It may surprise you to know that back then I was an advisor to Johm M. Ashbrook, Ohio Congressman and owner of WCLT AM and FM Radio in Newark Ohio.
Back then I had lunch with John quite often. His attempt in the 1972 New Hampshire primary was no more a revolt against Nixon than the Cleveland Indians attempts to win ball games are a revolt against the New York Yankees.
I spent a lot of time trying to get John to be more aggressive in the house. I thought Ford and Michaels were wimps. He didn't.
It took John a long time to convice me that getting 218 votes in the house for as many of the things he supported as he could was the name of the game. It was not how many people John could tick off by starting a fight.
John knew he didn't have a snowballs chance in hell to win the New Hamsphire primary. And he certainly did not want to help George McGovern win in November. He felt that McGovern and the Democrats might pull the center to the left. He wanted to show the right had support as well. Plus there is always the "Lightning could strike aspect." But no one with a brain thought it would.
The very last think John Ashbrook wanted to do was hurt Nixon. Ashbrook wanted McGovern burried and he was.
John worked hard for Nixon in the 72 general election.. I did too
Hekc of a signal for a short tower.