Lincoln’s Party No More

Abstract

This chapter examines the battle for control of the national GOP. The idea of a realignment premised on Republican appeals to disaffected southern conservatives had been a topic of political conversation from 1937 onward. However, many national leaders were wary of such a shift, which would tip the balance of power in the party decisively toward its conservative wing, risking a loss of support in urban, liberal states. The chapter then analyzes GOP strategy toward civil rights in the 1940s–1950s, as party leaders sought to balance the rank- and-file's general lack of interest in pursuing vigorous action with the perceived need to appear at least mildly supportive in order to avoid alienating moderate voters in states like New York and Illinois.