Changes

From the end of the Civil War to the 1960 election, the "Solid South" as political pundits called it, nearly always supported Democratic candidates. Since 1964, the South has become increasingly important to Presidnetial victors.  The Solid South began to break down in the 1964 election, when five southern states voted for Republican Barry Goldwater. The largest and President Johnson's homestate, Texas, remained Democratic. In 1968, Richard Nixon carried Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas, while and Independent George Wallace still carried the rest. Since the 1972 election, candidates Richard Nixon (1972), Jimmy Carter (1976), Ronald Reagan (1984), George H.W. Bush (1988), and George W. Bush (2000 and 2004) carried every Southern state with the exception of 1980 President Jimmy Carter carried his home state of Georgia. Bill Clinton carried Arkansas, Tennesse, Florida, and Georgia in 1992, but lost Georgia in 1996.<http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/>

From the end of the Civil War to the 1960 election, the "Solid South" as political pundits called it, nearly always supported Democratic candidates. Since 1964, the South has become increasingly important to Presidnetial victors.  The Solid South began to break down in the 1964 election, when five southern states voted for Republican Barry Goldwater. The largest and President Johnson's homestate, Texas, remained Democratic. In 1968, Richard Nixon carried Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas, while and Independent George Wallace still carried the rest. Since the 1972 election, candidates Richard Nixon (1972), Jimmy Carter (1976), Ronald Reagan (1984), George H.W. Bush (1988), and George W. Bush (2000 and 2004) carried every Southern state with the exception of 1980 President Jimmy Carter carried his home state of Georgia. Bill Clinton carried Arkansas, Tennesse, Florida, and Georgia in 1992, but lost Georgia in 1996.<http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/>

Former Democratic Gov. George Wallace commenting on his 1968 Presidential bid declared his strategy as a serious contender used a base of electoral votes in the Solid South <ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/1968ec.gif 1968 Electoral Distribution]</ref> by adding a few Northern and Midwestern industrial belt states could accumulate enough electoral votes to win.  The strategy was repeated 8 years later by Democratic contender Jimmy Carter effectively. <ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/1976ec.gif 1976 Electoral Distribution].</ref>

Former Democratic Gov. George Wallace commenting on his 1968 Presidential bid declared, by using a base of electoral votes in the Solid South <ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/1968ec.gif 1968 Electoral Distribution]</ref> and adding a few Northern and Midwestern industrial belt states could accumulate enough electoral votes to win.  The strategy was repeated 8 years later by Democratic contender Jimmy Carter effectively. <ref>[http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/1976ec.gif 1976 Electoral Distribution].</ref>

==Military service==

==Military service==