote, and the combined share of Agnew’s vote and Rockefeller’s vote would have put a right-wing candidate in office. Brown would have to tread carefully. Governor Ronald Reagan and Secretary of State Richard Nixon were both hiring staff for 1980 campaigns, and Brown’s fiscal conservatism was a concern to left-wing Democrats.