Presidential Coattails in 1972

Abstract

Because Richard Nixon's overwhelming victory in the 1972 presidential election was not accompanied by any significant increase in Republican representation in Congress, it has been assumed that his coattails were exceedingly short. However, analysis of several kinds of evidence suggests that such an assumption is premature and that Nixon's pulling power has been underestimated. An explanation of the failure of Republican gains to materialize as congressional seats may be found in the competitive disadvantages suffered by Republicans in a period of increasingly safe seats.